Bella Hadid: Lyme Diagnosis, Quitting Modeling, and Net Worth

Few models have faced the kind of year Bella Hadid just had — stepping back from a decade-long career, publicly managing a chronic illness, and navigating a very public brand split. It’s a lot to untangle, but the story behind each pivot reveals how health, family, and conviction have reshaped her path.

Full name: Isabella Khair Hadid ·
Born: October 9, 1996 ·
Occupation: Model, actress, entrepreneur ·
Estimated net worth: $20 million ·
Instagram followers: 59 million

Eight key facts about Bella Hadid, drawn from verified records and media reports:

What is Bella Hadid’s diagnosis?

Bella Hadid was diagnosed with Lyme disease at age 16, a bacterial infection typically transmitted by tick bites. She has been in and out of treatment ever since, as People reported in 2026. Her mother Yolanda Hadid also has the condition, and the family has supported Lyme disease awareness efforts, Business Insider noted.

Was Bella Hadid bitten by a tick?

• Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks (CDC).
• Bella Hadid has not publicly identified a specific tick bite, but the diagnosis is consistent with the typical mode of transmission.
• Her mother Yolanda has also spoken about contracting Lyme disease, suggesting possible environmental exposure within the family (Business Insider).

The implication: Even without a confirmed bite, the medical consensus supports the diagnosis, and the family pattern points to a shared environmental factor rather than isolated incidents.

What disability does Bella Hadid have?

Lyme disease is not classified as a disability in itself, but its chronic symptoms can be debilitating. According to People, she experiences severe joint pain, anxiety, brain fog, and extreme tiredness. A 2024 report from the Times of India described pain affecting her spine, joints, and brain.

The catch: While Lyme disease is treatable, for a subset of patients symptoms persist long after the initial infection, a condition often called post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome — and Hadid’s case fits that pattern.

What ethnicity is Bella Hadid?

Bella Hadid is of Palestinian and Dutch descent. Her father, Mohamed Hadid, is a Palestinian real estate developer, and her mother, Yolanda Hadid, is of Dutch origin, per Wikipedia. She has described her heritage as a source of pride, though her Palestinian identity has also drawn political scrutiny.

The pattern: Her mixed heritage has been both a defining personal identity marker and a flashpoint in public discourse, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions that follow celebrity figures.

Why did Bella Hadid quit modeling?

In 2024, Bella Hadid announced she was stepping back from modeling after a decade in the industry. The Hollywood Reporter reported that she opened up about the decision, citing the toll of Lyme disease treatment and the need for a healthier work-life balance. She told People that during treatment she had to turn down “every job for almost a year,” which made her feel “disposable.” She moved to Texas to be closer to family and is focusing on her fragrance line Orebella.

What this means: Her exit from the runway was not a retirement but a recalibration — swapping high-frequency bookings for a single brand she controls, with lower physical demands.

Who is richer, Gigi or Bella Hadid?

One pattern across multiple estimates: Gigi Hadid consistently has a higher reported net worth than her younger sister. A 2019 Business Insider analysis put the combined net worth of Gigi, Bella, and brother Anwar at more than $57 million. Individual estimates vary, but most place Gigi’s net worth around $30 million and Bella’s around $20 million — though some reports peg Bella’s as low as $13 million (Alux) or as high as $25 million (HotNewHipHop).

Key differences between the sisters:

The trade-off: Bella’s health-focused hiatus may reduce her short-term earnings, but her fragrance brand Orebella could become a long-term revenue stream that Gigi hasn’t yet matched.

Why did Charlotte Tilbury drop Bella Hadid?

In 2023, Charlotte Tilbury ended its partnership with Bella Hadid. The Hollywood Reporter linked the split to social media posts Bella shared about the Israel-Palestine conflict. She later issued a statement clarifying her views. The incident marked one of the most high-profile brand divorces in the beauty industry that year, raising questions about how companies handle influencer political expression.

The pattern: This was less about performance or contract terms and more about brand risk calculus — a reminder that political speech can carry direct career costs for public figures.

Timeline: Key milestones in Bella Hadid’s journey

• 1996 — Born in Washington, D.C.
• 2014 — Signed with IMG Models; made New York Fashion Week debut
• 2016 — Named Model of the Year at British Fashion Awards
• 2022 — Publicly shared Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment
• 2023 — Charlotte Tilbury ended partnership amid controversy
• 2024 — Announced break from modeling, moved to Texas

People reported that as of 2026, she remains focused on her health and her brand Orebella.

What’s confirmed and what’s still uncertain

The balance: More is known about her health and career moves than about her finances and future plans — a split that mirrors her own move from public runway work to private brand-building.

In their own words

“I had to turn down every job for almost a year. It made me feel disposable.”

— Bella Hadid, speaking to People

Her mother Yolanda described Bella’s Lyme battle as “the unknown hell” the family navigated behind the scenes.

— Yolanda Hadid, as reported by People

Bella Hadid’s path forward is both a personal recovery journey and a professional reinvention. For the millions of young women who follow her, the choice is clear: prioritize health over hustle, even when the industry tells you that you’re replaceable. The fragrance bottles on her Texas shelves may not earn what a Dior campaign once did, but they represent a quieter, more sustainable kind of success — and that trade-off, for Hadid, appears to be the point.

For a deeper look into Bella Hadids health and career journey, this article covers her Lyme diagnosis and decision to step away from the runway.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Selena Gomez: Lupus, Net Worth & Life in 2025 • Simone Biles: ADHD, Height, Net Worth, and What She Said to Trump