Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes are two names that often appear together in search results, yet they come from very different worlds. Banks is a supermodel, television host and ice cream founder, while Hayes is the former aerospace chief executive who led RTX. This guide separates confirmed facts from online guesswork.
Banks became a household name through America’s Next Top Model, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and Victoria’s Secret. Hayes became known in boardrooms after he led United Technologies and shaped the 2020 merger that created RTX. Below you will find verified bios, career timelines, net worth estimates and 2026 updates for both.
Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes: Quick Biographies
| Detail | Tyra Banks | Greg Hayes |
| Full Name | Tyra Lynne Banks | Gregory J. Hayes |
| Age | 52 (as of October 2026) | Not publicly confirmed |
| Date of Birth | December 4, 1973 | Not officially published |
| Birthplace | Inglewood, California | Not officially published |
| Nationality | American | American |
| Profession | Model, TV host, producer, entrepreneur | Corporate executive, board director |
| Known For | America’s Next Top Model, SMiZE & DREAM | United Technologies and RTX |
| Estimated Net Worth | About $90 million | About $100 million or more |
Who Is Tyra Banks? A Look at Her Life and Career
Tyra Banks is an American model, television personality, producer and entrepreneur. She rose to fame in the 1990s and later built a media business around her own brand.
Her career has three clear phases. First came modeling, then television, and now food and consumer products.
Tyra Banks’ Early Life in Inglewood, California
Banks was born on December 4, 1973, in Inglewood, California. Her mother, Carolyn London, worked as a medical photographer and raised her with a strong focus on education and confidence.
She attended Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles. At 17, she moved to Paris to begin her international modeling career.
Tyra Banks’ Appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
In 1996, Banks became the first Black woman on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She appeared on a solo cover in 1997.
She also became a Victoria’s Secret Angel in the late 1990s. These milestones made her one of the most visible models of her generation.
Tyra Banks’ Role in America’s Next Top Model
Banks created America’s Next Top Model, which premiered in 2003. She served as host, judge and executive producer during its main run.
The series ran for 24 cycles across several networks. It taught viewers about runway walks, photo shoots and handling criticism, and it made “smize” part of everyday language.
The show remains a topic of debate in 2026. A Netflix docuseries, Reality Check: Inside America’s Next Top Model, revisited the show’s history, and Banks has publicly addressed criticism about parts of it.
The Tyra Banks Show and Her Television Career
The Tyra Banks Show was a daytime talk series that ran from 2005 to 2010. It covered fashion, relationships and social issues, and it earned Daytime Emmy Award recognition.
Banks later hosted America’s Got Talent in 2017 and 2018. She also hosted Dancing with the Stars from 2020 to 2022.
She has acted as well. Her best-known acting role is Eve in the 2000 film Life-Size, which found a new audience when it joined Disney+ in November 2025.
Tyra Banks’ Journey as an Entrepreneur
Banks treats her name as a brand. Her production company, Bankable Productions, supported her television work, and she published the novel Modelland in 2011.
In 2012, she completed Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program. This is the answer to where she studied business, and it was an executive program rather than a degree.
Tyra Banks’ SMiZE & DREAM Business Venture
SMiZE & DREAM is Banks’ ice cream brand, introduced in 2023. Each pint hides a truffle at the bottom, which she calls the “Smize Surprize.”
The brand is inspired by Friday night ice cream trips with her mother. It also includes a hot ice cream line that melts into a warm dessert.
Banks opened a Washington, D.C. pop-up in July 2024 and a Sydney flagship in 2025. In early 2026, she said she wants the brand to be her real legacy.
The business has also faced legal news. A former D.C. landlord sued over a lease in October 2025, and Banks denied wrongdoing. The landlord voluntarily dismissed the case in December 2025.
Tyra Banks’ Networth & Income Source
Tyra Banks’ net worth is commonly estimated at about $90 million. No audited figure is public, and estimates vary, so treat this number as an approximation.
| Income Source | How It Contributes |
| Modeling | High-profile campaigns and runway work in the 1990s and 2000s |
| Television | Hosting fees for talk and competition shows |
| Production | Producer credits and equity through Bankable Productions |
| Books and Media | Modelland and other media projects |
| Business Ventures | SMiZE & DREAM and brand partnerships |
Her income has shifted over time. Early earnings came from modeling, while recent growth depends more on ownership stakes and brand building.
Net worth figures for celebrities are modeled guesses, not financial statements. Public estimates for Banks have ranged widely, so a reasonable reading is a band of roughly $90 million and above rather than one exact number. Her ice cream business is privately held, which makes its value hard to measure from outside.
Who Is Greg Hayes? An Overview of His Career
Gregory J. Hayes is an American business executive who served as CEO of United Technologies and later of RTX. His career spans more than 30 years in aerospace and defense.
