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.
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 “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.
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.
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.