Katherine Elizabeth Upton, professionally known as Kate Upton, is an American model, actress and entrepreneur who became one of the most recognizable fashion personalities of the 2010s. She rose to international prominence through the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, where she was named Rookie of the Year in 2011 before appearing on the cover multiple times.
Upton subsequently expanded her career beyond modeling into acting, advertising, television appearances and business. She has appeared in films including The Three Stooges, The Other Woman, The Layover and The Disaster Artist, while also working with major fashion and beauty brands.
Her personal life has received considerable attention through her marriage to Major League Baseball pitcher Justin Verlander. The couple married in Italy in 2017 and have two children. In September 2026, Upton was again in the spotlight after joining Verlander and their children at Comerica Park during the final MLB start of his 21-season career.
Kate Upton Profile Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Katherine Elizabeth Upton |
| Professional Name | Kate Upton |
| Date of Birth | June 10, 1992 |
| Age | 34 |
| Birthplace | St. Joseph, Michigan, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Model, Actress and Entrepreneur |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Husband | Justin Verlander |
| Marriage | November 2017 |
| Children | Genevieve and Bellamy |
| Modeling Breakthrough | Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue |
| Sports Illustrated Rookie of the Year | 2011 |
| Sports Illustrated Covers | 2012, 2013 and 2017 |
| Notable Films | The Other Woman, The Layover, The Three Stooges, The Disaster Artist |
| @kateupton | |
| Religion | Christian background |
| Net Worth | Estimated around $30 million |
Kate Upton Early Life
Kate Upton was born on June 10, 1992, in St. Joseph, Michigan, to Shelley and Jeff Upton. Her mother was a former Texas state tennis champion, while her father worked in athletics and education. She grew up in Florida after her family moved there during her childhood.
Upton was involved in competitive horse riding as a young girl and competed in the American Paint Horse Association’s youth circuit. She was a nationally competitive equestrian before her modeling career became her primary professional pursuit.
At 15, she began exploring modeling. She attended a casting for Elite Model Management in Miami in 2008 and was signed by the agency. She later moved to IMG Models, one of the industry’s major international agencies.
Kate Upton Education
Upton attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Melbourne, Florida. Her early years were strongly connected to equestrian competition, and she spent significant time training and competing while growing up.
Her modeling career began before she entered higher education, and the rapid development of her professional opportunities meant that modeling soon became her primary career path.
Rather than pursuing a traditional university education, Upton concentrated on fashion, advertising and entertainment. Her early professional experience quickly took her from local modeling opportunities to international campaigns and magazine work.
Kate Upton Career
Kate Upton’s professional modeling career began with Elite Model Management in Miami. She later signed with IMG Models, giving her access to a much wider range of international fashion and commercial opportunities.
Her breakthrough came in 2011 when she appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She was named the publication’s Rookie of the Year after attracting significant attention with her debut appearance.
Upton’s rise accelerated in 2012 when she appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She returned as the cover model in 2013 and again in 2017, making her one of the most recognizable faces associated with the publication.
Her Sports Illustrated work also included more unusual assignments. She participated in a zero-gravity photo shoot and modeled in Antarctica, helping establish her as a recognizable figure beyond conventional swimsuit photography.
As her popularity increased, Upton began securing campaigns and endorsements with major international brands. Her commercial work included collaborations with Guess, Express, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan and other fashion and beauty companies.
She also appeared in a number of television programs and entertainment projects. Her growing profile allowed her to transition from modeling into acting.
In 2011, Upton appeared in an episode of Tosh.0 and had a small role in the comedy film Tower Heist. She subsequently appeared in The Three Stooges in 2012.
Her most prominent early acting role came in the 2014 comedy The Other Woman, in which she starred alongside Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann. Upton played Amber, one of the women involved in the film’s central relationship comedy.
She later appeared in The Layover, a romantic comedy released in 2017, alongside Alexandra Daddario. She also had an appearance in The Disaster Artist and participated in voice work and other entertainment projects.
Upton continued modeling alongside acting rather than abandoning the profession that initially made her famous. She appeared on magazine covers and continued commercial partnerships while developing a broader public profile.
