The “That's a Spicy Meatball” Guy - The Pasts and Paychecks of Your Favorite Ad Faces — Part 2

The Smartwater Girl

Real Name: Jeniffer Aniston

Salary Deal: $19.5 Million

In 2017 our best friend Jennifer Aniston starred in the Smertwater commercial and earned herself a whopping almost $20 million (not that she wasn't making enough on the Friends reruns). After more than 12 years of being the iconic face in the front of Smartwater, the brand and the beauty decided to go their separate ways.

Smartwater couldn't have chosen a better presenter as Jennifer Aniston is known and loved globally. Aniston did wonders for the brand as it was bought by the Coca-Cola company and had become one of the greatest bottled water companies worldwide.

Wonderful Wonderful Pistachios

Real Name: Stephen Colbert

Salary Deal: Unknown

The  2014 Superball commercial brought to us Stephen Colbert and the wonderful Wonderful Pistachios commercial. The commercial was broadcasted in two parts, making the viewers participate and try to earn themselves some bucks. If you could guess how many pistachios were in Stephens library, you could win yourself $100,000.

Now, we are not sure how much Colbert made from this commercial, however, no one invests so much (the Superball commercials are the most expensive ones in the commercial world), if the money-back guarantee is not clear on the wall.

Snickers With Beans

Real Name: Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean)

Salary Deal:  Unknown

You are not you when you are hungry was Snickers' slogan back in 2014, when it featured the British comedian Rowan Atkinson, better known as Mr. Bean. Atkinson played the role of a Kung Fu master who can't remember his training technics. As soon as he has his Snickers bar, his memory is returned to him and so is Kung Fu.

This was Atkinson's first appearance in a commercial since the 1990s. Overall it was a great success, and using the character of Mr. Bean proved to be a wise (and money-making) choice.

The Brown's Chicken and Pasta Guy

Real Name: Steve Carell

Salary Deal: Unknown

Steve Carrel might be one of the biggest names in TV and movies now, but every big name starts out small. We don't know how much he earned for his work with Brown's Chicken and Pasta, but the fast-food joint is mainly in the greater Chicago area, so it might not have had the funds some bigger chains have to offer.

Still, there was no worrying about Carrel, who became internationally renowned for his role as Michael Scott on the US version of The Office. Though that show has ended, Carrel's star has continued to rise, and he has Brown's Chicken and Pasta to thank.

Valerie Bertinelli for Jenny Craig

Real Name: Valeria Bertinelli

Salary Deal: $1.55 million

Bertinelli is a well-known actress, best remembered for playing Barbara Cooper Royer on the CBS television series One Day at a Time. No less an actress and more a “television personality,” Bertinelli is also well-known for appearing on Jenny Craig ads. Bertinelli once had a bit more on her frame than was healthy – that's what you get for hosting a bunch of different cooking shows.

Jenny Craig helped her lose weight, but it must have also been the one and a half million dollars the company paid her to lose weight and keep it off. Bertinelli doesn't consider herself a paid spokesperson, however – she calls herself a health and weight-loss activist.

Jack's Wife for Jack in the Box

Real Name: Gillian Vigman

Salary Deal: Unknown

While Gillian Vigman isn't near the A-list, you've almost certainly seen her act. She's most recognizable as her role of “Jack's Wife” for a string of commercials for fast-food company Jack in the Box. She, as you might have guessed, acted as the wife to the company's mascot.

Her salary hasn't been divulged, but she's been in lots of other ad campaigns for Chase, DirectTV, Swiffer, Hanes, and plenty more. She's also been on the MADtv sketch series, and on the sitcom New Girl. She's also been in Step Brothers, The Hangover, and lots of other titles.

Professor Nathanial Burke for Farmers Insurance Group

Real Name: J.K. Simmons

Salary Deal: Unknown

We don't know how much famous actor J.K. Simmons earns by acting as this bespectacled professor for the Farmers Insurance Group, but we do know his net worth. It sits around twenty million dollars, so he must be doing pretty well for himself. There are good odds that you've seen a movie with Simmons in it, since the list includes the original three Spider-Man movies, Terminator: Genisys, and dozens more.

He's also given his voice to the video game Portal 2 as Cave Johnson, Gravity Falls as Stanford Pines, and The Legend of Korra as Tenzin. In his spare time, he acts for this insurance group.

Phil Swift for Flex Seal

Real Name: Phil Swift

Salary Deal: Difficult to determine

The reason it's tough to figure out how much Phil Swift is earning from his ads is he's also the CEO of the company that makes Flex Seal. His net worth is currently ten million dollars, so things must be going well. Similar to Billy Mays, Phil Swift brings energy, bravado, and power tools to his demonstrations, which often has him repairing boats and hitting the water to prove his product's efficacy.

With a loud shout and an obvious interest in proving that his products are worth your money, he's becoming one of the most famous names when it comes to infomercials, despite sticking with his own products.

Captain Obvious From Hotels.com

Real Name: Brandon Moynihan

Salary Deal: Estimated $180,000 per year

There are lots of recurring characters in TV ads these days, but one of the funnier faces is that of Captain Obvious. His quick wit and clever writing helped elevate the brand above just another website in the crowd. Brandon Moynihan gave the obvious statements of his character earth-quaking weight.

The character, complete with an elaborate costume, debuted in 2014, and Moynihan has been part of the character ever since. While this is Moynihan's only high-profile gig, he's estimated to be earning somewhere around two hundred thousand dollars a year to spout straight facts to help people find hotels at a cheaper price.

Billy Mays for Oxiclean

Real Name: Billy Mays

Salary Deal: Approximately one million per year

You know him, you love him, it's Billy Mays. Even if you weren't interested in OxiClean as a product, you might have turned into these half-hour infomercials just to sap some of the energy off of one of the most famous pitchmen in TV history. Mays ran a one-man production company, producing and starring in the ads himself to save costs. And that was important since each ad cost something like thirty thousand dollars to film.

But Mays was making it back and then some: at the time of his early death, his net worth was around ten million dollars, leading people to estimate that he was earning a million dollars a year to shill cleaning products and much more.

