50 Cent as Himself: $80 Million
…It’s your birthday! Well, even if it isn’t, and you’re also just a fan of “In Da Club”, it certainly felt like 50 Cent’s birthday when Reebok forked out a staggering $80 million as part of an endorsement agreement with the rapper. His G Unit Sneakers range was bought out by Reebok and subsequently, all 50 had to do was wear and model the shoes. The commercial he shot for the campaign is well known as one of the best that the brand has ever delivered, showcasing that they had made the right call by investing in him. Sales soared, and Reebok couldn’t handle festive season demand, leaving many retailers high and dry. All things considered, the endorsement did it’s job, and certainly left 50 Cent satisfied, as he got paid for doing something we all have to do, namely, put on shoes each morning.
50 Cent
LeBron James as Himself: $90 Million (Over 7 Years)
LeBron and basketball are synonymous with each other. You can’t mention the NBA greats without considering the L.A Lakers and LeBron James’ involvement in popularising the sport on an international level. While you’ve heard that 50 Cent got a major payday from Reebok, LeBron did a one-up and negotiated a seven year deal with Nike, earning $90 million in the process. All he had to do was exclusively wear the Nike brand while he was in his contract. Wondering about how that turned out for the company itself? Sales increased by $350 million over this period, catapulting LeBron’s status as a sporting icon, and making the paycheck all the more worthwhile to Nike executives who were looking to take things to the next level.
LeBron James
