Boxing: George Foreman made so much on his grill that he feared he was a victim of financial crime

Boxer George Foreman died last week. He was 76 when he died. He is remembered as one of the biggest heavyweight boxers of all time.

Foreman won 76 of his 81 professional matches and won the Olympic gold in Mexico in 1968. He was a ruthless impact machine in the ring that is best remembered for his iconic clash Muhammad Alin with 1974. Rumble in the Jungle quickly got the nickname of the 20th century sporting event.

The Foreman’s publicity changed as much as overnight in the early 1990s. In the middle of his return tour in the middle of 1987, Foreman agreed to give its name to the use of several products. In an instant, a relaxed big grandfather of the whole nation was hatched from the boxer.

Particularly Foreman is remembered for his barbecue. George Foreman Grill was introduced in 1994 and quickly became a stunning money shampoo on Foreman. The boxer performed energetically and cheerfully in the US shopping channel programs presenting his barbecue, to which he gave the slogan “Lean, Mean, Fat Reducing Grilling Machine”.

The barbecue mark was a bevelled baking tray that helped the excess fat drain into a separate container. In this way, the Foreman’s barbecue became a hit when it could be marketed as a direct fat removal device.

Supplier Pablo Torren on the program Pablo Torre Finds Out It was reported on Friday that the grill forged a fabulous amount of money on Foreman. Foreman did not receive any interest in the contract, but received as much as 45%of the equipment sold.

At its best Foreman made up to $ 8 million a month on his grill.

Foreman’s lawyer Henry Holmes According to the program, the sales were so high that Foreman even suspected that he had been a criminal inquiry.

“George called me and said it was an emergency. He asked, ‘Will these people wash money?’ I wondered what he was talking about, and he replied, “Did you see what the check we got from them?”, “Holmes said.

According to his own words, Holmes had not paid attention. When he checked it, he also got quite a shock. The sum really was true.

“I thought for a moment that maybe this is really money laundering,” Holmes says and laughs.

The grill also has a myth. Show wrestling legend Hulk Hogan Has claimed several times that he had the opportunity to become a grill advertising face. Torre reached the grill inventor Michael Boehmin The heir that dismissed the “Hulster” for years.

“George Foreman was the only celebrity that my father approached from the grill advertising. We don’t know who started stories from Hulk Hogan, but they are not true.”

George Foreman Grill was the second best-selling home appliance in the US in the 1990s. The barbecue is still on sale and can be ordered in Finland as well.

With his contract, Foreman received such a big slice of the grill revenue that the Salton company, which manufactured the barbecue in 1999, offered to buy the rights for Foreman’s name on the barbecue with a lump sum.

The parties agreed on the purchase price of 138 million. In total, Foreman earned over $ 200 million by giving its name to the home appliance – much more than during his long boxing career.

At an older age, Foreman was better known for his performances as a whole American rioter than as a master boxer. Foreman said in 2004 Business Weekin In the interview, it is cheerfully how young people today recognize him from their barbecue.

“I’ve heard the kids scream,” There’s that barbecue!