The George Foreman Grill is one of the rare instances where an athlete-sponsored product has outshone the brand of the athlete themselves.
Despite George Foreman’s legendary boxing career—including one of the most popular fights of all time against Muhammad Ali—the grill he endorses became a cultural phenomenon that persists to this day.
So just how much money did Foreman make from one of the most lucrative athlete endorsements of all time?
How much money George Foreman made from the grill
Foreman has openly admitted that his cut from the grill outpaced his heavyweight boxing career. In fact, he admits he is more regularly recognized for the grill than for being a boxer.
“No doubt the grill has been more successful,” Foreman told Motley Fool in 2002. “… People recognize me more now [for the grill].”
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As part of his original deal in 1995, Foreman took about 40 percent of the profits. At the time, Salton CEO Leonhard Dreimann revealed that Foreman was taking as much as $4.5 million per month. Foreman later told AARP that he made “much more” than $200 million on the grill, and earned up to $8 million per month.
In 1999, Salton, Inc, purchased rights to continue profiting from Foreman’s name. Foreman sold his profit share back to Salton for cash and shares worth $137.5 million.
The George Foreman Grill endorsement was originally offered to Hulk Hogan
Instead of the George Foreman Grill, the world almost got the Hulk Hogan Grill. According to Hogan, the grill endorsement deal was first offered to him in 1994 by his agent, who presented two options: a grill or a meatball maker. Ultimately, Hogan endorsed the meatball-maker, which never appeared on store shelves.
Hulk chased his lost opportunity with a plethora of products including his “Ultimate Grill” and “Hulk Hogan Thunder Mixer,” though unfortunately, none of them could catch up to the George Foreman Grill. Hogan’s grill was eventually recalled due to safety concerns.