Jordy Smith knows what happens to surfers who are sponsored by mainstream brands (Mr. Price for example). So while we were a little surprised back when he signed with O’Niell we had no idea how much he turned down from Nike, or what the Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that he turned down.
Jordy Smith took a phone call from Tiger Woods. He received an email from Michael Jordan. He was sent the shoe that Ronaldo used to kick a goal in a World Cup final. Nike offered him $5.3 million a year … but he knocked them all back. . . . But then he signed with Californian company O’Neill, basically because it was a traditional surfing brand. It was still a seven-figure deal, making him one of the top five highest earners on the tour before he had even entered it. But he had to be content with about $3 million less a year. He’ll survive.
Impressive.
[Link: Sydney Morning Herald]
