When watching TV, we’re sure your favorite part of the experience isn’t the ads. They’re usually seen amid the most entertaining scene, after all! It’s never been particularly fun, but in the day and age of digital media, we are sure it is even less so. And while you’re upset about the ads, we’re confident that the commercial actors were never forgotten. And yet, how much do these people get to feature in these commercials? Not only did these familiar faces gain recognition, but their commercial jobs also expanded their careers. Get ready to find out how much money these stars made! You’ll be shocked to find a celebrity was paid an incredible $160 million to endorse a product. Who could it be?
Find Out How Much These Stars Are Making Through Commercials
The Snapple Lady – $100,000
While most people call her Snapple Lady, her real name is Wendy Kaufman. She also often responds to a fan mail. The actress was one of the few employees replying to a fan mail that sparked interest in the ad agency. Snapple’s sales increased from $23 million a year in the 1990s to a whopping $750 million, which meant it rose ten times. Unfortunately, after Quaker Oats bought Snapple, she was fired. The company later came to its senses and reinstated Wendy Kaufman.
The Snapple Lady – $100,000
The Orbit Gum Girl – $500,000
Vanessa Lynn Branch is an actress best known as the Orbit Gum Girl. She also worked on several projects, like 90201, Redline and Little Hercules. Maybe you saw her, appearing on some Jimmy Kimmel Live skits. Now she’s doing well for herself and also pursued a modeling career. Also, she has starred as a guest in several projects, including a “Famous faces” film in ads. It’s not surprising that she brings home $500,000 a year with such a gorgeous smile.
The Orbit Gum Girl – $500,000
The Pine-Sol Woman – $250,000
Somewhere in the house, there’s a good chance that you have Pine-Sol. Diane Amos is the icon in the classic cleaning product advertisements. She also worked on Twisted, Patch Adams, Nine Months, Sweet November, and Jasmine. Her TV debut was Janet’s role in Midnight Caller. Besides acting, she’s also a comedian. The cleaning company appointed her as their spokeswoman in 2002. We’re happy the actress is bringing home a $250,000 paycheck for her hard work.
The Pine-Sol Woman – $250,000
The Maytag Man – $1 Million
Remember Colin Ferguson’s Eureka performance as Sheriff Carter? Perhaps you know him from a show called Then Came You. Most people know him as The Maytag Man. In 2014, he earned $1 million a year as a commercial icon. Don’t forget that Ferguson did these advertisements as he took on specific roles in other projects. And, for his personal life, he prefers anonymity. He also appeared in several Christmas Lifetime movies in an original Hallmark movie featuring Lori Loughlin called Every Christmas Has a Story.
The Maytag Man – $1 Million
The Wendy’s Girl – $3 Million
If you think Morgan Smith-Goodwin looks familiar, it’s because she’s the girl we know from Wendy’s ad. She moved to New York to pursue her acting career. She concentrated on concerts and benefits of all sorts before ultimately snagging a significant role on stage. The actress starred in an Off-Broadway show called Freckleface Strawberry, making her an original cast member. In Broadway shows, she secured more lead roles. But really, this beautiful redhead is a blonde beauty. Whenever she’s advertising, she dyes it red. We’d even make it green with $3 million paychecks!
The Wendy’s Girl – $3 Million
The Old Spice Guy – $5 Million
We’re confident that you know Old Spice and its famous commercial “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like.” If Isaiah Mustafa weren’t the person starring in it, the ad definitely wouldn’t be the same. His manly looks were just what the company wanted to do a successful ad. The comic expressions and monologue succeeded in creating an iconic video. He was also in Horrible Bosses, Days Of Our Lives, and It Two, besides the ad. He also wanted to portray Marvel’s Luke Cage, but he didn’t get the role.
The Old Spice Guy – $5 Million
The Target Lady – $300,000
Remember the Target Lady? A brilliant voice actress and stand-up comedian named Maria Bamford brought this character to life. She has a hyperactive and positive personality, so viewers may know who she is. She began her career as a voice actress in 2000 and acted in a movie called Lucky Numbers. You may have heard of her in American Dad, Stuart Little 2, SpongeBob Squarepants, etc. You could recognize her voice from Catdog, too. She starred in Hell & Back in 2015.
