Kathleen Marie Ireland is an American model and actress turned author and entrepreneur.Ireland was a supermodel in the 1980s and 1990s, best known for appearing in 13 consecutive Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues.In 1993, she founded a brand marketing company, kathy ireland Worldwide, which has made her one of the wealthiest former models in the world.As a result of her career as a businesswoman, she had made a $420 million personal fortune by 2015.In 2012, $2 billion worth of products bearing her company's brand were sold.During Sports Illustrated swimsuit's 50th Anniversary event, Ireland's 1989 cover was awarded "The Greatest Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Of All Time" by its publisher.