Heavyweight boxing can be a lucrative business, but for George Foreman that was not the reason for his biggest payday.
‘Big George’ earned millions at the height of his powers as a world champion fighting other legends such as Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
But, while carving a legacy in the ring was useful, Foreman’s most successful financial decision came by putting his name on a kitchen appliance.
After officially retiring from fighting in 1999, Foreman put his name to the ‘George Foreman Grill’ for £137 million.
And, this does not even include money he was paid for appearing in adverts as well as royalties he received on each grill sold.
“When I did the deal I was given 16 of the grills and I shared them with my aunts, uncles and cousins and then I would keep a few for training camps,” Foreman told talkSPORT during an interview to discuss a film about his life called ‘Big George Foreman’.
“Little did I know, over 120 million of those things would be sold worldwide that quickly.
“Only because it worked so well, but I was shocked, I didn’t see it coming.”
When asked if this was more money than he made from his entire boxing career, Foreman replied: “Yes.
“But, also I made more friends from the grill because it worked. People would bet on me in a boxing match and I would lose and they would be upset with me, so the grill was my saving grace!”
Foreman, who won the heavyweight title in 1973, later quit boxing and, ten years after hanging up his gloves, returned in 1987 due to financial difficulties.
He later became the oldest heavyweight champion in 1994 when, at the age of 45, beat Michael Moorer.
But had he known how well the grill would end up doing, there would have been no need to say yes to being punched in the face.