The Target Lady – $300,000
The Cingular Wireless Umbrella Girl – $75,000
Americans must’ve to recall Cingular Wireless’s umbrella girl. Although this Armenian star started her career by advertising, her career has only flourished since. She’s getting non-commercial pieces regularly. This talented actress acted in the WestWorld, The Immigrant, and Repo Chick. She also worked on small screen projects like The Division, Judging Amy, and Criminal Minds. She is also recognized for her leading role in Plain Sight and portraying Clementine Pennyfeather in WestWorld. We can’t wait to see what’s next for her!
The Cingular Wireless Umbrella Girl – $75,000
The Most Interesting Man In The World – $1 Million
What could be better than being remembered as the Most Interesting Man in the World? Jonathan Goldsmith was fortunate enough to earn the title as he partakes in the Dos Equis ad campaign. This New York native had his first role at the Perry Manson show in 1963. He also appeared in series like Magnum P.I., Charlie’s Angels, and Dallas. With over 350 TV roles to his credit, he truly had an incredible career. It seems, upon releasing Goldsmith in commercials, the beer company saw a 15.4% increase in profits.
The Most Interesting Man In The World – $1 Million
The Slim Jim Dude – $100,000
Despite Demetri Goritsas appearing in a variety of blockbuster movies in the past, we will always recognize him as Slim Jim Guy. He’s both an actor and a documentary narrator. While people nowadays rarely speak of Slim Jim, in the 1990s, this jerky brand was once phenomenal. This actor was very busy with show business. He appeared in projects like The Bourne Identity, Darkest Hour, and X-Men: First Class. When it comes to recent roles, he was in Radioactive. He’s also expected to appear in The Angel of Darkness.
The Slim Jim Dude – $100,000
The T-Mobile Girl – $1 Million
For Carly Foulkes, everything changed in 2009. That was the year she said yes to working on a random ad for T-Mobile. Since she appeared on the company’s aggressive “No More Mrs Nice Girl” commercial, people began naming her the T-Mobile girl. She got featured by the company from their 2010 to 2013 ads, often wearing white and pink in the commercials. The fascinating part about her outfits would be that T-Mobile trademarked that specific shade of pink! That’s why she always wore those colors in the ads. She’s also a fashion model.
The T-Mobile Girl – $1 Million
The Toyota Girl – $1 Million
How can you not remember the Toyota girl? She was an ambitious and amusing employee called Jan. Though many people call her Toyota girl, she’s an actress named Laurel Coppock. She appeared in numerous shows, including The Office, Arrested Development, and Modern Family. She was also in the popular rom-com called Crazy Stupid Love as Sophia. Upon graduating from Colby College with a degree in Performing Arts, she pursued professional acting at the Square Acting Conservatory. She was so determined to make it significant that she even went to study improv comedy in Chicago. And it paid off!
The Toyota Girl – $1 Million
The ‘It’s Not That Complicated’ Guy – $250,000
He was known in AT&T ads for acting in It’s not that Complicated Guy before Beck Bennett became a regular in a hit TV show Saturday Night Live. After giving great entertainment in these ads, he became a fan favorite. In a classroom, we saw the actor passing awkwardly to several groups of children to explain that AT&T can offer “Bigger. Faster. More.” He then asked the children relatable questions that they all gave hilarious answers. He’s not just a long-running SNL regular star, but he’s also in a funny sitcom called Arrested Development.
The ‘It’s Not That Complicated’ Guy – $250,000
The Red Robin Lady – $50,249
Based on her reputation as Red Robin Lady, Paxson first featured in Gladeware ads. This Illinois-born actress began her acting career with Steppenwolf Theatre Company. The truth is she’s been on our screens since the 1990s. In 1997, she appeared in Early Edition, causing controversy by playing Jaclyn in Cupid. She’s also in The Drew Carey Show, Kitchen Confidential, and Kitchen Confidential. She plays Sara Brennan’s recurring role in the Happy Family these days. It’s also fascinating to hear her husband being the co-owner of Simpethings Sandwich and Pie Shop, a famous Los Angeles restaurant.
The Red Robin Lady – $50,249
The “Can You Hear Me Now?” Guy – $9 Million
Verizon made a famous phrase, “Can you hear me now?” through his ads. It’s one of the planet’s most famous phrases. The face of these ads was Paul Marcelli, bringing home a nice paycheck for these five words. Marcelli signed a deal in 2016 to work with Print, Verizon’s largest viral firm. His new phrase was then changed into “Can you hear that?” We don’t deny that this also caused an uproar. He’s also an owner and screenwriter of a production company. And an actor, for sure!
