Born Eleanor Gow in Sydney, Australia, Macpherson became an international star through her appearance in ELLE magazine -- every issue, for six straight years. Eventually she gained even more exposure through Sports Illustrated magazine’s annual swimsuit issue. She appeared on the cover a record four times.

By 1986, her popularity has increased sufficiently for Time magazine to run a cover entitled "The Big Elle". The Australian government simultaneously offered her a post on the tourist commission as an unofficial ambassador.

Macpherson made her movie debut playing an artist's model in the 1994 film Sirens, which also starred Hugh Grant and Sam Neill. Macpherson gained 20 pounds for the part to more closely resemble the 1930s models of the day. She surprised fans and critics by appearing unabashedly in numerous nude scenes, earning her top billing for the film above more established actors (in fact, all the female characters in the movie appeared nude at least once in the film).

In 1999, Macpherson appeared in five episodes of the sitcom Friends as Joey's roommate–girlfriend Janine Lecroix.

Macpherson went on to film Jane Eyre with William Hurt and has also appeared alongside Ben Stiller and Sarah Jessica Parker in If Lucy Fell.

Macpherson is the most financially successful of all the world's supermodels. A 1997 estimate placed her net assets at $40.3 million. Cindy Crawford was a relatively close second with $37.7 million.

Understandably, Macpherson is incredibly popular in her home country of Australia. In 1999, she became the first living Australian entertainer to be put on a postage stamp.

Elle is a partner in the Fashion Café restaurant and owner of a successful lingerie brand, Elle Macpherson Intimates, which is manufactured by New Zealand company Bendon. She uses her fame to assist many charities, including those of AIDS and homelessness.