He joined United Technologies in 1999 through its merger with Sundstrand Corporation. He served as chief financial officer from 2008 to 2014 before becoming CEO.
Greg Hayes’ Education and Background as a CPA
Hayes holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Purdue University. He is also a certified public accountant.
Before his time at United Technologies, he worked in finance roles at Sundstrand. That financial training shaped how he later approached deals and capital decisions.
Greg Hayes’ Career at United Technologies
Hayes became CEO of United Technologies in November 2014 and chairman in September 2016. He succeeded Louis Chênevert in the top job.
His goal was to turn a wide industrial conglomerate into a more focused aerospace company. That meant selling some businesses, buying others and later splitting the company.
Key moves during his tenure:
- 2015: Sikorsky Aircraft was sold to Lockheed Martin.
- 2018: Rockwell Collins was acquired.
- 2020: Otis and Carrier were spun off as separate public companies.
Greg Hayes’ Role in the Rockwell Collins Acquisition
Rockwell Collins made avionics and cabin systems for commercial and military aircraft. United Technologies completed the purchase in late 2018.
The deal combined Rockwell Collins with the company’s aerospace systems business. The result was Collins Aerospace, which is now a core RTX unit.
Greg Hayes and the Formation of RTX
In April 2020, United Technologies merged its aerospace businesses, Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace, with Raytheon Company. The merged company was first called Raytheon Technologies, and it was renamed RTX in 2023.
Hayes became its CEO and chairman. He stayed CEO until May 2, 2024, when Christopher Calio took over.
Hayes then served as executive chairman. He stepped down from that role and the board on April 30, 2025.
Greg Hayes’ Leadership Approach and Professional Journey
Hayes is known for a finance-first style. He focused on portfolio decisions, capital allocation and simplifying the business.
His record also includes tough tests. A powder metal quality issue affecting some Pratt & Whitney engines, disclosed in 2023, became a major operational challenge for RTX.
After RTX, he moved into governance. He joined the board of Phillips 66 in 2022 and the board of Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) in 2025.
He also chairs the National Academy Foundation, a nonprofit focused on career education for students. This shows a second side of his work, where experience from the corporate world supports workforce training outside the company.
Governance roles are less visible than a CEO job. Directors review strategy, risk and leadership succession rather than run daily operations.
Greg Hayes’ Networth & Income Source
Greg Hayes’ net worth is estimated at about $100 million or more. This figure is not confirmed by Hayes or any audited statement, and it rises and falls with RTX’s share price.
| Income Source | How It Contributes |
| RTX Stock Holdings | A February 2025 filing showed about 541,265 shares |
| Executive Compensation | Salary, bonuses and equity awards during his CEO years |
| Board Fees | Director compensation from boards such as Phillips 66 and BD |
| Advisory Role | Special advisor to the RTX CEO through January 2, 2026 |
RTX filings state he was not eligible for a 2025 annual incentive or new equity awards while serving as special advisor. That means his estimated wealth mostly reflects past equity, not new grants.
Because most of his estimated wealth sits in RTX stock, the figure moves with the market. Online trackers have shown different totals at different dates in 2025 and 2026 for exactly this reason. Treat any single number as a snapshot, and read it together with the share count and the date.
Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes: Is There a Connection?
No verified source shows any family, business or personal connection between Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes. Their careers have never been documented as overlapping.
The pairing appears to come from search behavior. Both are well-known leaders who changed industries or roles, and search tools sometimes group unrelated names.
Banks works in Hollywood and consumer brands, with roots in Inglewood in Los Angeles County. Hayes worked in corporate America, with United Technologies based in Connecticut and RTX headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Their professional circles do not overlap in any documented way.
Separating Facts From Rumors About Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes
Use named records, official biographies and company filings to test any claim. If a claim has no date or source, treat it as unconfirmed.
| Claim | Status |
| Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes are related | No evidence |
| They have worked together | No documented partnership |
| Hayes is still RTX CEO | False; he left the CEO role on May 2, 2024 |
| Hayes is still on the RTX board | False; he left on April 30, 2025 |
| Banks still hosts America’s Next Top Model | False; the series ended its Banks-hosted run years ago |
| Hayes’s exact birth year is known | Not officially published |
Tyra Banks’ Most Significant Career Achievements
- First Black woman on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue (1996)
- Victoria’s Secret Angel in the late 1990s
- Creator and executive producer of America’s Next Top Model (2003)
- Host of The Tyra Banks Show (2005 to 2010)
- Host of America’s Got Talent (2017 to 2018) and Dancing with the Stars (2020 to 2022)
- Harvard Business School executive education graduate (2012)
- Founder of SMiZE & DREAM (2023)
Greg Hayes’ Most Notable Career Achievements
- CFO of United Technologies (2008 to 2014)
- CEO of United Technologies (2014) and chairman (2016)
- Led the Sikorsky sale (2015)
- Led the Rockwell Collins acquisition (2018)
- Oversaw the Otis and Carrier spin-offs (2020)
- Led the creation of RTX (2020)
- CEO of RTX until May 2024, then executive chairman until April 2025
- Director at Phillips 66 and BD
Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes: Where They Stand in 2026
In 2026, Banks is focused on media and food, while Hayes has moved from operating roles to boards. Their paths show how careers can shift without ending.
