How Rich Was Naomi Campbell Before the Charity Scandal?

Accusations of Misusing Charitable Funds for Personal Expenses










On September 27, Reuters reported that Naomi Campbell has been banned from heading any charitable organization in the UK and Wales for five years following an investigation into alleged mismanagement of the charity Fashion for Relief.








Founded by Naomi in 2015, Fashion for Relief aimed to raise funds for humanitarian causes through fashion shows. However, it was removed from the UK charity register in early 2024.















According to an investigation report released on September 26, the Charity Commission of England found numerous instances of misconduct and poor management.








Specifically, from 2016 to 2022, Fashion for Relief raised approximately £4.8 million (about $6.4 million) through fashion shows. However, the regulatory body discovered that only 8.5% (around £389,000 or $520,000) was allocated to charitable grants after covering event expenses and other fees.








Meanwhile, thousands of pounds were used to cover Naomi's personal needs, including spa therapy, room service, tobacco, and utilities at five-star hotels.








A-list Celebrities Linked to Alleged Misappropriation of Charitable Funds










Several questionable expenses were listed, including a €14,800 ($16,500) flight from London to Nice to transport artwork and jewelry for a charity event in Cannes in 2018, €9,400 ($10,490) for a three-night stay at a five-star hotel, and nearly €7,940 ($8,861) for spa treatments and tobacco, along with other hotel accommodation expenses.








The regulatory body stated that the trustees claimed hotel costs were typically covered by charity sponsors, not the charity's funds. However, they failed to provide any evidence to substantiate this claim.








Authorities also identified Bianka Hellmich, Naomi's trustee, who received £290,000 ($388,000) in unauthorized consulting fees and £26,000 (almost $35,000) in annual travel expenses from the charity over more than two years. Hellmich has now been banned from serving as a trustee for nine years. Another trustee, Veronica Chou, has been banned for four years.















"The trustees have a legal obligation to make decisions in the best interests of the charity and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities. Our investigation found that the trustees of this charity did not do so," said Tim Hopkins, deputy director of the Charity Commission.








The regulatory body has recovered over £400,000 ($535,000) from Fashion for Relief, which was used to settle the charity's debts. The remaining funds were transferred to other charitable organizations.








Notably, on the day Naomi was banned from charitable trusteeship, she was awarded the title of Knight of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture.








Naomi Campbell's Wealth Before the Charitable Scandal










Immediately after receiving the award, Naomi told AP News: "I only learned about these findings today, and I am extremely concerned. We are investigating because I did not manage my charity; I entrusted it to a lawyer. We are looking into how I operate and how every penny I raised was intended for charitable causes."








Naomi Campbell, whose full name is Naomi Elaine Campbell, was born on May 22, 1970, in London. Her mother, Valerie Morris, is a Jamaican dancer of Chinese descent. Naomi has never met her father, as he abandoned her mother when she was pregnant. Later, Naomi adopted her stepfather's surname.








Due to her mother's job, Naomi was exposed to the entertainment world from an early age. She appeared in Bob Marley's music video "Is This Love" at the age of 7 and danced in the video "I'll Tumble 4 Ya" by Culture Club at 12.








At 15, while shopping in Covent Garden, she was discovered and recruited by Beth Boldt, director of the modeling agency Synchro Model Agency. She appeared on the cover of British Elle before turning 16.















Naomi's modeling career quickly took off. By the late 1980s and 1990s, she was one of the world's top three models and is regarded as one of the six supermodels alongside Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer, and Kate Moss.








Now, while most of her contemporaries have retired, Naomi still holds a solid place in the fashion world.








She is known as the "Black Panther" of the modeling industry, having graced the cover of over 500 magazines and being the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue, British Vogue, and Time.








In addition to modeling, Naomi has ventured into various fields such as music, writing, acting, and producing reality TV shows, achieving significant success. However, she remains most famous as a model.








According to Marie Claire, Naomi Campbell ranks 10th on the list of "Richest Models of All Time," with Celebrity Net Worth estimating her net worth at around $80 million.








Alongside her career, Naomi is known for her charitable activities. In 2007, the British supermodel was appointed honorary president of Athla Onlus, an Italian charity supporting the social integration of young people with learning disorders. That same year, Naomi was appointed ambassador for Rio de Janeiro for her contributions to We Love Brazil, an organization she founded in 2005 to combat poverty in Brazil.








Two years later, she became a goodwill ambassador for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, working alongside the charity's founder to raise awareness about safe pregnancy and childbirth needs. In the same year, Trinity College's Philosophy Society (USA) awarded her the honorary patron title for her contributions to charitable activities.








She also received the Outstanding Contribution Award from British Elle in 2010, honoring her career and role as an ambassador at the White Ribbon Alliance.















The Fashion for Relief charity, now embroiled in controversy, was initially created to raise funds for victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the terrorist attack in Mumbai, the 2008 Haiti earthquake, and the 2011 Japan earthquake.








Naomi has made significant contributions to charitable causes for nearly 20 years.








Due to her impressive background, Naomi's ban from charitable activities has caused public uproar. Many social media users flocked to Instagram to express their disappointment and criticize the 54-year-old supermodel.








Audience comments included: "Get her off the catwalk. Fame doesn’t resolve her responsibilities," "Rich and wanting more with the charity money from the poor. Truly shameful," "I hope they arrest her," "I always knew something dark was behind her. She might evade the law, but eventually, it will come between her and God. Please don’t stop investigating her," "It's time for jail," "I'm sure she hasn't made enough money from modeling," "This is trash…"








Source: K14





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