Her career has also expanded into entrepreneurship. Upton became involved with Vosa Spirits, a ready-to-drink beverage company, adding business ownership to her work as a model and actress.
She has also remained connected to fitness and wellness. Her public image has increasingly included exercise, motherhood and family life alongside fashion and entertainment.
Upton’s longevity in the modeling industry is notable because she emerged during an era when social media was rapidly changing how models built audiences. Her combination of magazine exposure, advertising campaigns, television appearances and social media helped her maintain a significant public profile beyond individual modeling assignments.
She has also used her platform to discuss issues affecting women and mothers, including body image, postpartum expectations and the pressures associated with maintaining a public appearance.
By the 2020s, Upton had developed a career that extended well beyond her initial Sports Illustrated breakthrough. She remained involved in fashion and commercial projects while focusing more heavily on entrepreneurship, family and wellness.
Her relationship with baseball also became an important part of her public identity after she began dating Justin Verlander. The couple’s relationship connected her entertainment career with one of Major League Baseball’s most accomplished pitchers.
Kate Upton Trending: Supporting Justin Verlander During His Final MLB Start at Comerica Park in September 2026
Kate Upton became a major entertainment and sports story in late September 2026 after joining her husband, Justin Verlander, and their two children for the final MLB start of his 21-season career.
Verlander made his final Major League start for the Detroit Tigers against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Comerica Park on September 26, 2026. He returned to Detroit for the final chapter of a career that had included three Cy Young Awards, an American League MVP award, 10 All-Star selections and two World Series championships.
Upton attended the emotional farewell with their daughter Genevieve and their son Bellamy. Genevieve, who was seven years old, became part of one of the day’s most memorable moments when she ran onto the field to meet her father as he left the mound for the final time.
The family had also attended Verlander’s retirement celebration at Comerica Park before his final start. Their appearance attracted considerable attention because Upton has generally kept family life relatively private despite her international fame.
Verlander completed 5⅓ innings and struck out six batters in his final start before leaving the mound. Detroit subsequently won the game 4-3 against Pittsburgh.
The moment became particularly significant for Upton because she had been part of Verlander’s personal life through much of the latter part of his baseball career. Their relationship began in 2014, and they married in 2017 before becoming parents to two children.
Kate Upton Personal Life
Kate Upton met Justin Verlander in 2012 while they were working together on a commercial connected to the Major League Baseball 2K12 video game. They later began dating and became one of the most prominent celebrity-sports couples in the United States.
The couple’s relationship developed over several years before they became engaged in 2016. They married in November 2017 in a ceremony in Tuscany, Italy, shortly after Verlander’s Houston Astros won the World Series.
Upton and Verlander welcomed their first child, daughter Genevieve Upton Verlander, in November 2018. Their second child, son Bellamy Brooks Verlander, was born on June 19, 2025.
The family has generally maintained a relatively private lifestyle despite both parents being highly recognizable public figures. Upton occasionally shares family photographs and milestones on social media, while Verlander has spoken publicly about how becoming a father changed his perspective on baseball and his career.
Kate Upton Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Kate Upton was born on June 10, 1992, making her 34 years old in September 2026. She was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, and is an American citizen. She spent much of her childhood in Florida before beginning her professional modeling career.
Upton has a Christian background. Her upbringing included a Christian family environment, although she has not made her private religious practice a major part of her public identity.
She is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, or 1.78 meters. Upton became known for her blonde hair, blue eyes and distinctive curvy modeling figure. Her appearance became closely associated with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit aesthetic during the peak of her modeling career.
Kate Upton Social Media Presence
Kate Upton is active on Instagram under the handle @kateupton. Her account combines fashion and modeling work with family moments, fitness content, business projects and photographs from her professional activities.
Her social-media presence has also allowed her to communicate directly with fans about motherhood and wellness. She has occasionally used the platform to discuss exercise and the realities of balancing family life with a public career.
Upton’s digital presence complements her earlier magazine-based fame and has helped her maintain a direct connection with an international audience.
Kate Upton Net Worth
Kate Upton’s exact net worth is not publicly verified, but estimates commonly place her personal wealth at around $30 million. Her income has come from modeling contracts, brand endorsements, acting, business interests and other commercial opportunities.
