Steffi Graf Finally Breaks Silence on Her Iconic 1990 Vogue Photoshoot — And Reveals the Shocking Amount She Was Paid
When tennis legend Steffi Graf stepped off the court and into the glamorous world of high fashion in 1990, fans were left speechless. The then–21-year-old had just completed one of the most dominant seasons in tennis history, but her cover shoot for Vogue Magazine proved that her star power extended far beyond the baseline. For decades, the photographs remained an iconic snapshot of Graf’s rare venture into the fashion spotlight.
Now, after years of silence, Graf has finally opened up about that unforgettable shoot — and more surprisingly, about how much she was paid for it.
In a recent sit-down interview, Graf admitted that she was hesitant at first when Vogue approached her team in late 1989. “At that time, my focus was tennis, nothing else,” she recalled. “I didn’t see myself as a model or a fashion icon. I was shy, very reserved. The idea of posing for a high-fashion magazine felt a little overwhelming.”
But the team at Vogue was relentless, knowing that Graf’s global appeal was growing not just because of her dominance on the court, but also because of her quiet grace and natural elegance. Eventually, she agreed — and the result was a photoshoot that stunned fans worldwide, showing a softer, more glamorous side of the tennis champion.
The real surprise, however, came when Graf revealed the paycheck that accompanied the spread. “I was shocked when I saw the number,” she admitted with a laugh. “For a few days of work, it was more than what I had made at some tournaments back then.” While Graf stopped short of giving an exact figure, she hinted that it was in the six-figure range — a staggering sum in 1990 for an athlete stepping into fashion.
For comparison, prize money in tennis at the time was only beginning to grow. Graf’s Wimbledon win in 1989, for example, had earned her around £170,000. To be offered a similar or higher amount just to pose for a magazine cover was, as she put it, “unreal.”
“I didn’t do it for the money,” Graf added. “But it opened my eyes to how the world outside of tennis saw me. It was flattering, and it was fun to do something so completely different.”
The shoot itself, photographed by one of Vogue’s top talents of the era, became instantly iconic. Graf was styled in bold, elegant looks that contrasted sharply with the athletic gear fans were used to seeing her in. For many, it was the moment she transformed from a tennis champion into a global celebrity.
Fans who grew up idolizing Graf’s fierce forehand now look back at that photoshoot as a time when she proved she could conquer more than just the tennis world. “I was nervous the whole time,” she admitted. “But looking back, I’m glad I did it. It captured a part of my life I might not have shown otherwise.”
Today, decades later, Graf’s revelation about her Vogue payday adds a new layer of intrigue to the story. At a time when athletes weren’t yet dominating fashion campaigns the way they do now, Graf was quietly breaking ground. She may not have chased fame or the spotlight, but her brief foray into high fashion left a lasting mark — and, as fans now know, earned her a paycheck worthy of a champion.