The “Can You Hear Me Now?” Guy – $9 Million
Mr. Mayhem From The Allstate Commercials – $4,750 Per Commercial Airing
Dean Winters is a funny man. Allstate’s best marketing concepts are all Mr Mayhem’s. People admire this guy, and every time they air the ads, the star earns almost $5,000. He also informs everyone about the ‘mayhem’ he’s about to get into, but he reassures us that Allstate is going to be okay. He started his career in 1997 and has since appeared on several TV shows. He was in law: SVU, Rescue Me, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Also, he plays Ryan in Oz as a recurring character.
Mr. Mayhem From The Allstate Commercials – $4,750 Per Commercial Airing
The GoDaddy Guy – $900,000
Jesse Heiman is a Boston native who was first recognized in Go Daddy ad. It first aired before Super Bowl XLVII, featuring Rafaeli and Danica Patrick. The actor and Bar Rafaeli, sharing the steamy kiss the crowd ate up, was the night’s real gem. If you remember the American Pie 2, we wouldn’t be shocked to know. Let’s not forget that he’s in Maybe It’s Me, Entourage, and NCIS. He made his last short film in a hit police procedural episode, Criminal Minds, in 2014.
The GoDaddy Guy – $900,000
The InVinceable Guy – $2 Million
Did you know Offer Shlomi is Vince Offer’s real name? The American-Israeli pitchman, InVinceable Guy, is known best as a ShamWow spokesperson. Offer is also a comedian and writer, besides working on these ad campaigns. In 1999, in the Underground Comedy Movie, he played his first silver screen role. He funded the film and had difficulties selling it initially. Not only the features in ShamWow ads but also writes, produces and owns them. You must know he’s not just a ShamWow’s pitchman! He also promoted Eminem’s Recovery album in 2010.
The InVinceable Guy – $2 Million
Flo, The Progressive Insurance Woman – $8 Million
One of the most recognized faces in the commercial world is The Progressive Insurance Woman. While we call her Flo, her real name is Stephanie Courtney. She has a legendary uplifting attitude that has drawn people into her. She quickly became famous, which explains why Flo appeared in over a hundred commercials. This character became so popular that they also made an Australian rendition. The figure is called Kitty and portrayed by Holly Austin. Courtney was a theater actress before landing this breakthrough role. She also worked in shows like The Goldberg’s and Mad Men.
Flo, The Progressive Insurance Woman – $8 Million
Little Mikey From Life Cereal – $10 Million
We want you to take a nostalgic route, remembering the adorable young man from Life Cereal ad, Little Mikey. His brother tried to persuade him to check it out in the ad, and was delighted that “he likes it!” The boy who played Mikey was John Gilchrist and Tommy, his real sibling, acted like his brother. Ironically, there are seven children in that family. In 1974, it became so vast that it bought a Clio Award. In 1999, TV Guide said it was one of history’s top ten commercials. It’s now considered a classic tv commercial.
Little Mikey From Life Cereal – $10 Million
The Dell Computer Dude – $50,000
Born in Tennessee, Ben Curtis began his career by appearing in a lot of famous Dell ads. He was three years older than the desired age when he decides to act in the ad. He could still give a massive impact to casting agents, though, and earned the part. He’s famous now for saying, “Dude, you’re getting a Dell.” It was a massive success for him as well as Dell. After a drug purchase conviction, Curtis left the firm in 2003. Unfortunately, the entertainment industry blacklisted him and only secured minor roles later.
The Dell Computer Dude – $50,000
The 7 Up Guy – $500,000
Orlando Jones was a 1999-2002 7-Up spokesman. Also, a sketch comedy series was famous for the time he spent on MAD TV. Eventually, in 1987, the talented man leapt Hollywood by working as a screenwriter for A Different World comedy series. Besides that, during the 5th season, he also did a few cameos. He ended his first role in the 1990s. He also co-produced in The Sinbad Show in 1993 and star in Office Space, Sour Grapes, and Liberty Heights. 7-Up decided he was the best candidate thanks to his timing and fantastic writing skills.
