Michael Phelps Signs $1 Million Deal To Promote Mazda In China

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps is golden in China again.

First he won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games.

Now Phelps is getting more than $1 million to be a spokesman for Mazda in China, the largest single sponsorship for a Western celebrity in Chinese history.

Phelps is heading back to Beijing for the first time since the summer Olympic Games. Dynamic Marketing Group's DMG Entertainment unit said in a statement that Phelps will endorse the Mazda 6 car in TV and print ads and public appearances.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[meowomon]

I remember that relay race and I was just hoping that his suit would just slip a little more. Just a teeny tiny bit. From the neck down, the guy's an Adonis.

[Damaven]

I guess it's not okay to comment that he needs to pull his swim suits up.

[repugnicansfearme]

This guy deserves all the money he can get. He has worked hard his whole life and overcome many obstacles. There should be a movie about this guy.

[v eyepete]

Yes he is a winning athlete, but the way he wins makes me sick. This picture says it all. Worse than a poor looser, is a winner who wins without the slightest bit of humility. I really dislike this guy. I would not buy anything the smug creep was selling, why would the Chinese?

[Ray46]

I bet the plug in hybrids made in China cost a lot less.and make a lot more sense in the long run.
http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/a-plug-in-hybrid-goes-on-sale-in-china/

[AnotherMike]

It's painful watching him spokesperson in English, I can't imagine how bad it will be in Chinese!

Get paid, kid. But don't quit your day job.

[concernvoter]

They need to hold on to this money. By choosing him is not going to help promote nothing if they end up needing a bailout.

[vjoseph]

Looking at that picture brings naughty thoughts in my head. Meow

[MyTake]

Another American success story!

When Jay Leno is driving a Chevrolet Hydrogen Fuel Cell car, when Jamie Lee Curtis is driving a Honda FCX hydrogen fuel cell car, why is this guy doing Mazda gasoline car commercials in China which is developing and in production with a electric car?

Someone take his ear plugs out and tell him we are attempting to turn this century green and even these elite athlete's should take notice of the environment!

[tel8034]

Did Ford, Chrysler or GM offer Phelps a deal? .............NO ................ Mazda did.

Leave the man alone and let him earn a living in a manner a lot of other people (without criticism) do through commercials and endorsements.

If the American car companies had offered him a deal I'm sure he would have gone with them.

[MyTake]

Ah, my point was that instead of using his fame to promote environmentally friendly transportation, he chose to promote a carbon producing mode of transportation!

[Stilts9]

$1M isn't that big a deal in the advertising world. Sure, I'd like to have it, but I wouldn't spend 12 years in a swimming pool in the prime of my life to get it.

[mesmorize3]

Ideally, it would have been more appropriate if he had signed an endorsement deal with an American automaker. He won 8 gold medals in the 2008 olympic games, a great accomplishment so i guess its time to cash in.

[drymartini1]

why more appropriate? he needs to get paid just like anyone else. its like saying, ideally you need to work for a US company.

[JScott]

Yup. And you'd be surprised at all the celebs who shill for products overseas.
Very few do it dignified and respectful, it's all about the MONEY!!!!!

[ScottL]

Creepy swimming dude .. pull your swimming trunks up!

[drymartini1]

jealous much? how much $$ did you rake in last year?

[JSDKoeln]

Jealous much?

[adey]

Ick. Just ick.

[MsCanadian]

Why do we need to pay celebrities to endorse any product?

[drymartini1]

you dont pay celebrities. the companies do. you pay for the product.

hope that explains everything...:)

[conniec]

And the cost of paying celebrities is factored into the cost of the product. So the consumer IS paying the celebrity.

[MsCanadian]

No, because the company still factors in a portion of the marketing dollars it spends to have celebrities endorse their products - so I still get dinged.

What I also meant is - can't we determine what we choose to buy without these endorsements? I don't buy products just because a celebrity says it's good.

[mytwosense]

As a million dollar spokesperson, wouldn't it be terrific if Phelps speaks up about China's toxic toys, tainted milk, and human rights violations? Money talks, right?!?