The “Where's the Beef?” Woman for Wendy's

Real Name: Clara Peller

Salary Deal: $500,000 per year

Grandma taking home the bacon! This senior ad actor, Clara Peller, was the woman who famously asked “Where's the beef?” in response to other fast food burgers. The catchphrase was an instant hit, and you might even still hear it today if you listen in the right places.

Peller earned half a million dollars for doing so, and Wendy's locked her up for good. She started acting in the spots in 1984 but sadly passed away only three years later at the age of eighty-six. Before striking it big on TV, Peller was a manicurist for thirty-five years.

Lil' Sweet From Dr. Pepper Ads

Real Name: Justin Guarini

Salary Deal: $250,000 per year

If you've caught one of the recent Dr. Pepper ads, you might have watched singer Lil' Sweet belt out a tune for this soft drink. He's played by professional singer Justin Guarini, but you'd already know that if you had been watching American Idol since the very beginning. Guarini was number two in the show's first season, losing to Kelly Clarkson in the final elimination.

His falsetto is earning him a quarter of a million dollars thanks to Dr. Pepper, but he's also putting out plenty of his own music, and a CEO of the company Profit Under Pressure LLC, which serves leaders and influencers for the brand management. He's also a constant face on and off-Broadway in numerous theater roles.

The Black Allstate Guy

Real Name: Dennis Haysbert

Salary Deal: $3-$4 million per year

Allstate has a number of well-known campaigns to get people to remember the name, but Dennis Haysbert appears in all of them. At least, his voice does. He's the guy with the voice richer than chocolate pudding who asks you if you're in good hands.

His booming voice can also be heard in movies such as “Major League” and TV shows like “24,” just to dip our toe into this actor's long history. He's been a spokesperson for Allstate for some time, and they want him to stay around – they're paying him seven figures to keep him from leaving.

The GEICO Caveman

Real Name: John Lehr

Salary Deal: Unknown

It's unknown how much this famous ad campaign actor brought down for all those prosthetics and makeup, but he's one of the most recognizable characters, even in an industry (insurance) that is full of long-running characters. There were other cavemen, but Lehr was the main actor.

He's been in other ads (sans caveman getup) as well as appearing as an actor in the comedy series “JailBait” and as the lead role in the series “Quick Draw.” He's also one of the few – maybe even the only – ad characters to get his own television show, though it was short-lived.

The 1990s “Noxzema Girl”

Real Name: Rebecca Gayheart

Salary Deal: Unknown For the first time on this list, we have two faces from the same brand. Rebecca Gayheart started her modeling and acting career with Noxzema in the 1980s, through the 1990s. Her career really took off thanks to a short student film by director Brett Ratner, a name you may recognize as the director of films such as Rush Hour, Red Dragon, X-Men: The Last Stand, and more, as well as a producer for many more.

Gayheart isn't in the Noxzema ads anymore, but she was in the recent Tarantino blockbuster Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, as well as the TV series Dead Like Me. She is also married to Euphoria actor, Eric Dane.

The Duncan Hines Redhead

Real Name: Lindsay Lohan

Salary Deal: $7,500

We all know about this world-famous redhead now, but when she was just a child – before even The Parent Trap – Ms. Lohan spent plenty of time acting in commercials. One such commercial was for Duncan Hines, which got Lindsay for a salary of only $7,500.

Lindsay's mother Dina took her to the audition and reported Lindsay would quit acting if she didn't get the part for the commercial. Luckily for fans of the remake of The Parent Trap, she stuck with it. Duncan Hines peddles plenty of sweet treats, but the best thing they might have done was get Lohan's career started.

The GEICO Gecko

Real Name: Jake Wood

Salary Deal: $3 million

Born in England, Jake Wood provides the voice of the famous insurance reptile for GEICO. Wood is also the star of the legendary British soap opera EastEnders. He voiced the gecko for ten years before being replaced in 2015. His total salary deal was three million dollars.

He revealed on social media that he had lost the gig due to not accepting a “huge pay cut.” He first appeared on the commercials in 2006, when he replaced Kelsey Grammer as the British gecko who seems to think the only thing people want to talk about is car insurance. Beat it, reptile.

The Other Dude From the Sonic Commercials

Real Name: Pete Grosz

Salary Deal: $300,000

Peter Grosz is known as one of America's most talented T.V writers. Most people will recognize him as one of the "Two Guys" from the drive-in Sonic commercials. He appeared in the double act with co-star comedian and improviser, T.J. Jagodowski.

For more than a decade, Grosz starred in the Sonic commercials, earning him over $300,000 (net that is). Sonic's Chief Marketing manager said, that Grosz has turned into "the voice" of Sonic, as that he (and his second half) will probably be part of their DNA for good.

The Guy From Sonic Commercials

Real Name : T.J. Jagodowski

Salary Deal : $300,000

As an improv comedian, T.J.'s unique brand of off-the-cuff humor caught the eye of Sonic when they were on the hunt for a new face for their ads. Jagodowski is a Chicago-based actor who appeared alongside actor Pete Grosz, and the two almost always improvised their lines.

Jagodowski has won Chicago Improv Festival's “Best Improviser” award. His deal with Sonic netted him $300,000, but he's also had roles in films such as Get Hard, The Ice Harvest, Stranger than Fiction, and more. He's also had a bit role in the Fox show Prison Break.

The “Whassup?” Guy

Real Name: Charles Stone III

Salary Deal: $8 million

It launched a brand new...noise...into the lexicon, but the man behind the sound, Charlies Stone III, has gone on to become a famous member of the entertainment industry. As an actor and director, he's worked with Nick Cannon, Bernie Mac, and plenty of other famous faces, directing Drumline, Mr. 3000, Paid in Full, and lots more. He's done music videos like The Roots' What They Do.

While the ad itself was simple and memorable, it also netted Stone eight million dollars. The Budweiser commercial just had a pair of goofs shouting at each other, and it ended up good for all. Unless you hate “Whassup.”