The 7 Up Guy – $500,000
The Trivago Guy – $20,000
Timothy Williams is the star of a very well-known Trivago commercial. Born in Texas, he later moved to Germany, where he learned the local language fluently. And he started his acting career there. Through films such as Ninja Assassin, Labyrinth of Lies, and Valkyrie, he made a seamless transition to Hollywood. He’s a graduate of Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute, having a cameo on popular shows like The Sopranos. Williams released his debut album, Magnolia City, in 2018. He now seems to concentrate on his music career. Check out his songs!
The Trivago Guy – $20,000
The Guy From Sonic Commercials – $300,000
Actor T.J. Jagodowski attended Syracuse University. Sonic found this unscripted actor when they were looking for a new face for their ads. The actor was seen in advertisements with Pete Grosz, but most people don’t know their lines were improvised. They became many TV viewers’ new favorite on-screen friends as they did an excellent job endorsing the fast-food chain menu. Though he’s widely known as the Sonic Commercial Guy, he also appeared in movies and TV shows like Stranger Than Fiction, Hard, and Prison Break.
The Guy From Sonic Commercials – $300,000
‘I’ve Fallen, And I Can’t Get Up Lady’ – Unknown
While her income is yet to be disclosed, we can’t imagine listing commercial stars without including the lady who goes ‘I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up. ‘The actress’s name is Edith Fore. When she was featured in a LifeCall campaign, she decided to turn her hip injury into a great Tv ad. This campaign was conducted to endorse the use of the LifeCall pendant. It was originally designed for the elderly, but people of all ages can’t forget the classic “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” line.
‘I’ve Fallen, And I Can’t Get Up Lady’ – Unknown
Jenny Craig Girl – Estimated $1.55 Million (For Losing 47 Pounds)
Jenny Craig’s commercial weight-loss campaign hired Valerie Bertinelli for the role in 2012. Viewers couldn’t believe what she looked like in a bathing suit. The ad said she “hasn’t worn one of these things in almost 30 years.” Her remarkable transformation motivated people nationwide to follow her footsteps. How can you forget her line, “nothing’s stopping me from diving into this summer?” Before she could do so, she had to lose weight using Jenny Craig’s diet! Upon losing 47 pounds, she became a company spokeswoman and earned around $1.55 million
Jenny Craig Girl – Estimated $1.55 Million (For Losing 47 Pounds)
Pantene Girl – $100,000 To $1 Million
Although we don’t know how much money she makes, Kelly LeBrock couldn’t be forgotten. She left everyone jealous of the beautiful curls she showed in the 1980s Pantene commercials. Let’s not forget her iconic line: “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.” She worked as an aspiring model back then. Nevertheless, she only had a breakthrough after becoming a Pantene’s brand ambassador. She focused on her acting and modeling career after she was modeling for the company. Maybe you saw her in movies like A Prince for Christmas, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Weird Science.
Pantene Girl – $100,000 To $1 Million
The Pepsi Girl – $333,333
The Pepsi Girl was one of the most famous faces on TV back then. This adorable curly-haired child is forever known for this role, although she appears in movies like How To Eat Fried Worms and Paulie. Her real name is Hallie Eisenberg. One commercial showed her and her dad ordering a Pepsi. After she heard that only Coke was available, she parodied one of The Godfather’s characters to get her way! As a child actress, she appeared in movies like Holy Rollers, Bicentennial Man, and The Miracle Worker.
The Pepsi Girl – $333,333
Brad Pitt – $7 Million
Chanel is one of the most well-known brands. The high-end brand found the perfect man for its famous ‘Chanel No. 5’ perfume. It’s said the company paid an astounding $7 million to recruit the A-lister for the ad. Also, Brad Pitt was the first man to star on the iconic perfume advertisement. Although the company paid $7 million to bring him in, it was a success. The actor contributed to the awareness that the brand is for men and women. In the past, this ad was parodied numerous times. It was that iconic!
Brad Pitt – $7 Million
Angelina Jolie – $10 Million
Next is another high-end fashion line up: Louis Vuitton. The brand, best known for its beautiful handbags, hired Angelina Jolie and paid her $10 million for her work. The picture showed her in Cambodia’s rural area, leading to numerous controversies. The way the company focused on its luxurious handbags in a small town had people unimpressed. Nonetheless, the ad was a huge hit. The brand saw a surge in sales after Angelina Jolie’s advertisement. The actress decided to donate some money to a good cause. We’re grateful to hear she didn’t want to keep her entire paycheck.
