BINDI IRWIN FOR FRIDAY TO NOT PUBLISH!!!

No doubt Bindi Irwin will feel the same thrill next Thursday July 24, though understandably her 10th birthday party - a fair sized bash at the Sunshine Coast's Australia Zoo - might have a little more on offer than fairy bread, party pies and a game of pass the parcel.

But as far a life's milstones go, the daughter of Australia's late great wildlife warrior Steve Irwin has already notched up more than any child in Australia ... possibly any child in the world.

There have been Logie Awards, Emmy Awards, red carpets, autograph sessions, live TV appearances, live concerts, her own DVD series and the adoration of millions of children and plenty of adults around the globe.

Industry insiders say it's just beginning for this soon-to-be-10 girl wonder, and by the time she turns 16, Bindi's Irwin Inc. could easily eclipse everything she's achieved in her first decade.

"$50m by the time she's 30"

Celebrity agent Harry M. Miller said the pint-sized star has probably already raked in a cool $500,000 from Bindi clothing lines, television shows, DVD deals as well as her line of Bindi dolls.

Sydney-based mega-manager Max Markson reckons Bindi’s real star-power could peak with movie deals and customised brands in her late teens.

He's already on the record predicting Bindi could earn $50 million by the time she tuns 30.

It's breathtaking and somewhat daunting stuff, but Bindi's manager and one of her father’s closest friends, John Stainton, assured NEWS.com.au that while she may seem like a girl on a mission, Bindi Irwin is, well, still just a little girl.

Having said that, Stainton quickly points out plenty of people twice Bindi's age could take a leaf our of her jungle book on life.

“She loves what she does, and I think the big thing that’s wrong with a lot of kids today is that they don’t have direction,” Stainton said.

“Most kids get to 16 or 17 and they have no idea what they want to do.

"They take university courses just for the sake of taking them because they still don’t know… (they) come out of uni and they change their careers again.

“I just think that if she has a purpose in life at this point and as long as she keeps purpose, she’ll be doing fine.”

Trading on her name

That would mean continuing to use her name to sell everything from baby bibs to toys, puppets and CDs (see below for the full list of Bind Inc. merchandise).

Max Markson said there's little doubt Bindi will become even more marketable when she hits 16.

“She’s probably the most famous child in the world,” Markson point out.

“(But) she’ll probably peak when she’s 16 to 18.”

That's when her celebrity could explode through film deals and similar branding used by US marketing duo the Olsen twins when they were teens, Markson said.

According to industry insiders, Bindi is too smart and her management team – and of course mum Terri– would never allow her to be exploited.

“It’s always difficult representing young people,” said Harry M. Miller.

“But her management team has been great. She’s a great kid – she’s not a lollypop-licking nitwit.”
John Stainton said Bindi has fun doing whatever she's involved in and she never does things she doesn't want to.

“As Bindi grows up she’ll change what she likes and what she wants to do, so everyone’s very conscious of that and everyone’s just going with it," Stainton said.

“Her mum’s the best guide for her and where she wants to be and she’s listening to Bindi all the time.

“Over the years, Bindi may change her attitude as to what she wants to do… it’s her decision.”

“She’s only (about to turn) 10 and she’s got a long way to go in life.”