Bob from Bob's Discount Furniture

Real Name: Bob Kaufman

Salary Deal : $100,000

Kaufman collected a low $100,000 a year for his appearances in the company's commercials, but they're actually his commercials because it's his company. He's the real Bob. He's worth a wild $26 billion. His offbeat and memorable commercials ran a huge campaign during the 1990s, and in 1997 they ran five hundred commercials a week in Connecticut alone.

With Little Bob, a miniature version of himself by his side, Bob's Furniture turned into a success. They've even sponsored national football teams like the Patriots, Giants, Chargers, and Steelers. Good-guy Kaufman has also donated quite a lot of money to causes like cancer research, Veterans Home, and children's charities.

Esurance “Stuck in the 90s” Guy

Real Name: Dennis Quaid

Salary Deal : $120,000

Esurance certainly wasn't stuck in the nineties, and when they salaried Dennis Quaid for $120,000 to be the premier actor in this campaign of commercials, it offered a huge boost to the subsidiary of Allstate.

Previous Esurance commercials could only be described as painful. Quaid was able to bring a straight-shooting, every-man quality to the company, helping Esurance to rebrand itself from an afterthought of the insurance market to a company that wants to make things easy for the consumer, as opposed to the difficult other options people had at the time. While most of the insurance business was stuck in the nineties, Esurance showed there was a better way.

The Orbit Gum Girl

Real Name: Farris Patton

Salary Deal : $500,000

With a shining smile that has an audible gleam, Farris Patton received $500,000 for her role as the Orbit Gum Girl. Her simple delivery and classy acting were enough to get anyone to try a new brand of gum. While no one will say Patton is an acting star, she has appeared in The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, 90210, Little Hercules, Redline, The Playbook", and more.

She has also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live in skit roles and has starred in various shows as herself, including a TV movie about commercials' most famous faces. She has also appeared on Entertainment Tonight as a model.

DriveTime Girl 2

Real Name: Katie Crown

Salary Deal : $100,000

As DriveTime Girl 2, Katie Crown commanded the same price, a hundred grand, for appearing with coworker Nicole Randall Johnson. Crown is a comedienne herself, as well as a prolific voice actress. You've heard her voice if you've ever seen an episode of Bob's Burgers, Total Drama, Stoked, or Clarence.

Crown has won awards and critical acclaim for her voice-over acting, and her voice has even made it into the movie Storks. She's won the Canadian Comedy Award for TV, and for Best Writing of a TV Program. Crown has been killing it for fourteen years and has a net worth of about $3 million to prove it.

The GoDaddy Guy

Real Name: Jesse Heiman

Salary Deal : $900,000

Born in Boston, Heiman was first noticed by the public at large when he was paid to make out with mega-hot Israeli supermodel, Bar Rafaeli. Paid to make out with Bar Rafaeli! During the super bowl, even! It quickly became one of the night's most-discussed ads. How much did Heiman receive for this act of charity? $900,000.

Heiman moved to films shortly after. His first big role was "American Pie 2". He's had roles in "Maybe It's Me", "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "NCIS", "Entourage", and other television shows, and has also appeared in the Will Ferrell movie "Old School".

The Slim Jim Dude

Real Name: Demetri Goritsas

Salary Deal : $100,000

As the chemical opposite of “The Most Interesting Man in the World”, Goritsas has appeared in blockbuster movies, television series, and theatre, but he may always be remembered as the Slim Jim Guy. He attended the Royal School of Speech & Drama and Prince George Secondary School and also narrates documentaries.

Slim Jim acquired this generational talent for $100,000. Goritsas has been in movies such as X-Men First Class, The Bourne Identity, Darkest Hour, and even Saving Private Ryan, and he has plenty more work coming down the pipeline.

Speedy Alka Seltzer

Real Name: Dick Beals

Salary Deal : $20,000

A throwback from long ago, the Speedy Alka Seltzer Kid is a character with a human head and an Alka seltzer body, paired with human arms and legs. Bob Watkins of the Wade Agency in Chicago created this character in 1951 – it originally went by the name “Sparky.”

He became Speedy in 1963 and was voiced by young Dick Beals for a yearly $20,000. The character's first appearance wasn't on television, however – women's magazines found him gracing their pages and offering antacid relief with his “effervescent” wand. Speedy's tagline was “plop, plop, fizz, fizz,”, which was written that way so people remember to take the pills two at a time.

Mr. Mayhem from the Allstate Commercials

Real Name: Dean Winters

Salary Deal: $4,750 per aired commercial

Mr. Mayhem has been causing incredible destruction and problems for all kinds of people on his large campaign of ads for insurance company Allstate. The ingenious part of his contract is that it's not a flat fee – Winters gets $4,750 every time one of his commercials airs. It's enough to keep him in slim gray suits and face bandages for years to come.

Winters has had a recurring role as Ryan in prison drama Oz, and other television credits include Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Law & Order SVU, Rescue me, 30 Rock, and Battle Creek.

The “You're Not You When You're Hungry” Lady

Real Name: Betty White

Salary Deal: $5 million

She was one of the Golden Girls, and a leading lady in the world of television, but even the late Betty got hungry. That's why she appeared in the “You're not you when you're hungry” ad for Snickers, which netted her $5 million.

Madam White credited Snickers for helping her get more acting roles as the years have gone on. The commercial came out in 2010, with Betty playing a pro lineman, and its success not only led to more roles for Betty during the later years in her career but for plenty of other “Hungry” ads with other long-time acting names.

The Cingular Wireless Umbrella Girl

Real Name: Angela Sarafyan

Salary Deal : $75,000

It's likely you're much more familiar with this Armenian actress now than you were when she grabbed an umbrella and shilled for Cingular Wireless for a measly seventy-five grand. She's exploded into a promising talent and rising star, with big roles in Westworld, Repo Chick, Never, and The Immigrant. She's also appeared in Judging Amy, The Division, 24, Criminal Minds, Nikita, The Mentalist, and many more.

Sarafyan comes from a family of artists – her father is an actor, and her mother is a painter. She moved to America when she was four.

The Old Spice Guy

Real Name: Isaiah Mustafa

Salary Deal: $5 million

He's the man your man could smell like. His name is Isaiah Mustafa, and he's on a horse. He's also a former wide receiver in the NFL, playing for the Oilers (a team that doesn't even exist anymore) in the 1990s – he was also on the practice squads for the Browns and the Raiders but left football for acting.