Her years with Sports Illustrated and major international brands provided substantial commercial exposure. She also expanded into acting and entrepreneurship, giving her multiple income sources beyond traditional modeling assignments.
Her household wealth is considerably larger when combined with Justin Verlander’s career earnings and investments. Verlander has earned substantial income during his long MLB career, but Upton’s personal estimated wealth should be distinguished from the couple’s combined financial position.
Kate Upton Legacy
Kate Upton became one of the defining models of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit era of the early 2010s. Her 2011 Rookie of the Year recognition and three subsequent covers established her as one of the publication’s most recognizable models.
Her career also demonstrated how a successful model could transition into mainstream entertainment. Through film roles, television appearances, advertising campaigns and business ventures, she developed a professional identity that extended beyond magazine modeling.
Upton’s public career has continued to evolve through motherhood, entrepreneurship and her relationship with Justin Verlander. Her September 2026 appearance at his final MLB game added another significant chapter to a career that has connected fashion, entertainment, business and sports.
Conclusion
Kate Upton has built a career spanning international modeling, acting, advertising and entrepreneurship since her breakthrough in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Her marriage to Justin Verlander and their two children have become important parts of her personal life, while her own professional work has continued beyond her early modeling fame. In September 2026, she returned to the spotlight during Verlander’s emotional final MLB start at Comerica Park, where she stood beside him and their children as he closed a 21-season baseball career.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kate Upton
Who is Kate Upton?
Kate Upton is an American model, actress and entrepreneur who became internationally famous through the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
How old is Kate Upton?
Kate Upton was born on June 10, 1992, making her 34 years old in 2026.
Where was Kate Upton born?
She was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, United States.
What is Kate Upton famous for?
She is best known for her work with the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, including being named Rookie of the Year in 2011 and appearing on its cover three times.
How tall is Kate Upton?
Kate Upton is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall, or 1.78 meters.
Who is Kate Upton’s husband?
Her husband is Justin Verlander, the former Major League Baseball pitcher.
When did Kate Upton marry Justin Verlander?
They married in November 2017 in Tuscany, Italy.
When did Kate Upton and Justin Verlander start dating?
They began dating in 2014 after first meeting while working together on a commercial in 2012.
How many children does Kate Upton have?
Kate Upton and Justin Verlander have two children, daughter Genevieve and son Bellamy.
When was Kate Upton’s son born?
Her son, Bellamy Brooks Verlander, was born on June 19, 2025.
Who is Kate Upton’s daughter?
Her daughter is Genevieve Upton Verlander, who was born in November 2018.
What happened between Kate Upton and Justin Verlander in September 2026?
Upton joined Verlander and their children at Comerica Park as he made the final start of his 21-season MLB career on September 26, 2026.
Why was Kate Upton at Justin Verlander’s final baseball game?
She was there to support her husband during his final Major League Baseball appearance and was accompanied by their two children.
Did Kate Upton’s daughter go onto the field during Justin Verlander’s final game?
Yes. Seven-year-old Genevieve ran onto the field and embraced her father after he left the mound during his final MLB appearance.
What movies has Kate Upton appeared in?
Her film credits include The Three Stooges, The Other Woman, The Layover and The Disaster Artist.
When did Kate Upton become famous?
She rose to international fame after appearing in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue in 2011.
Was Kate Upton a Sports Illustrated Rookie of the Year?
Yes. She was named Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie of the Year in 2011.
How many times has Kate Upton appeared on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover?
She has appeared on the cover three times, in 2012, 2013 and 2017.
What is Kate Upton’s Instagram?
Her Instagram handle is @kateupton.
What is Kate Upton’s religion?
Kate Upton has a Christian background.
What is Kate Upton’s nationality?
She is American.
What is Kate Upton’s net worth?
Her exact net worth is not publicly verified, but estimates commonly place her personal wealth at around $30 million.
How does Kate Upton make money?
Her income has come from modeling, brand endorsements, acting, entrepreneurship and other commercial projects.
Is Kate Upton still a model?
Yes. Although her career has expanded into acting, entrepreneurship and family life, she remains professionally associated with modeling and fashion.
What is Kate Upton doing now?
In 2026, Upton continues to work in fashion, entertainment and business while raising her two children with Justin Verlander.