Dean Winters - The Allstate Guy, Reportedly $5K Every Time The Ad Airs
Dean Winters was on a roll, bagging roles after the other, including the TV show "Oz," when he suddenly got severely sick in 2009. In the end, he survived the terrifying ordeal even though doctors had to amputate two toes.
When he slowly returned to the scene, Allstate offered him to star as Mayhem in their commercial, and the actor said he would forever be indebted to the insurance company. Although he didn't disclose how much he earned from this, according to sources, he gets $5K richer every time it airs. In 2021, however, Winters admitted he still lived in pain because of what happened to him.
Vanessa Lynn Branch - The Orbit Gum Girl, $500K
Who wouldn't want to buy gum from this lady when you see her sparkling white teeth? Known as The Orbit Gum Girl, the actress is Vanessa Lynn Branch, who first made waves in her home country in England before she made her way to the United States.
Plus, many Americans found her accent lovely, especially when she said the last line in the commercial: "Fabulous! For a good, clean feeling. No matter what!" She also started a career in acting, appearing in "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. Unfortunately, we don't hear much about her these days, and fans last saw her in 2017's "Silent Kingdom."
Diane Amos - Pine-Sol Lady, $250K Per Year
Diane Amos has a long list of acting credits, but some of her notable works were "Patch Adams," "Sweet November," and "Copycat." However, fans probably recognize her as the Pine-Sol Lady, who has been appearing in the brand's commercials since 1993.
As per reports, the stand-up comedian became the ambassador for the cleaning agent because of her knack for improv. However, fans got worried after Nicole Ari Parker and Boris Kodjoe starred in a Pine-Sol commercial in 2020. As per the brand, the company asserts that Amos is still with them.
T. J. Jagodowski - Sonic Drive-In Two Guys, $300K
Many companies tap improv stars because of their brilliance in delivering funny scripts effectively. As for Sonic, it managed to hit the jackpot when it hired T. J. Jagodowski, an instructor at the Improv Olympic, and Peter Grosz for their Drive-In commercial. The duo officially became the "Two Guys" in the brand's ads.
The men have become a mainstay on our TVs until recently, when Sonic decided to use clips of real fans for their commercials. The company's chief marketing officer maintained that the Two guys will remain a part of the brand's history. It is a lucrative deal because the stint reportedly earns them $300K.
Melanie Paxson - Red Robin Lady, $50K
Armed with a degree in theater from the University of Missouri, Melanie Paxson further honed her craft when she trained with the prestigious Second City and Steppenwolf Theatre. After which, she dipped her toes into TV works, starring as Jaclyn in the series "Cupid."
On the sidelines, Paxson bagged a lucrative deal when she appeared in Red Robin commercials as a hamburger fan. She reportedly took home $50K for this job, perhaps considering how far she had come since she started in the '90s. Today, she continues to thrive as a voice actress, last heard in the 2020 show "Wolfboy and the Everything Factory."
Beck Bennett - AT&T Guy, $250K Per Year
Beck Bennett is now known for being one of the cast members of "Saturday Night Live." Even though it was announced in September 2021 that he wouldn't join the show for its 47th season, fans will always remember him for his funny sketches. However, not many people may recognize that he got his start in AT&T commercials.
Back in the day, Bennett starred in the company's "It's Not Complicated" series, where he sat with kids and asked them to answer questions. It was said that it was improv, and people found the videos hilarious so much that it didn't take long before he got discovered.
Peter Grosz - Sonic Drive-In Two Guys, $300K
One-half of the Two Guys from the Sonic Drive-In commercials was Peter Grosz, another comic genius who, along with his friend and fellow funnyman T. J. Jagodowski, makes for an effective hilarious formula. As it turns out, making people laugh is very lucrative as it is said that they were paid $300K for their work with the brand.
In fact, Grosz previously said that his commercial stints were what bought him his Los Angeles home. Unfortunately, Sonic decided to rebrand in 2020, and going forward, they resorted to hiring real-life families for their ads.
Tim Leigh Williams - Trivago Guy, Unknown
Actor Tim Williams has already made a fortune in the world of show business, and according to Celebrity Net Worth, he is worth a cool $5 million as of 2022. He has appeared in many shows since the '90s, including "The Sopranos," "Law & Order," and "Strong Medicine."
Williams also made serious money from his work on German TV, particularly after starring in "Samt und Seide" and "Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten." On top of this, the actor, who continues to act to this day, is best known for being a spokesperson for Trivago, a site that compares accommodation prices.
