Celebrities have been around since the 19th century, with the first title of “celebrity” being awarded to Lord Byron, a poet, writer, and politician who enjoyed fame in the early 19th century. Although the definition of celebrity has changed slightly from poets to people we see on the screens of our devices, it’s irrefutable that these public personas have always had an impact on consumer choices.
Many celebrities have been involved in endorsements over the years, promoting brands and products through print media and online. Some campaigns have been more successful than others, bringing new clientele to the brands involved thanks to the celebrity’s stamp of approval.
8. George Clooney – Nespresso
Nespresso has had a decades-long relationship with Hollywood star and coffee lover George Clooney. The actor has been appearing in their commercials since 2006, where his charming personality and humorous angle have launched the coffee brand to popularity.
Clooney is a co-owner of the brand, and although his endorsement’s financial value has never been publicly disclosed, it is estimated to be worth in excess of $40 million.
The actor has taken his Nespresso earnings and put them to good use. He reportedly invested some of the money into The Satellite Sentinel Project, a satellite that monitors human right abuses inflicted by Omar al-Bashir in Sudan.
7. Elon Musk – DOGE
Elon Musk is not a conventional celebrity. He might not star in Hollywood films or HBO series, but you will be hard-pressed to find a person who does not know his name. He is the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, and was recently appointed as an advisor to President Trump and is heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The term “DOGE” is also linked to one of Musk’s endorsements: Dogecoin. This memecoin was publicly supported by Musk when he said that he plans to send this currency “to the moon”.
Musk revealed that he has been pumping Dogecoin since 2019 when he posted on his social media accounts that it is his favorite cryptocurrency. He even gave himself the title “Doge Father”.
He has also supported other cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other memecoins. His guidance has helped many get started in crypto investments, where it is important to know which memecoins are the best to invest in (source: https://99bitcoins.com/kr/cryptocurrency/best-ethereum-meme-coins/).
6. Charlize Theron – Dior
Charlize Theron was the face of Dior’s J’adore fragrance for more than 20 years, starting in 2004. She was commonly seen on Dior billboards around the world, as well as in magazine spreads and TV adverts.
Although Rihanna eventually replaced Theron as the face of the signature fragrance, Theron’s involvement with the brand was far from complete. In 2024, Theron started representing their skincare products, as well as a Dior ambassador for jewelry designed by artistic director of Dior Joaillerie, Victoire de Castellane.
The Dior deal is valued at $55 million, and Theron’s likeable persona and elegance helped Dior get their products into many homes across the world.
5. Lionel Messi – Adidas
Lionel Messi has long been a supporter and spokesperson for sports brand Adidas. He wears their kit on the field and entered into a lifetime deal with the brand in 2017. He not only wears Adidas shoes and jerseys, but he also appears in several other ad campaigns and commercials.
Messi is also said to receive a percentage of sales of Adidas’ Messi-branded merchandise, like clothing and shoes. It’s estimated that this gains him an additional $19.2 million per year, along with his lifetime brand deal.
The brand is benefiting too, with Adidas seeing a 60% of visits to Messi-related merch pages and sales across their soccer products.
4. Snoop Dogg – Corona
Corona and Snoop Dogg joined forces in 2020 for the brand’s La Vida Mas Fina campaign, translated to “The Fine Life”. The beer brand sought out the rapper to represent themselves as a stress-free, chilled brand.
Snoop’s persona perfectly encapsulated this vibe, with video ads showing him relaxing on the beach with a chilled Corona along with other celebrities, like Andy Samberg and Bad Bunny.
The endorsement is estimated to be worth around $10 million.
3. Ryan Reynolds – Mint Mobile
Hollywood actor and star of the Deadpool franchise, Ryan Reynolds, purchased a stake in Mint Mobile and then proceeded to feature prominently in the brand’s ad campaigns. The commercials all showed Reynolds in funny scenarios that highlighted the company’s affordable and transparent pricing, using humor to make the brand seem more relatable.
His endorsement had a significant short term impact on Mint Mobile’s growth increasing app downloads, brand recognition, and customer acquisition. Mint Mobile was acquired by T-Mobile, and there was reportedly a 250% year-on-year growth in downloads, with some credit being attributed to Reynolds’ marketing involvement.
2. Travis Scott – McDonald’s
Rapper Travis Scott teamed up with McDonald’s in 2020 when the fast food brand introduced the limited-time Travis Scott Meal. This meal was based on Scott’s favorite order: a Quarter Pounder with bacon and lettuce, a Sprite, and a side of fries with BBQ sauce.
Scott appeared in McDonald’s ads to promote the meal combo, and stock climbed by 15% when the meal deal was introduced.
1. Tiger Woods – Nike
Tiger Woods’ Nike collaboration is the biggest celebrity endorsement of all time. The golfer promoted Nike’s athletic gear, wearing it in over 80 PGA Tour events and 15 major events.
Woods appeared in many Nike ads, and collaborated with the brand for a total of 27 years. One of the most memorable commercials is when Woods’ dad did a voice over while a montage of his son playing gold flitted across the screen.
The initial multi-year contract struck in 1996 and was worth $40 million. This deal was extended in 2001, valued at $100 million. A third deal happened in 2006, and it was reportedly renewed again in 2013, worth an estimated $200 million.
Nike supported Woods during his affair rumours in 2009, as well as during all his injuries throughout his career.
