In the lead-up both the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials and the 2016 Olympic Games, swim fans have been treated to several Facebook Live sessions held by 22-time Olympic medalist Michael Phelps.
Through his multiple live videos, we’ve been able to go on a Phelps-guided Olympic Training Center tour, eat a meal with the 18-time gold medalist, and spend part of the new Dad’s first Father’s Day with the athlete as he published a live video with baby Boomer and fiancée Nicole last Sunday, June 19th.
As admirers of Phelps, most viewers of his videos would like to altruistically think the 30-year-old is producing and posting them to keep fans involved and connected with the athlete. While that may still be the case, the Wall Street Journal reveals that there is also a strong monetary motive behind the videos.
Per an article published in WSJ today, Phelps is listed among 140 media companies and celebrities hired by Facebook, Inc to create videos for its relatively new live-streaming service. The goal is to utilize the well-known businesses and personalities in an effort to rake in advertising dollars via increased engagement with Facebook’s estimated 1.65 billion monthly users.
Phelps reportedly will reap $200,000 from the arrangement, a nice paycheck for not having to leave the couch. NFL quarterback Russell Wilson and chef Gordon Ramsey reportedly receive the same amount, which is small change compared to the $600,000 comedian Kevin Hart earn from his live streaming.
In terms of businesses, the highest paid publisher is BuzzFeed, who is slated to receive $3.05 million for live broadcasting between March 2016 and March 2017.
The fact Phelps gets a paycheck for his Facebook posts may dull the shine of finally getting a glimpse into the steely competitor who has dominated United States’ swimming for more than a dozen years. But, that doesn’t mean gaining insight into what makes the most decorated Olympian of all time tick isn’t worth it.
What difference does it make whether he gets paid or not? He gets paid for print interviews, appearances etc.
Money is my motivator Nothing wrong with that . Stop being a hater
kinda sad that he was hired to do this, 🙁 in interviews he has always said we are going to see the real Michael phelps and I thought this was it but now we don’t know if it is real or not since he was hired :/
Some do it for the paycheck. Some do it for the love of their fans and their sport. Everyone has unique values, and different opinions about whether that difference matters or not. But in the big picture, whether you feel strongly that your beloved sports hero either owes you a free interview because of the value you place on your delusional intimacy with him, or whether you rage that he should maximize his profit because that’s his unalienable American right, and you stand by your hero because you delusionally know that you and your hero will always have each other’s backs because, you know, America, then you care way too much.
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I saw Allison Schmitt in one of the FB Live Posts, does she also get paid? -Hoping that she does
I am so happy that a SWIMMER is making this kind of money. It’s still a drop in the bucket compared to what athletes in US major sports would get for something like this. And I guarantee that he worked harder to get to his level than most or all of those other guys!
lol did you guys expect the man to do everything for free? Who cares if he was paid or not BECAUSE chances are YOU STILL WATCHED ALL OF THEM with no complaints. you’re telling me you wouldn’t accept 200,000$?!?! just to make a couple live streams and interact with fans? if you say no you’re obvioulsy lying
Michael genuinely answered one of my questions when he was live. I appreciated that.
I also would genuinely answer your question if I got paid 200k. Actually since I’m a generous person and altruist, make that 20k and you get 10 questions.