Isaiah Mustafa - Old Spice Man, $5 Million
It's hard to imagine anyone else when this famous line "The Man Your Man Could Smell Like" is heard in the 2010 Old Spice commercial than Isaiah Mustafa. He effectively made the videos so viral that it became impossible not to associate him with the brand even to this day. For this, he received a massive take-home pay of $500K!
Mustafa teamed up with "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star Terry Crews for the 2015 campaign "Make a Smellmitment" for Old Spice. As for Mustafa, he is enjoying quite a successful career in the film and TV industries, starring in the 2022 film "Home Team" and voice acting in "One Wild Stormy Night."
Dennis Haysbert - Allstate Guy, Undisclosed
There is something about Dennis Haysbert's powerful and deep voice that makes him credible enough during his Allstate commercials. He started his partnership with the company in 2004 and has since been a spokesperson for the brand. While it's unclear how much he rakes in from this, the many years that he has been starring in their ads may have paid him well.
After all, Haysbert has a net worth of $20 million, a part of which came from endorsements and sponsorships. Plus, this is expected to balloon because he continues to bag roles, just like the 2022 movie "No Exit."
Colin Ferguson - Maytag Man, $1 Million A Year
Since starting his career in the '90s, Canadian star Colin Ferguson has made a name in show business by appearing in mostly TV series. Some of his notable works include "More Tales of the City," "Then Came You," "Eureka," "Cedar Cove," and "The Vampire Diaries."
The actor also engaged in other projects that earned him big money, just like when Maytag tapped him to star in a commercial where he played a repairman. According to Delite, Ferguson, who last appeared in the 2019 TV movie "Christmas in Montana," pocketed $1 million a year for this stint alone.
Gillian Vigman - Jack's Wife, Unknown
Since the late '90s, Gillian Vigman from the popular MADtv sketch comedy show has been showing us different acting styles. While she has enriched her portfolio with roles in "New Girl," "Sons & Daughters," "Suburgatory," "and Lopez," many fans would instantly recognize her for being the woman in the Jack in the Box commercials.
It's unclear how much she earned for the role, but it is safe to say that she is an in-demand model. Fans may have also seen her in other commercials for Swiffer, California Milk, and McCormick. As of now, Bigman has been busy lending her voice to different characters in "Star Trek: Lower Decks."
Vince Shlomi - ShamWow Guy, Unknown
We can't talk about commercials without the infamous Vince Offer, who tried his luck into so many things but didn't always succeed. He directed his first film, "The Underground Comedy Movie," in 1999, but it was a major flop, and because he poured his money into it, he was declared bankrupt in 2002.
Four years later, Offer would market his own products, namely: a cleaning towel called ShamWow, which he derived from the French chamois. The Israeli-American star starred in an infomercial that catapulted him to stardom. To this day, the pitchman still thinks outside the box and shares his ideas on Instagram.
Hallie Eisenberg - Pepsi Girl, Unknown
A few decades ago, Pepsi was one of the brands that captured its audience by making memorable ads. One that was striking was that of a little girl who snappily requested a can of soda and would get mad when she would be given Coke. This proved to be the child star named Hallie Eisenberg's big break.
She starred in a handful of movies like "Paulie" and "How To Eat Worms" but decided she would quit show business in 2011 to focus on her studies. Hallie, "The Social Network" actor Jesse Eisenberg's sister, continues to lead a private life away from the spotlight.
Charles “Chip” Esten - Carl’s Jr.'s Carl Hardee Sr., $20K
Here is yet again another comedian who gained waves for making a hilarious, viral ad for a brand. Remember "Whose Line Is It Anyway?"One of the show-stopping improv in the show was that of Charles "Chip" Esten. So it wasn't surprising that he also made people laugh when he starred in a Carl's Jr. commercial as Carl Hardee Sr.
Interestingly, some didn't recognize him immediately because of his facial hair, which made him appear older than he actually was! Esten, who starred in "Outer Banks" from 2020 to 2021, reportedly went home with a $20K-paycheck for this portrayal.
Patrick Warburton - National Car Rental, Unknown
TV aficionados can easily identify actor Patrick Warburton as General Rick Stoner in "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D," Lemony Snicket in "A Series of Unfortunate Events," and David Puddy in the classic sitcom "Seinfeld." However, fans may be more familiar with his distinctive deep voice, which seems to make him believable.
This is most probably why he was tapped to star in commercials for National Car Rental. While it's unknown exactly how much this deal gave Warburton, this possibly raked in money for the actor, who continues to voice Joe Swanson in the animated show "Family Guy" in 2022.