Check official channels for changes, since roles and projects can update quickly.
Both have a global footprint. America’s Next Top Model inspired versions of the format in many countries, and Banks is recognized well beyond the United States through television and social media. RTX describes itself as the world’s largest aerospace and defense company, with more than 185,000 employees and over $80 billion in annual sales, so Hayes’s work touches airlines, militaries and suppliers on several continents.
Tyra Banks’ Current Career and Activities
Banks is 52 and remains active in entertainment and business. Her main focus is SMiZE & DREAM, which she calls her real legacy.
She also appears in the news for the 2026 Netflix docuseries about America’s Next Top Model. She has teased new Life-Size announcements for 2026 as the film marks 25 years.
Greg Hayes’ Current Professional Status
Hayes is no longer an RTX officer or director. His special advisor role with RTX was scheduled to run through January 2, 2026.
Official company biographies list him as a director of BD and Phillips 66. They also list him as chairman of the National Academy Foundation.
Tyra Banks vs. Greg Hayes: Comparing Their Careers
| Category | Tyra Banks | Greg Hayes |
| Industry | Fashion, television, food | Aerospace and defense |
| Starting Point | Modeling | Finance and accounting |
| Top Role | Creator, host, executive producer | CEO and chairman |
| Best-Known Work | America’s Next Top Model | United Technologies and RTX |
| Public Profile | Celebrity entrepreneur | Corporate executive and director |
| Current Focus | SMiZE & DREAM and media | Corporate boards |
Key Differences Between Their Professional Paths
Banks built her career in front of the camera and sells stories and consumer products. Hayes worked behind the scenes and led a company that makes engines, avionics and defense systems.
Banks owns her brand directly. Hayes led a public company with thousands of shareholders and strict reporting rules.
Success also looks different in each field. For Banks, it shows up in audience reach, cultural impact and brand ownership. For Hayes, it showed up in earnings, shareholder returns and the strength of the company’s order book.
What Makes Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes’ Stories Interesting?
Their stories show two ways to build influence. One path grows through audience trust, and the other grows through institutional trust.
Both also show the value of reinvention. Banks moved from runways to television to ice cream, and Hayes moved from finance to the CEO office to boardrooms.
Career Lessons From Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes
- Build skills that travel across industries.
- Learn the numbers behind your work.
- Protect your reputation, since public trust can be tested at any time.
- Be ready to start a new chapter after a major role ends.
How Their Leadership Differs
Banks leads through personality and creative vision. She sets the tone, often fronts the brand herself and takes public criticism directly.
Hayes led through structure and planning. He worked through boards, regulators, investors and large operating teams.
Banks makes quick brand calls that audiences feel immediately. Hayes made long-cycle decisions, such as mergers and spin-offs, that took years to show results.
Conclusion
Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes have no documented connection, but their careers are useful to compare. Banks turned modeling fame into a media and ice cream business, while Hayes turned a finance career into leadership of United Technologies and RTX.
In 2026, Banks is focused on SMiZE & DREAM and her media legacy. Hayes serves on corporate boards after leaving RTX. For the most reliable updates on either person, rely on official biographies, company filings and dated news reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes Related?
No. There is no verified evidence of a family, business or personal connection between them.
What Is Tyra Banks Best Known For?
Tyra Banks is best known as a supermodel and the creator and host of America’s Next Top Model. She also founded the ice cream brand SMiZE & DREAM.
What Is Greg Hayes Best Known For?
Greg Hayes is best known for leading United Technologies and then RTX. He guided the 2020 merger that created RTX.
Does Greg Hayes Still Serve as RTX’s CEO?
No. Hayes stepped down as CEO on May 2, 2024, and left the RTX board on April 30, 2025.
Where Did Tyra Banks Study Business?
Tyra Banks completed Harvard Business School’s Owner/President Management Program in 2012. It is an executive education program.
What Are Tyra Banks and Greg Hayes Doing in 2026?
Banks is running SMiZE & DREAM and working on media projects. Hayes serves on the BD and Phillips 66 boards.