He appeared on the soap opera Days of Our Lives before signing a deal with NBC for Horrible Bosses. He went on to star in It Two. Mustafa expressed interest in playing Marvel character Luke Cage before losing the role to Idris Elba, though the product never materialized. His deal with Old Spice was $5 million.

DriveTime Girl 1

Real Name: Nicole Randall Johnson

Salary Deal :  $100,000

Comedienne Nicole Randall Johnson has appeared in television shows, movies, and ads – in 2013 the auto loan company DriveTime hired her for $100,000, as well as fellow funny-gal Katie Crown, to appear in their campaign “DriveTime Girls” The two played a pair of eccentric drivers who rescued those who had been rejected for auto loans, with the help of some interesting tech.

Johnson has had plenty of work in the entertainment business, having appeared in comedy sketches and shows for some time. She's known for her appearances on Mad Men, as well as comedies like Reno 911!, Key & Peele, and Andy Barker, P.I.

The Trivago Guy

Real Name: Tim Williams

Salary Deal : $20,000

Despite a Texas birthplace, Tim Williams grew up in Germany and speaks fluent German. He's starred in plenty of German films and television, while also appearing in English-speaking films such as Valkyrie (which is set in Germany), Labyrinth of Lies, and Ninja Assassin.

Hotel site Trivago has featured Tim Williams in their successful ad campaigns since 2012, with a salary deal worth $20,000. He's studied at Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute. He's appeared on shows like The Sopranos, and recorded his first musical album, Magnolia City, in 2018. He's currently focused on his music as his main project.

Morris the Cat

Real Name: John Morris

Salary Deal : $56,000

How much is this Garfield knock-off worth? $56,000 a year, if you can believe it. Of course, the cat isn't really getting that money. The character is a combination of a real cat named Morris, and a sarcastic, deadpan voice-actor John Morris. The best part about this is the matching names is one hundred percent a coincidence.

Morris the cat was famously picky, but not, of course, for 9Lives, the cat food that started advertising in 1968. Before he rose to fame, Morris (the cat) lived at Hinsdale Humane Society, and they currently have a page on their website dedicated to him. They call him “the quintessential American success story.”

The “I'm Not a Doctor, but...” Guy

Real Name: Peter Bergman

Salary Deal: $1 million

For a million dollars a year, Peter Bergman let everyone know he wasn't really a doctor, but he played one on TV. He did, too, as an actor on the General Hospital soap opera. His tagline for the line of Vicks products he promoted became one of the most famous taglines of the next few decades. There are probably still ads being made that parody it.

Robinson made his last appearance at General Hospital in 2002 – his character, Dr. Webber, lost his life due to a candlestick, though thankfully Robinson himself is still alive and well.

The “Got Milk?” Trivia Guy

Real Name: Sean Whalen

Salary Deal : $50,000

Yet another ultra-famous commercial tagline, “Got Milk?” got its start in a campaign with Sean Whalen playing Aaron Burr, a trivia buff and history enthusiast. While the ad was mocked, it brought fame to Whalen. The commercial was directed by Michael Bay of all people, and it wasn't even Whalen's first.

He's been in ads for DiGiorno Pizza's deep-dish pizza, Bud Light, and has even appeared in movies such as Twister, Charlie's Angels, Employee of the Month, and The People Under the Stairs, among others. Whalen received a salary of $50,000 for the ad. While the details of the ad have been forgotten, the question truly remains: Got Milk?

“I've Fallen and Can't Get Up” Lady

Real Name: Edith Fore

Salary Deal : $200,000

Edith Fore has fallen plenty of times, but don't worry, because she has a LifeCall Medical Alarm bracelet. This series was one of the best-known commercials, and the catchphrase continues to create a little bit of laughter even now.

Madam Fore earned a pretty penny for her acting prowess: She raked in $200,000, but it's possible she could have done it for free. Her LifeCall bracelet really did save her life when she fell at home, sustaining both a hip injury and a head injury. She was inspired to appear in the commercials because of this and turned the experience into a famous commercial.

The Toyota Girl

Real Name: Laurel Coppock

Salary Deal: $1 million

This fresh-faced brunette brings in a million dollars as the face of a business. Laurel Coppock is much more than the cheerful, helpful Toyota employee Jan, who only wants to help you find the perfect vehicle. She has had numerous appearances in television shows like Hot in Cleveland, Arrested Development, The Office, Modern Family, and more.

Coppock studied acting professionally at the Square Acting Conservatory, then moved to Chicago to study improv comedy acting. She worked for Boom Chicago in Amsterdam before beginning her television career. You might also recognize her as Sophia from Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Flo, The Progressive Insurance Woman

Real Name: Stephanie Courtney

Salary Deal: $8 million

With a grating, draining, plastic, and fake upbeat attitude offset by an outdated hairdo and garish red lipstick, Stephanie Courtney has been annoying the people of the world as ham alien Flo from Progressive for years. She's been in one hundred different commercials so far, though who could have been able to tell? They're all the exact same thing. She even has an Australian counterpart to spread the disease further: Kitty, played by actress Holly Austin.

She has received eight million dollars in salary, though Progressive charges so much for car insurance that's probably nothing. Courtney has also appeared in Mad Men, Cavemen, Men of a Certain Age, and The Goldbergs.

The 90's Pepsi Girl

Real Name : Hallie Kate Eisenberg

Salary Deal: $1 million

If Hallie's name seems familiar, that's because she's the sister of the famous actor, Jesse Eisenberg. Hallie played Little Amanda Martin AKA the Pepsi Girl, who did little more than enjoy the sweet taste of the blue can, in a set of commercials airing during the nineties. She went on to non-commercial projects, such as the movie Paulie.

Hallie continued acting until 2010, appearing in Beautiful, with Minnie Driver, and starring in The Miracle Worker, a TV movie remake. Actress fact: she was named after Hallie O'Fallon from the movie All I Want for Christmas. Hallie raked in a cool million for her soda spokesmanship.