Nicole Randall Johnson - DriveTime Girl, $100K
Nicole Randall Johnson had solid training in improv from the prestigious Groundlings School & Theatre, for which she also wrote and performed. After this, she joined the cast of the comedy "Significant Other" and then became a regular cast member for "MadTV." She also appeared in "Greeting from Home," "Hot in Cleveland," and "Key and Peele."
Johnson doesn't have any listed projects these days, but it's hard not to remember her hilarious portrayal of the DriveTime Girl, who, along with Katie Crown, was a present-day hero for those who had been refused a car loan.
Wendy Kaufman - Snapple Lady, $500K
Some commercial stars have become so iconic for their advertising work that their monikers are more remembered than their names. Such was the case of the Snapple Lady, who is Wendy Wendy Kaufman in real life. She stepped into this legendary role in the '90s after a family friend asked her to be a spokesperson.
Unfortunately, Kaufman revealed in a 2018 interview that the Snapple deal lasted until 2008, admitting that even though the company refused to say she was fired, she offered her a contract that she was worth "nothing." To this day, she is widely recognized for her work with the brand, often sharing fun facts on Instagram.
Demetri Goritsas - Slim Jim Guy, $100K
Remember the crazy dancing guys in the 1990s "Eat Me" campaign of Slim Jim that turn into wild moving beings when they take a bite of the spicy meat stick? It was Demetri Goritsas underneath the costume. He may be best known for this memorable ad, but he went on to enrich his portfolio in the past decades.
While he probably isn't recognizable without the mischievousness, the stint at least earned him a cool $100K! Today, Goritsas has his hands full with voice-over work for documentaries about volcanoes and earthquakes as well as other commercials.
Maria Bamford - Target Lady, $300K
One might think that Target doesn't need to promote the shop, but after hiring the comedian and highly sought actress Maria Bamford for an ad, it is safe to say that the company really benefited from her wit and comedy genius. She has a long list of credits, thanks to her versatility as a comedian and thespian, but this commercial made her $300K richer!
Today, Bamford is renowned for her voice, which fans may have heard as Tito the Anxiety Mosquito in "Big Mouth," Laura in "The Rocketeer," Kelsey in "BoJack Horseman," and several characters in "Adventure Time." In 2022, she also starred in "Human Resources."
Angela Sarafyan - Cingular Umbrella Girl, $75K
Armenian-American actress Angela Sarafyan was just beginning her show business career when she got an opportunity to star in a Cingular Wireless commercial, which ultimately catapulted her to stardom. Because of this stint, she became known as the Umbrella Girl, even though she felt that something wouldn't come out of that project.
Well, it did make her $75K richer! Plus, it opened a lot of doors for the stunner because she went on to land bigger acting roles. Sarafyan is now known for being Clementine Pennyfeather in the highly acclaimed show "Westworld," a role she has been portraying since 2016. In 2022, she starred in the film ''Run & Gun.''
Laurel Coppock - Toyota Jan, $1 Million
The ultra-enthusiastic and jolly Toyota employee named Jan was portrayed by Laurel Coppock, who trained at the Square Acting Conservatory after she earned a Performing Arts degree from Colby College. According to Fresh Edits, she was paid a whopping $1 million for this job!
Not too shabby at all, right? Plus, she has landed roles in many acclaimed shows, albeit minor appearances, like "Modern Family," "The Office," "Hot in Cleveland," "2 Broke Girls," and "Arrested Development." More notably, she played Sophia in the 2011 romance film "Crazy, Stupid Love." Coppock also worked in 2021's "E.Moji" and "Slates."
Orlando Jones - 7-Up, Unknown
Cast members of the comedy series MADtv were effective in making people laugh so much so that they were constantly tapped to star in commercials in a bid to make the campaign viral. During the late '90s and the early '00s, soda company 7-Up hired Orlando Jones to be its spokesman.
Through the years after this job, Jones thrived in the industry, bagging projects after the other. Fans may have seen him in "Sleepy Hollow," "Black Dynamite," "Tainted Love," and "Madiba." He was also a part of "American Gods," although it was announced in 2021 that it was canceled after three seasons.
Valerie Bertinelli - Jenny Craig Program, Unknown
Valerie Bertinelli used to be an actress known for her roles in "One Day at a Time" and "Hot in Cleveland," but she became even more popular when she proved she was an equally effective host after joining the renowned Food Network. At one point in her career, she became the face of the Jenny Craig program.
While other stars on this list are proud of their previous projects with different brands, Bertinelli feels differently. She admitted as much in her 2022 memoir "Enough Already" and apologized to her fans for her role in enabling the so-called "diet culture."
