George Foreman accomplished just about everything a boxer could hope for.
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He won an Olympic gold medal, became a two-time heavyweight champion and took part in one of the most famous fights in boxing history against Muhammad Ali.
But the biggest financial victory of his life didn't come inside the ring.
It came in the kitchen.
Foreman, who died in March 2025 at the age of 76, earned hundreds of millions of dollars through his association with the George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grilling Machine, one of the most successful celebrity endorsements in sports history.
The partnership began in 1994, when Foreman agreed to put his name behind the indoor grill. His warm personality and memorable television commercials helped turn the product into a household staple, with more than 100 million grills sold worldwide over the years.
The financial rewards were enormous.
As relayed by Business Insider, Foreman received roughly 40% of the product's profits during its peak, reportedly earning as much as $4.5 million per month.
Then came an even bigger payday.
In 1999, manufacturer Salton purchased the perpetual rights to use Foreman's name on the grill in a deal worth $127 million in cash and another $10 million in stock. Foreman later told AARP he ultimately made "much more" than $200 million from the product and, at one point, earned as much as $8 million in a single month.
By comparison, Foreman's largest purse during his boxing career was a reported $5 million for his legendary 1974 bout with Muhammad Ali in the "Rumble in the Jungle."
Perhaps the most surprising twist is that the grill almost carried someone else's name.
Former wrestling star Hulk Hogan calimed he was originally offered the endorsement opportunity but allegedly a missed a phone call about the deal. By the time he responded, Foreman had already agreed to promote the grill, while Hogan was instead offered a blender.
It proved to be one of the most lucrative business decisions in sports marketing history — even if it happened almost by accident.