The 7 Up Guy

Real Name: Orlando Jones

Salary Deal: $500,000

Jones earned a pretty penny for his role as lemon-lime soft drink spokesperson – $500,000, from 1999 to 2002. He's an entertainment biz veteran, co-producing The Sinbad Show back in 1993, and appearing in shows and movies such as In Harm's Way, Sour Grapes, Office Space, Woo, and Liberty Heights. He got his first big break in 1987 as a screenwriter for A Different World, an NBC comedy.

7 Up chose him for his comedic personality and writing skills. He's recently been in Starz's American Gods, The Book of Love movie, and episodes of Room 104 and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Dunkin Donuts' Fred the Baker

Real Name: Michael Vale

Salary Deal: $1 million

How well-liked and loved was Fred the Baker when he retired from his commercials in 1997? Dunkin Donuts gave away six million free donuts to celebrate his send-off, and the TV Bureau of Advertising named his original commercial one of the best of the decade in the eighties. His slogan was “Time to make the donuts,” since the commercial featured him getting up at the crack of dawn to make the delicious treats DD is known for.

Actor Michael Vale portrayed this down-to-earth and hard-working everyday man for a cool million dollars, and his character was so popular Boston gave him his own parade.

The Safeguard Singer

Real Name: John Travolta

Salary Deal : $70,000

Here's another name you're certainly familiar with. Long before he rose to international fame with movies like "Grease" or "Saturday Night Fever", Travolta appeared in a Safeguard Bath Soap commercial. The commercial aired in the 1970s and featured Travolta and his teammates singing in the shower after a sweaty basketball game.

It's the first time the world got to see Travolta's musical talent, and just a few years later, he would appear in Grease, and his career would speed up. However, he earned plenty of money from his soap ad, at a salary of $70,000. They were lucky – a few years later and they might have had to add a zero to the end.

Colonel Sanders

Real Name: Harlan Sanders

Salary Deal : $40,000

White-clad southern businessman Harlan Sanders had a dream about chicken, blazing from on high, and while he began with a small stand, the company is now worth more than $15 billion. His famous image – suit, mustache, goatee, and black bow tie – is immortal as the company's logo. He sold his stake in the company for only $2 million, but appeared in commercials for the company until his death, earning a yearly take of $40,000.

Actor fact: While Sanders wasn't part of the army, he was made an honorary colonel because he, yes, made the best chicken: “In recognition of his contributions to the state's cuisine.”

Kevin Butler, the PS3 Exec

Real Name: Jerry Lambert

Salary Deal : $10,000

As a way to tout the many features of their new gaming console, Sony created the character of Kevin Butler, played by Jerry Lambert. In the humorous commercials, Kevin Butler was the VP of various, varying departments within Sony, but was mainly in charge of answering fan mail.

The character came from the minds of ad agency Deutsch/LA, which not only ran Jerry Lambert's social media but also wrote the speech he gave at E3 2010. Lambert had a salary deal of $10,000, while the only thing Butler had was an MBA: Master of Being Awesome.

Sandra Savealot

Real Name: Alyssa Milano

Salary Deal: $1 million

Actress, singer, producer, and director Alyssa Milano has made more than her mark on Hollywood, and has a net worth of more than $10 million. A good portion of that comes from her short “Sandra Savealot” role, which got her a million dollars. It was part of MCI's commercials advertising their 1-800-COLLECT service, a collect call business.

In the commercials, a hapless caller might not have the right change for a payphone, but when Sandra Savealot appears, his worries are gone. Milano got the service a lot of press since she starred in the popular sitcom Who's the Boss in the late 80s and early 90s.

The Human PC Guy in Apple Commercials

Real Name: John Hodgman

Salary Deal: $3 million

Appearing in the famously-derided Mac commercials alongside the “Mac” Justin Long, Hodgman is supposed to be seen as the stodgy and outdated Windows PC, yet he is so well-known – and Long's character so annoying – a lot of people ended up siding with Hodgman.

Hodgman is also a humorist and writer, working with Jon Stewart on the Daily Show. His writing has appeared in physical form and online. Apple paid a salary of $3 million. His most recent book, 'Medallion Status', came out in October of 2019. He has a degree from Yale in literary criticism and was an agent before becoming a writer.

The Snapple Lady

Real Name: Wendy Kaufman

Salary Deal : $100,000

Kaufman wasn't picked out of a hat to foist flavored tea and juices at us – she got the part because she was the only one at Snapple who would answer fan mail. This caught the eye of the ad agency, who also thought her energetic, bubbly personality would work well on TV.

Snapple sales jumped from $23 million to $750 million in the nineties, and some hold Kaufman accountable. While she was removed for two years after Snapple was sold to Quaker Oats, the company quickly realized what they had lost, and brought her back in. She currently brings in $100,000 a year.

Carl Hardee, Sr.

Real Name: Chip Esten

Salary Deal : $20,000

With his own musical and television career, Charles “Chip” Esten has done plenty in the entertainment biz. He portrayed Carl Hardee, Sr. in a commercial alongside his fictional son, Carl Junior. Esten played the role of Deacon on Nashville from 2012 until 2018, which helped bring him to greater fame and get his musical career off the ground.

He's also appeared as Josh Porter in The Office and has had bit parts on the shows Thirteen Days and Enlightened. He's also had an appearance on Whose Line Is It Anyway? His role as the Hardee's patriarch was only $20,000, but don't worry – his net worth is estimated at around $4 million.

The InVinceable Guy

Real Name: Vince Offer

Salary Deal: $2 million

Vince Offer first made his mark as the spirited and energetic face that demonstrated the amazing absorption of ShamWow, but he's also a comedian and writer. His first major film came in 1999, The Underground Comedy Movie . He not only does ShamWow commercials, he also writes, produces, and owns them.

In addition, he owns a slew of kitchen products (like the famous Slap Chop), along with the InVinceable and a number of other product lines. His salary deal is $2 million, but his total earnings are likely much higher since he owns the actual companies.