Jay Z - Samsung Galaxy, Reportedly $20 Million
As one of this generation's most successful musicians, it's expected that Jay-Z, who is the highest-paid rapper of 2021, charges big when it comes to endorsements. So when tech giant Samsung tapped him to market the brand's Galaxy series, it got tongues wagging on the price of the deal.
According to Billboard, the resounding amount was $20 million, which is in line with the South Korean brand's big spending on advertising. The contract gave one million new Galaxy users the chance to download his "Magna Carta Holy Grail" album for free.
Brad Pitt - Chanel No. 5, $7 Million
As one of Hollywood's most recognizable faces, it's only right that award-winning star Brad Pitt, known for his acclaimed films like "World War Z," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and "Fight Club" commands skyrocketing payment for his services.
When luxury brand Chanel tapped him to reportedly become the first male face of the company, it paid him $7 million. The black-and-white commercial saw Pitt, who starred in the 2022 movie "The Lost City," advertising Chanel No. 5, which was part of a campaign that was worth a staggering $17 million in all.
Catherine Zeta-Jones - T-Mobile Girl, $10 Million
The more established the thespian, the higher they are paid by huge brands to advertise their products. The same was what happened to "The Mask of Zorro" star Catherine Zeta-Jones, who T-Mobile gave $10 million for her two-year contract that involved TV and print material appearances.
Such a hefty salary may be because the mobile carrier hired no less than an Academy Award winner. To this day, Zeta-Jones continues to get wealthier by the day, thanks to her lucrative acting projects, such as the 2021 show "Prodigal Son" and the 2022 program "Wednesday."
Angelina Jolie - Louis Vuitton, $10 Million
Actor Brad Pitt's equally amazing ex-wife, Angelina Jolie, also has a lot of expensive endorsement deals. One look at this image, and one can immediately see the stark contrast between the background and the luxurious Louis Vuitton bag. Although the campaign did receive backlash for this, it translated to a huge payday for the "Maleficent" star.
The 10-minute commercial alone paid the actress a whopping $10 million! Jolie reportedly donated the proceeds to charity, which wasn't out of the ordinary for the humanitarian. Even now, she has been vocal about issues, including the refugee crisis in 2022.
Beyonce - “Queen Bey” in Pepsi, $50 Million
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Pepsi paid Beyonce, the Grammy winner who is perhaps among the most recognizable faces in American music, an eye-watering $50 million for a campaign in 2013. According to sources, it remains one of the most expensive celebrity endorsements ever.
Apart from social media marketing material, Queen Bey's Super Bowl performance heavily featured Pepsi. Well, Beyonce remains to be an in-demand icon who delivers show-stopping performances. This is why fans were thrilled when it was rumored that she would be gracing a music festival in 2022.
50 Cent - G Unit Sneakers, $80 Million
Rapper 50 Cent isn't only recognizable for his hits like "In da Club," "Intro," and "Many Men," but he is also infamously known for stirring controversies. He previously announced many times that his deal with Reebok for his G-Unit sneakers paid him an eye-popping $80 million.
Although there's nothing wrong with announcing his earnings to the world, 50 Cent also took a swipe at Jay-Z by saying he outsold the latter's S Dots. In 2022, the rapper hasn't stopped relaying his outbursts on social media, including when he called out Tyler Perry and Oprah and instructed them to apologize to Mo'Nique.
J.K. Simmons - Farmers Insurance Group, Unknown
Actor J.K. Simmons has portrayed many characters, so it isn't surprising if fans sometimes mistake him for his roles. Remember J. Jonah Jameson from the 2021 movie "Spider-Man: No Way Home"? How about Fletcher in the moving 2014 picture "Whiplash"? Yup, the Academy winner all stepped into the shoes of these names.
However, when it comes to commercials, he doesn't always say yes to offers. What changed his mind was the storyline of a Farmers Insurance Group concept. Today, it is safe to say that Simmons can refuse to star in another advertising piece because he is well enough with a $20-million fortune.
Jake Wood - Geico Gecko, Unknown
There is no way that this reptile earns decently as part of its work in an insurance company. But then again, the animal had become so iconic that it is perhaps one of the most recognizable mascots. It wouldn't be as entertaining without the voice of Jake Wood, though.
The actor, who has been starring in the soap "EastEnders" since the '90s, gives life to this straight-to-the-point lizard with his familiar Cockney accent. It is unclear how much Wood earned from this stint, but according to Suggest, the stint started in 1999 when a strike stopped live actors from starring in commercials.
