Bella Hadid: Health, Career, Relationships, and Wealth

Bella Hadid has walked the world’s most prestigious runways and fronted campaigns for Dior, Versace, and Michael Kors. But behind the glossy images, her professional life has been steered by a health battle she first faced at 16: Lyme disease.

Full name: Isabella Khair Hadid ·
Date of birth: October 9, 1996 ·
Occupation: Model ·
Modeling agency: IMG Models ·
Known for: Dior, Versace, Michael Kors campaigns ·
Diagnosis: Lyme disease

The table below summarizes key biographical facts drawn from verified sources.

What is Bella Hadid’s diagnosis?

Bella Hadid was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2012, at age 16. She has described living with the chronic illness for over a decade, with symptoms that include headaches, brain fog, light and noise sensitivity, inflammation, and joint pain (Arab News). The diagnosis came after she experienced symptoms for about two years prior (People). In a 2022 Vogue cover story, she revealed she also has babesiosis, a tick-borne infection that often co-occurs with Lyme disease (Vogue).

Was Bella Hadid bitten by a tick?

• Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi transmitted through the bite of infected blacklegged ticks. Hadid has not publicly confirmed the exact tick bite, but the diagnosis implies a tick-borne transmission. Her mother Yolanda Hadid and brother Anwar were also diagnosed with Lyme disease (Arab News).

Can Lyme disease be 100% cured?

• According to the CDC, most cases of Lyme disease can be cured with antibiotics if caught early. However, some patients experience lingering symptoms — a condition known as Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome. Hadid has been in and out of treatment since age 16, and in August 2023 she posted on Instagram that she was “finally healthy” after completing more than 100 days of intensive treatment for Lyme and coinfections (People).

Why did Bella quit modeling?

In 2023, Bella Hadid announced a break from modeling, citing Lyme disease flare-ups and the need to focus on her health. She told People that she turned down jobs for almost a year because of treatment, and that she felt “disposable.” Vogue reported that during New York Fashion Week in September 2021, she experienced a major health setback after working 15 days straight — she estimated she had been working 350 days a year for seven years before that (Vogue).

Did Bella Hadid take a break from modeling due to health reasons?

• Yes. Hadid’s last catwalk appearance before her break was during the spring/summer 2023 season, according to W Magazine. She returned to set after a five-month absence, but her pace has deliberately slowed. In 2025, she was hospitalized again and posted about it on social media (People).

The pattern: Her health breaks are not one-off — they’re a structural adjustment to a chronic condition that she has managed publicly since age 16.

Is Bella Hadid in a relationship now?

Bella Hadid’s most high-profile relationship was with The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye), an on-and-off affair from 2015 to 2021. As of 2025, she is reportedly single. In 2024, rumors linked her to entrepreneur Adnan Ahmad, but neither party confirmed the relationship (W Magazine).

Why did Abel and Bella split?

• The Weeknd and Bella Hadid’s final split in 2021 has been attributed to their demanding schedules and different life priorities. In interviews, both have spoken about the challenges of maintaining a relationship when both are global touring artists and models. No single cause has been publicly confirmed, but sources close to the couple cited timing and career pressures (People).

What this means: Hadid’s relationship patterns reflect a person who values privacy and is cautious about public commitment — especially when managing a chronic illness that requires stability.

Who is richer, Gigi or Bella Hadid?

Gigi Hadid has a higher estimated net worth than Bella. Gigi’s net worth is estimated in the range of $30-35 million, while Bella’s is around $25 million. Both derive income from modeling contracts, brand partnerships, and their respective fashion lines. Zayn Malik, Gigi’s ex-partner, has a net worth estimated at $30 million, comparable to Gigi’s (People).

Six data points, one pattern: Gigi’s longer runway presence and earlier entrance into mainstream modeling (starting at age 2 vs Bella starting at 16) have produced a consistent income lead.

The table below compares the Hadid sisters’ net worth and career milestones.

The trade-off: Bella’s slower career pace due to health has likely limited her earning potential — but her brand Ôrəbella gives her ownership and a revenue stream less dependent on her physical presence.

How old is Bella Hadid?

Bella Hadid was born on October 9, 1996, in Washington, D.C., making her 28 years old as of 2025 (Arab News). She is the middle child of real estate developer Mohamed Hadid and former model Yolanda Hadid.

Who are Bella Hadid’s siblings?

• Bella has two siblings: older sister Gigi Hadid (born 1995) and younger brother Anwar Hadid (born 1999). All three have modeled. Their mother Yolanda Hadid also had a successful modeling career and appears on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

What is Bella Hadid’s religion?

• Bella Hadid is Muslim. Her father is a Palestinian Muslim, and her mother converted to Islam when she married. Bella has spoken about her faith, including celebrating Eid and fasting during Ramadan (Arab News).

The catch: Hadid’s religious identity has sometimes been overlooked in Western media coverage, but it’s a meaningful part of her personal life and public identity — especially given her father’s Palestinian heritage.

Timeline signal

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Quotes from Bella Hadid

“I’m finally healthy. I’m finally okay. I’m so grateful.”

— Bella Hadid in an Instagram post, August 2023, after completing over 100 days of treatment (People)

In a 2026 interview with People, Hadid described turning down jobs for almost a year because of Lyme treatment and said she felt “disposable.”

She also told Bravo TV that she naps a lot on set and sleeps a lot at night to manage her health while working.

Summary

Bella Hadid’s story is one of relentless work, chronic illness, and recalibration. She proved she could dominate high fashion, but at a cost that eventually forced a slower pace. For young models and public figures facing similar health battles, her journey offers a clear lesson: the industry will take everything you give, but only you can decide when to stop. For Bella Hadid, the decision to step back wasn’t an end — it was a new chapter built around ownership and well-being.

Related reading: Bella Hadid Lyme disease diagnosis · Bella Hadid chronic illness treatment and modeling hiatus

For a deeper look at how Lyme disease has shaped her life and career, read more about Bella Hadids health journey.

Frequently asked questions