Celebrity endorsements can be the proverbial double-edged sword. A company having a multi-million dollar contract with a celebrity can elevate them to high heaven.
But under the assumption we are all hopelessly human, their flawed lifestyle can be a bust for the company. Just remember, with all the big bucks they make, in turn, our celebrities are also some of the biggest givers in the world.
We saw that with Tiger Woods. But he did recover nicely – and Nike is pretty much bullet-proof as a company.
Celebrity endorsements don’t come cheap. In 2012 Pepsi decided it was worth the price when they signed on with Beyonce for a whopping US$50 million over a 10 year period.
Nowadays, that might be considered selling yourself short and getting your agent fired.
For the most part, though, celebrity endorsements are winners for everyone at the table, a table we all wish we were pulling up a chair at!
Charlize Theron – Dior, $55 Million
Charlize Theron has received many accolades, which include an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and also Silver Bear for Best Actress.
The actress had risen to fame during the 1990s after she had played the role of the leading lady in several Hollywood movies including The Devil’s Advocate.
In 2003, Charlize Theron had earned a lot of critical acclaim for her role of the character, Aileen Wuornos in Monster, winning the Academy Award for Best Actress.
For one of her celebrity endorsements, She reportedly signed an 11-year, $5 million-a-year contract to pitch for Dior’s signature fragrance, J’adore perfume. Watch her commercial and you’ll see why she’s worth every penny.
ATTRIBUTION: DIOR J’adore Absolu CC BY 4.0 2018, URL: http://bit.ly/2KPQZId
Serena Williams – Nike, $55 Million
No woman in sports earns more than tennis superstar Serena Williams and being an international role model has its perks.
She’s had her moments on the court she’d probably take back if she could, but she never looks back and it serves her well.
In fact, the former world No.1 tennis star, has won 23 major singles titles, most by any man or woman in the Open Era.
The Women’s Tennis Association ranked her world No. 1 in singles on eight occasions between 2002 and 2017.
Being top-notch in tennis is a grueling task. Throw in an endorsement here and there and she’s definitely at the top of her game. Throw in Nike, and you’ve got yourself the game point.
50 Cent – Vitaminwater, $60 Million to $100 Million
Curtis James Jackson III, known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, actor, television producer, entrepreneur, and investor.
Like Curtis, other celebrities are known for their quirky investments that paid off big time. Here’s a list of stars who got in early on the Bitcoin craze and have been riding the crest of that wave.
During his career, Jackson has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and won several awards, including a Grammy Award, thirteen Billboard Music Awards, six World Music Awards, three American Music Awards, and four BET Awards,
No doubt trading his endorsement for a stake in a water company was one of his best plays- and lucrative. Rapper 50 Cent was an investor and part-owner behind Glaceau Water— the brand that founded Vitaminwater, and he used his fame to endorse the product.
A good play all the way around as Coca-Cola ended up buying the company in 2007, a knock on the door anyone would answer!
Sofia Vergara – Assorted Companies, $94.5 Million
Sofia Vergara was the top-earning actress in American television in 2012, 2013, and 2016, and is among the best-paid actresses in the world as of 2019.
“Modern Family” star Sofia Vergara never ceases to astonish us as one of the highest-paid actresses on television. And with her 17.5 million followers on Instagram, she’s a sure bet for companies seeking this celebrity endorsement.
She has secured lucrative endorsement deals with brands like Head & Shoulders, Pepsi, Quaker Oats, and CoverGirl.
George Foreman – Foreman Grills, $200 Million
I think the takeaway here is that we love to grill. And we also love cuddly, Big George.
Nicknamed “Big George”, George Foreman is a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist.
The boxing-legend-turned-grilling-guru George Foreman’s endorsement deal is said to be the second-best in history, after Michael Jordan’s contract with Nike.
Salton electric grills were obscure — until they became Foreman Grills. George really knows how to sell the sizzle!