The “Can You Hear Me Now?” Guy

Real Name: Paul Marcarelli

Salary Deal: $9 million

It was one of the most famous phrases a commercial had during the years from 2001 to 2011, and Paul Marcarelli raked in the big bucks with a total of $9 million. Thanks to their universal coverage, Verizon was able to build five simple words into a huge industry.

While Marcarelli starred in the commercials for a long time, he now speaks for Verizon competitor Sprint, using the new tagline “Can You Hear That?” It might not have the same ring, but Marcarelli is still doing good work for Sprint, starting in 2016.

The Doritos Kid

Real Name: Tobey Maguire

Salary Deal: $5,000

Years before Maguire donned the mask and swung through the buildings of New York as your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, he was asking everyone “Who's Bob?” Bob seemed to really like Doritos, as the people at the bowling alley repeatedly told him, but Bob might not even exist.

Maguire ended up hating Doritos because of how many he ended up eating thanks to the commercials, but the commercials were not only a big career boost for the eighth-grader but also put $5,000 in his account. If you're interested in knowing more about this commercial, don't bother. Insiders could only call it “baffling.” It's exactly what you might expect from a nineties commercial for Doritos.

The Beard Guru for James Harden

Real Name: Pete Gardner

Salary Deal : $10,000

Pete Gardner's been in a ton of commercials, but one of his most memorable spots has been as the hirsute historian of beards to the similarly-bearded NBA star, James Harden. In a commercial for NBA 2K15, Gardner appears to give Harder expert advice to keep at the top of his beard game.

Gardner, who unfortunately does not have a legendary beard in real life, has been in commercials for Doritos (“Crash the Super Bowl”), Juicy Fruit, Castrol, Taco Bell, USPS, and Hanes. His pedigree of working alongside athletes began with Hanes when he worked with Michael Jordan. His Castrol commercial is famous for its “Think with your dipstick” line. Gardner got $10,000 for this single NBA 2K15 ad.

The Gas Station Pepsi Girl

Real Name: Cindy Crawford

Salary Deal: $5 million

Even if you've been living under a rock, you'll recognize the name, Cindy Crawford. She is one of the world's most famous supermodels and is almost as well known for this famous Pepsi spot. Her iconic – and breathtakingly thin – white tank top and supermodel-messy hair got her $5 million for the simple ad, which meant more than $150,000 for every second.

Crawford recreated the ad during the 2018 Super Bowl with her son, Presley Gerber, twenty-six years after the original. Is it possible a taste for Pepsi is a genetic thing? We might be looking at the nature versus nurture debate.

Captain Morgan's Chief Party Officer

Real Name: Adam Devine

Salary Deal: $3 million

Get it? Because a Chief Petty Officer is a naval rank and – oh, you get it. While Mr. Devine might not be playing the Captain himself, the Chief Party Officer is a big role to fill, and at a hull-busting $3 million salary, we hope Adam kept things shipshape. There's nothing like a celebrity endorsement to get people to notice.

Adam Devine is recognizable from roles such as Pitch Perfect, Workaholics, Game Over, Man!, and plenty more. His first commercial for the captain was House Party: Sea Creature – Devine pretended to be the famous one-leg-up captain on a house's front lawn.

The Pine-Sol Woman

Real Name: Diane Amos

Salary Deal : $250,000 Pine-Sol is famous for its fresh lemon scent, as well as the charming woman who is oh so excited about the legendary cleaning power. Diane Amos is also known for her roles in The Hall, Blue Jasmine, Olive, Twisted, Nine Months, Patch Adams, Sweet November, and plenty more. Her first non-commercial role was in 1990, as Janet in Midnight Caller.

She's served as the spokeswoman for Pine-Sol since 2002, bringing in about $250,000 a year. She is mainly a TV actress, but she also has a stand-up comedy career, as well as appearances in a number of pretty famous movies.

“The Most Interesting Man in the World”

Real Name: Jonathon Goldsmith

Salary Deal: $1 million

Few ad campaigns have been as successful as the “The Most Interesting Man in the World” campaign, and actor Jonathon Goldsmith has been providing a weathered gaze and deep, smokey voice in the acting world since 1963. Born in New York City, Goldsmith got his first role on a Perry Mason series, going on to gain traction in the Western world, with over twenty-five Westerns to his name.

Goldsmith has also been in television shows through the years, such as Dallas, Gunsmoke, CHiPs, Bonanza, Charlie's Angels, T.J. Hooker, Hardcastle & McCormick, Knots Landing, Magnum P.I., and plenty of others. His Dos Equis campaign was so popular, sales increased by 15.4% percent. He certainly earned his $1 million deal.

Joe, the Isuzu Pitchman

Real Name: David Leisure

Salary Deal : $20,000

From 1986 to 1990, Joe Isuzu told the world about the merits of one of Japan's famous car companies, making outrageous claims as an excited and overzealous salesman played by David Leisure. Famous Hollywood director Graham Baker directed the commercials, and they even had a Super Bowl XXI spot in 1987.

Joe had a twin sister (Leisure, wearing a wig) named Joanne who also appeared in the commercials. The commercials returned in 1999 despite Isuzu having left the US market. Leisure also appeared in a quick campaign for Johnny5ive, an “Isuzu Trooper” mechanic. The Isuzu Trooper is a mid-size SUV that was made between 1981 and 2002. Leisure received a $20,000 deal from the Japanese company.

Charmin's Mr. Whipple

Real Name: Dick Wilson

Salary Deal: $300,000

Stuffy store manager Mr. Whipple was constantly scolding shoppers for squeezing the ultra-soft Charmin toilet paper for years. Actor Dick Wilson – born in England in 1916 – brought in a total of $300,000 during his time as the recognizable character, and appeared in over five hundred commercials for the brand.

The commercials also frequently included young stock boy Adam Savage, long before he was a myth-buster. Mr. Whipple found his way back to TVs in 1999, after a fourteen-year break. The character claimed he couldn't retire just yet – he still had much to tell the public about his butt paper. The new slogan was “Is Mr. Whipple watching?” …Is he?

