Surprisingly, many celebrities are getting rich, not thanks to their acting, athleticism, or musical prowess, but because of the brand deals. Celebrity endorsement agreements have been a necessity for centuries. In many ways, before the social networks have become a thing, this was the most important experience that brands could hope to get. But if we are talking about the “big league,” then this is an entirely different story.
Let’s check out 7 of the biggest celebrity endorsement deals!
1. George Clooney – Nespresso, $70 Million
Unless you’ve been living under a boulder for the past 15 years, you probably already know the Nespresso slogan. And this is likely due to the sensual voice of George Clooney, and not to the quality of Nespresso products. Clooney signed a $ 5 million contract with the brand back in 2005. Given that since then, he has always been the face of Nespresso, this means that the Hollywood star has already earned around $70 million.
2. Beyonce – Pepsi, $50 Million
When you are the Queen Bee, you will not settle for anything less than “a boatload of money.” Anyone would love to strike a deal with a famous singer to represent their brand. So why not make an advertisement with Beyonce and her army of fans? That’s precisely what the Pepsi leadership thought when they signed up a contract with Beyoncé in 2013. Although this did not work, and sales fell slightly, the celebrity still managed to snag $50 million.
3. 50 Cent – Reebok, $100 Million
50 Cent is an incredibly successful rapper, but, like any smart businessman, he did everything possible to make the most use of his popularity. One of the smartest deals he’s ever made was with Reebok, a well-known shoe and sportswear brand. Thy asked 50 Cent to be the face of their new G-Unit shoes. This included advertising, which has earned him $100 million.
4. Charlize Theron – Dior, $75 Million
Millions of fans consider Charlize to be one of the hottest and most elegant women in the world. Which is why she seemed like an obvious decision when it was time for Dior to choose a celebrity to advertise their stuff. Dior is all about the class and unattainable beauty, making it the perfect product for everyone. In 2004, Theron signed a contract for $5 million a year, and since then, she has been featured in all types of brand ads. If you do the math, you will quickly realize that Charlize has already earned about 75 million dollars from that single transaction.
5. Tiger Woods – Nike, $100 Million
Nike knows precisely which celebs to reel in when it comes to approving business deals. Another multi-million dollar contract was signed with the golf superstar Tiger Woods, who always wore Nike’s sports equipment, including hats and t-shirts. The deal was for five years and made Woods $100 million richer.
6. David Beckham – Adidas, $160 Million
Nike is not the only brand that knows how to find an excellent opportunity. Adidas, Nike’s biggest competitor, focuses on football (or soccer), not basketball, trying to increase the sales and keep them growing. Choosing David Beckham was the most obvious decision for them. And it only cost Adidas $160 million.
7. Michael Jordan – Nike Air Jordan, $60 Million a Year
And at the end of the list, we have the highest-paid celebrity endorsement deal of all time, and that, of course, is Michael Jordan and Nike. A former NBA player may have resigned, but thanks to his contract with Nike, he continues to receive a truck-load of money every year. For a while, it was estimated that he earned $100 million a year on this deal alone, and Forbes calculated that he would make another $190 million in 2019. The amount is not precisely known, but probably close to $1 billion. Holy sneakers, Batman!