Andrea Rosen - Staples Office Supply, Unknown
In case you find this lady all too familiar, then perhaps you love watching TV. This is because Andrea Rosen has done a lot of commercials, and she has become one of those people who is known for many roles. While this snap was that of her Staples Office Supply project, she may be most recognizable for her Yoplait marketing effort.
People also saw this funny lady promoting the New York lottery and even Bing.com. The advertising campaigns aside, Rosen is also an established actress who has collected many credits to her name, including the 2022 series "Paltrocast with Darren Paltrowitz."
Paul Marcarelli - Verizon Wireless Guy, $2 to $3 Million Every Year
"Can you hear me now?" this was the line that Paul Marcarelli said in the countless commercials he starred in as a spokesman for Verizon from 2002 to 2011. In those campaigns, he would always sport his gray jacket and signature eyeglasses. When he stopped appearing in marketing videos, he remained signed to the company.
That was until his contract expired in 2016. Verizon's competitor Sprint swooped in and signed him, and the latter brand used this to their advantage. In their commercials, Marcarelli, who produced the 2021 documentary "Boulevard! A Hollywood Story," would reference his switch.
Carly Foulkes - T-Mobile Girl,
After Catherine Zeta-Jones' stint as T-Mobile spokesperson, Carly Foulkes took over the position, becoming one of the most recognizable faces of the brand. She was exceptionally memorable for her bubbly personality and pink outfits. The Canadian star started donning the signature attire when she was just 22.
Prior to becoming the T-Mobile Girl, Foulkes was already an established model who graced the front cover of Elle and had worked for several brands since she was 13. Today, Foulkes loves spending her free time taking pictures, creating music, and still poses for companies, according to NickiSwift.
Stephanie Courtney - Flo from Progressive, $1 Million Per Year
Just one look at this picture, and one can easily recognize this Progressive model as Flo. That's because the comedian has appeared in over 100 commercials and ads for the insurance company as the quirky, over-the-top character. Stephanie Courtney, who started training as a child, also appeared in marketing material for Toyota and Skittles.
Today, she has joined the growing platform of TikTok, where she has 45,000 followers who tune in to her short clips. However, in 2022, Courtney was criticized for allegedly being rude to a food truck owner in Los Angeles.
Jonathan Goldsmith - Most Interesting Man, $2 Million Per Year
Actor Jonathan Goldsmith is widely known for his impressive portfolio that includes "Hang 'Em High," "The Streets of San Francisco," and "Dallas." Prior to starting his decades-long career in TV and film, he first made his name as a theater actor in New York.
Goldsmith, who last starred in the 2018 movie "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again," also became known for being the "Most Interesting Man in the World" after he starred in commercials for Dos Equis beer starting in 2007. According to Celebrity Net Worth, he got paid a whopping $2 million per year during his peak.
Milana Vayntrub - Lily Adams, AT&T, Unknown
Actress Milana Vayntrub is widely recognized for being Lily in numerous AT&T commercials. She became the spokesperson for the company from 2013 to 2016 and then reprised this role in 2020. In fact, she has directed some of the ads and expectedly earned significantly, too.
Upon her return in 2020, Vayntrub pleaded with her followers not to alter her photos to make harsh memes that she said triggered her. AT&T also released a statement following the comments, revealing that they wouldn't tolerate vile messages and that they would delete them if deemed necessary.
Katherine Crown - DriveTime Girl, Unknown
As an enthusiastic comedian, it's not surprising that Katherine Crown's talent shone brightest when DriveTime was looking for a lady to form one of the DriveTime Girls. She landed the role in 2013 and became a mobile credit approval agent who "rescued" those whose loan applications were rejected.
Crown has done a great job in staying relevant in the industry. While most people may have remembered her for her DriveTime stint, she's also popular these days for being the voice of Harley and Becca in "Bob's Burgers," Ivy Sundew in "Amphibia," and Akila in "Cleopatra in Space."
Morgan Smith-Goodwin - Red from Wendy’s, Unknown
A 2012 Wendy's campaign called "Now That's Better" starred a red-haired woman, who fans suspected was the grown-up Wendy. However, Suggest said that it wasn't the role she was portraying and that it wasn't even her natural hair color. As it turned out, she dyed her locks for the part, which got her a lot of exposure.
Morgan Smith-Goodwin played Red in the campaign, which Wendy's said was one of its most successful marketing ideas ever. Years later, she has started her career on TV, mostly landing minor roles. In 2020 alone, she appeared in "9-1-1" and "Messiah."