The Slingers (Wife)

Real Name: Megan Mullally

Salary Deal : $50,000

Megan Mullally plays Offerman's on-screen wife in the Slingers commercials, which makes a lot of sense because they're married in real life. She's an actress and comedian who has also appeared in Parks & Rec as a vengeful librarian, Tammy 2, who was Ron Swanson's ex-wife. Just like her husband, Sling has Mullally salaried for $50,000.

Mullally and Offerman married in 2003. Before she appeared on Parks & Rec Mullally had a recurring role as Karen Walker in the sitcom Will & Grace on NBC. She's been nominated for an Emmy eight times, winning twice (2000 and 2006).

The Wendy's Girl

Real Name: Morgan Smith-Goodwin

Salary Deal: $3 million

Morgan Smith-Goodwin is the “Wendy's Girl” (known as “Red”), but she's actually a born blonde. She dyes her hair for the ads, and for good reason: Morgan brought in $3 million for appearing as the face of the international fast-food chain.

Born in Alabama, Smith-Goodwin moved to New York City to pursue a career in acting, appearing in benefits, concerts, and free readings before an Off-Broadway role in Freckleface Strawberry as an original cast member. She was also the lead in Sweet Charity and Circumstance.

The “It's Not That Complicated” Guy

Real Name: Beck Bennett

Salary Deal : $250,000

Beck Bennett knew acting was for him when he performed in a children's theater in his hometown. He's known for his roles on Saturday Night Live as a regular cast member, but before that he appeared in the “It's Not That Complicated” AT&T commercials, for a total salary deal of $250,000.

During that same time, he created sketch videos with “Good Neighbor”, a comedy group, and had roles in Theatre of Life, which are available on Youtube. He began acting on Saturday Night Live in 2013, thanks to his skill at humorous impressions.

FedEx's Fast-Talker

Real Name: John Moschitta

Salary Deal: $3 million

Famous motormouth John Moschitta has a famous, unique talent: he can speak at a rate of 586 words per minute. While he held the world record for World's Fastest Talker in the eighties, the record has been broken a few times – though Moschitta debates the legitimacy of the new records.

Moshcitta was not only the lightning-fast pitchman for FedEx's rapid delivery service, he is also the famous speedy talker for Micro Machines in more than a hundred commercials. He has also voiced Blurr in the Transformers movies and has directed two straight-to-video movies. FedEx had him on salary for three million dollars. A high price – but fast talkers aren't a dime a dozen.

The Noxema Girl with Joe Namath

Real Name: Farrah Fawcett

Salary Deal : $10,000

With world-famous feathered hair and piercing blue eyes, Farrah Fawcett has been drawing love-struck looks since the seventies. She famously appeared in a commercial for Noxzema, a shaving cream, alongside famous NFL quarterback Joe Namath (who bore the nickname “Broadway Joe”). The tagline was “Let Noxzema cream your face” and yes, they did know.

Fawcett was in the famous Charlie's Angels television show, as well as movies such as Cannonball Run, Extremities, Burning Bed, and Small Sacrifices. But this campaign may have been her most lucrative deal, earning her $10,000 per commercial. She stuck to feature films and TV after the commercials, though, perhaps embarrassed.

The Target Lady

Real Name: Maria Bamford

Salary Deal : $300,000

Maria Bamford wears plenty of hats in the entertainment industry, including as a stand-up artist, a voice actress, and a film actor. Her first comedy album was 'The Burning Bridges Tour', and four years later 'How to WIN!' followed. Her first movie role was Lucky Numbers, in 2000, before she switched to voice-acting.

Her Target deal brought in $300,000, but you might be more familiar with the variety of animated voices she has provided, including American Dad!, Bojack Horseman, CatDog, and Adventure Time. In 2015 she was in the movie Hell & Back.

The “That's a Spicy Meatball” Guy

Real Name: Jack Somack

Salary Deal : $10,000

Born in 1918 in Chicago, Jack Somack is not only known for the few classic movies he's appeared in, but also for this famous ad, which has him appear as the Italian man who exclaims in a bright manner: “Mamma mia, that's a spicy meatball!” for ten grand.

It was a slogan for Alka-Seltzer – after a spicy meatball, you might have heartburn. Somack's movies include The Frisco Kid, Sanford and Son, Carlton Your Doorman, Desperate Characters, Portnoy's Complaint, and more. He passed away in 1983, but we will always remember him for his work, and for telling us just how spicy that meatball is. RIP.

The Dell Computer Dude

Real Name: Ben Curtis

Salary Deal : $50,000

Known only as the Dell Dude, Benjamin Curtis was born in Tennessee and starred in a series of well-received, though now quite outdated, commercials for Dell. He managed to get the role despite being three years over the age range Dell wanted. He popularized the saying “Dude, you're getting a Dell,” which tells you what era of recent history this ad series ran. His contract ended in 2003, but he received a $50,000 salary.

Actor fact: Before he even started as an actor, Curtis was an incredibly talented magician. Since ending with Dell, Curtis has had plenty of roles, though all of them fairly brief.

Hot Construction Worker Drinking Diet Coke

Real Name: John Vanous

Salary Deal: $1 million

With just one shirtless scene, John Vanous turned the commercial world upside down in 1994, appearing as a hot construction worker who takes a break to crack open a Diet Coke, catching the eye of the ladies in the office building nearby – a spoof on the often-mocked and very much overdone “hot girl” ad campaigns.

Vanous has since shot several commercials for Coke. He served in the US army before starting as a model in New York. He's appeared in a number of non-commercial projects, including 18 Wheels of Justice as Chance Bowman and Pacific Palisades as Matt Dunning. Vanous got a million dollars for cracking a Coke and looking good.

The Red Robin Lady

Real Name: Melanie Paxson

Salary Deal : $50,250

Paxson is a commercial veteran, appearing in commercials for Gladware before Red Robin got their mitts on her. She was born in Illinois and acted for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and has been onscreen since the 1990s, appearing in Early Edition and starring as Jaclyn in Cupid from 98-99.

She's also been in The Drew Carey Show, Joey, Kitchen Confidential, CSI, Rules of Engagement, The Exes, and Medium. She currently has a recurring role in the NBC show Happy Family, as “Sara Brennan.” Her current deal with Red Robin is a little over $50,000.

