How the George Foreman Grill was merely minutes away from becoming forever known as the Hulk Hogan Grill
Hulkster made a $200m error back in 1994 when he decided he would rather endorse the Hulkamania Meatball Maker
HULK HOGAN’S £160million error.
Everyone knows what the George Foreman Lean Mean Fat-Reducing Grill is – the immensely popular electronic grill which has gone on to sell well over 100 million units worldwide.
What everyone might not know is that the grill was just minutes away from being forever known as the Hulk Hogan Grill.
Yes, the George Foreman Grill, synonymous in many a household worldwide – was originally set to become the Hulk Hogan Grill, after it was first offered to the muscle-bound wrestling champ.
The Hulkster, real name Terry Bollea, has claimed that was sitting at home one day back in late 1994 when his agent called him up and some great offers for him to endorse – the grill…or a meatball machine.
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Big-boot, leg-dropper Hogan thought about it, and decided to lend his name to the failed meatball machine instead.
In a 2011 interview, Hogan revealed what went down, and claimed his agent called him and said: “You should get into these things, kitchen appliances, put your name on something."
The Hulkster then asked: “Well, what have you got?”
His agent listed the meatball maker and a grill, to which Hogan replied:
"That's fantastic, I want the Hulkamania Meatball Maker."
“What about the Grill?” his agent asked.
Hogan hit back with: “Ah, give that to your other client.”
Heavyweight boxer George Foreman was that other client, and the rest is history.
What a meat-head.
Hogan's 2011 claim is different from the one he made on his reality TV show Hogan Knows Best, when he said that he was offered the grill first, but missed the call from his agent because he was "picking up the kids", and then it was immediately offered to Foreman.
Foreman, 67, himself has made over $200 million from the sales of the grills, which is more money than he made during his entire boxing career.
Still, Hogan, 63, was awarded $115m from gossip news website Gawker earlier this year after he won the case against them following their publication of a sex tape featuring the retired grappler.