Angelina Jolie – $10 Million
Jared Fogle – $15 Million
Subway was already going downhill when Jared Fogle’s controversy surfaced. Unfortunately, for a commercial, it still shelled out $15 million. It turned out he shed 245 pounds eating Subway sandwiches. The company has done things better than hiring Jared Fogle. Since he’s a convicted sex offender. The actor received a 15-year prison time after confessing to a sex crime against minors. While behind bars, another inmate beat him as he “can’t be around child molesters.” Honestly, we don’t feel that bad for him.
Jared Fogle – $15 Million
Catherine Zeta – $20 Million
T-Mobile recruited the star to promote the telecommunications agency but couldn’t believe the remarkable success. Catherine Zeta-Jones received a $20 million paycheck for her role. Even if the company eventually replaced her, it still adores the actress, offering her to return as a spokesmodel. If you thought Angelina Jolie’s $10 million paychecks was terrific, she’s even more remarkable because it’s doubled! We don’t know many companies that can afford someone to pay this amount for their endorsement, although T – Mobile says sales rose considerably afterwards. This is a real success story!
Catherine Zeta – $20 Million
Jay Z – $20 Million
It’d be an excellent opportunity for Samsung to use the singer as an ambassador for the Samsung Galaxy mobile, as Jay Z is among the most famous people in showbiz. For this gig, he received $20 million! Probably because their idol uses one, many people wanted a Galaxy phone. The company then saw a noticeable boost in social media and online traffic. This was a win-win situation. He not only successfully promoted his album he also had a big paycheck for the marketing ploy. Don’t you think the Samsung mobile can raise millions of dollars?
Jay Z – $20 Million
Beyonce – $50 Million
There’s no denying Beyonce is one of today’s most prominent celebrities. Not only is this lady gifted, but she is also passionate. She has a huge fan base, and Pepsi was prepared to spend $50 million on her behalf. As you’ve seen, hiring someone with such a fantastic voice and gorgeous looks costs a lot! The soda company had no hesitations over spending so much money to have her be the brand’s ambassador. Tragically, it wasn’t the best decision Pepsi ever made. Ultimately, sales only tumbled by 4 – 7%. Oops.
Beyonce – $50 Million
50 Cent – $80 Million
How was 50 Cent among the best-paid celebrity endorsers? Well, it was when Reebok paid the rapper $80 million. His face was used to promote G Unit Sneakers, meaning he was paid a fortune to wear and model them. It became history’s most successful commercial after it aired. By getting 50 Cent for the role, the company certainly acted correctly. Sales of Rebook went up quickly. It turns out that Reebok’s sales were so high that it was hard to store the shoes at the holiday season.
50 Cent – $80 Million
LeBron James – $90 Million ($12.9 Million A Year)
You don’t have to be a fan of basketball to know who is Lebron James. As one of the most successful and skilled basketball players out there, he’d end up with a massive deal with one of the biggest sports apparel companies too. If you thought Reebok paid 50 Cent a lot, wait until you hear that LeBron James earned $90 million, though this contract will last seven years. Though LeBron James can only wear Nike shoes for the duration, we’re sure it’s worth all that money. Nike’s sales rose $350 million!
LeBron James – $90 Million ($12.9 Million A Year)
Tiger Woods – $100 Million
You were mistaken if you thought Tiger Woods would avoid engaging with a land endorsement after all the conflict. He’s still managed to bag Nike after the controversy. They hired and paid him $100 million. The sponsorship deal had every possibility of a complete disaster, given its ludicrous behavior. Most people couldn’t help but be shocked that after this move, the company’s sales soared! The golfer showed us that he’s genuinely unbelievable since Nike made a risky move. We don’t know why they’d spend $100 million on him, but they made the right decision.
Tiger Woods – $100 Million
David Beckham – $160 Million
We’re not surprised to find David Beckham becoming the top-paid celebrity endorser. This marketable athlete has incredible athleticism, good appearance and fans worldwide. This explains why Adidas gave him $160 million as the brand’s ambassador. You probably didn’t know this wasn’t his first time helping the company raise its sales. Revenues increased rapidly when David Beckham endorsed sportswear company products. The endorsement deal was a great success for Beckham and Adidas, respectively. The model is not only sporty and good looking, but also wealthy, and boasts unlimited Adidas products.
David Beckham – $160 Million