“Air Jordan” and “Hare Jordan”

Real Name: Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny

Salary Deal: $1 million

No one expected these two greats to meet in a commercial, but then again no one expected Space Jam to turn into one of the most memorable films of the nineties. These two famous names appeared in a Nike commercial in 1992, as Jordan promoted his latest line of shoes. Bugs was there just to help out.

Jordan made $1 million just for this one ad, but that's peanuts compared to how much Jordan has made with his collaboration with Nike – all told, somewhere in the area of $1.2 billion. His first style came out in 1982, and there are more every year.

Ronald McDonald

Real Name: Willard Scott

Salary Deal: $10 million

For a whopping ten million dollars, radio personality Willard Scott played the burger chain's famous mascot starting in 1963, filming three different spots and growing McDonald's into the mega-industry we know today. Scott had plenty of experience under the greasepaint, playing the role of Bozo the Clown for his radio station in Washington D.C. from 1959 to 1962. His clowning caught the eye of McDonald's ad execs.

The McD's clown was originally known as “The Hamburger Happy Clown,” and it was a lot more colorful and energetic than the version we know of today. At least the current version doesn't have a cup for a nose. Or looks like a creepier version of Jigsaw from the famous Saw films.

Max Headroom

Real Name: Matt Frewer

Salary Deal : $100,000

The creepy AI character Max Headroom came from the head of Annabel Jankel and Rocky Morton and was played by actor Matt Frewer. It has a stuttering, distorted voice as well as plenty of witty remarks, and first appeared in the “20 Minutes into the Future” commercial, in 1984.

While Max Headroom was a short-lived show, he also appeared in this Coke commercial, and the character also appeared in the 2015 movie, Pixels. Frewer received $100,000 for his spot. The name came from journalist Edison Carter, who saw the words “MAX. HEADROOM: 2.3 M”, moments before slipping into a coma.

Viewfinder Girl with Henry Fonda

Real Name: Jodie Foster

Salary Deal : $2,000

Who could that precocious child be using the Viewfinder with Henry Fonda? Why, it's only two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster, who had one of her very first times in front of the camera with none other than Hollywood royalty Henry Fonda. Foster was only halfway to ten.

Foster's very first time was when she was just three years of age, appearing as the Coppertone girl. While Viewfinder was high-tech at the time, it's become obsolete thanks to things like the internet and mobile phones. On the other hand, Coppertone continues to shield people from the killer rays of the sun. Jodie earned a pretty easy $2,000 for working with Fonda.

The Slingers (Husband)

Real Name: Nick Offerman

Salary Deal : $50,000

You know Offerman from his famous role as Ron Swanson on Parks & Rec, but he's also appeared alongside his wife Megan Mullally in Sling TV's We are Slingers ad campaign. Don't expect a gruff attitude this time, though – his Slingers character is quite a bit more easygoing than Swanson.

For a $50,000 deal, Offerman offered his likeness and acting prowess for a multi-media campaign, which appeared not only on TV but also in social media and print. Sling TV is a Dish Network subsidiary, a live-streaming service founded in 2015. It's been going through quite a bit of aggressive rebranding, which Offerman has been assisting.

The Pillsbury Doughboy

Real Name: Paul Frees

Salary Deal: $1 million

For a salary of one million big ones, Paul Frees brought his talent as a man of many voices to Pillsbury, appearing in plenty of ads as the little white creature in the 1960s. Famous for his voice-acting prowess, Frees was born in Chicago in the 1920s and was married to actress Beverly Marlow until he passed in 1986.

There are plenty of places you'll recognize Frees: Rudolph & Frosty, Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, and Jack Frost. All Christmas movies, yes, but he's done plenty of others, including acting in A Place in the Sun in 1951. But we'll always know him for his cheerful chuckle and delicious bakery treats.

The T-Mobile Girl

Real Name: Carly Foulkes

Salary Deal: $1 million

How did Foulkes become the T-Mobile Girl? By answering a random ad in 2009. She became a staple of the commercials, for some reason wearing pink and white biker gear, in the ads the brand put out between 2010 and 2013. She's made some guest appearances since then, and is still part of the “brand family.”

Her deal brought her a cool million. An interesting fact – the bright pink color Foulkes and other faces of T-Mobile wear is actually a trademarked shade, as it is part of their corporate marketing plan. No imitations here.

The Dr. Pepper Girl from the '60s

Real Name: Donna Loren

Salary Deal: $500

Donna Loren is one of the most well-known female vocalists of all time, and Pepsi was able to grab her early on in her career; they signed her for a paltry salary of only $500. Pretty quickly her career took off, getting more and more vocal and acting roles, but she never gave up commercials.

She modeled as a teenager for hats, makeup, dental care, and exercise products – anything that could feature that pretty face. Her other national ad campaign was the “If I Can Sew, You Can Sew” campaign for Simplicity Pattern Company. It might be even more famous than her Dr. Pepper campaign.

The Maytag Man

Real Name: Colin Ferguson

Salary Deal: $1 million

Colin Ferguson has a widely-recognized name and face, and not just as the Maytag Man. He has played Sheriff Carter on Eureka, and Lewis on the sitcom Then Came You. He's also starred in The Vampire Diaries, as well as several Lifetime Christmas movies such as Christmas in Paradise, alongside Charlotte Ross.

He became the face for the appliance company, Maytag, in 2014, and has shot commercials with them ever since. His salary deal has been reported at a million dollars. He'll get you the appliances you need to bake fresh cookies or keep your laundry clean.

The AT&T Woman

Real Name : Milana Vayntrub

Salary Deal : $500,000

Milana Vayntrub has been making waves recently as the pretty and smiling Lily Adams from AT&T commercials, but she's had plenty of other roles. Her very first was in a Barbie commercial at just five years old, in order to help support her family – they had moved to Hollywood from Uzbekistan, and were in dire financial straits.

She's also appeared in the web series Let's Talk About Something More Interesting, as well as the Yahoo! series Other Space. She also enjoys appearing in short art project films. Financial straits are long gone thanks to AT&T, which has Vayntrub on a deal worth $500,000.