What Lance Armstrong has lost
If you were one of the many that watched Lance Armstrong's interview with Oprah last night, you no doubt caught the teaser for tonight's part two of the Q&A.
In it, the duo hinted at the many sponsors that had dropped Armstrong after his doping allegations grew too loud to ignore. In the clip, Armstrong called it a "$75 million day."
That figure has yet to be confirmed, so in the meantime we're left to pick up the pieces of the disgraced cyclist's sponsorship history.
And when we're judging Armstrong's last few months, from an endorsement perspective, at least, it appears only Tiger Woods had it worse.
Allegations about Armstrong's doping, of course, are more than a decade old, having popped up not long after he won the first of his seven Tour de France titles in 1999.
*Bing: Who is the world's highest-paid athlete?
But the Texan famously never tested positive -- creative drug use schedules and even, at one point, a backdated doctor's prescription to wriggle free from the one time he was caught -- maintained his status as a Madison Ave. darling.
He had beaten cancer. Dated Sheryl Crow. The guy was worth the millions.
Late last year, however, the case for his drug use became too strong to keep refuting, and he was systematically dropped by the bulk of his sponsors.
Nike, Anheuser-Busch, Oakley and Trek were among the names to drop him. At the time, it was thought he'd lost some $30 million.
Tonight, Armstrong himself may reveal that figure to be higher (ironically, while Armstrong confesses his financial follies, ad space for the much-hyped Oprah interview sold at a 40-50 per cent higher clip than normal).
What he may not address, however, is whether he'll have to repay any of that sponsorship money. That will be a complicated legal issue some feel won't ultimately pry a dime from Armstrong's pockets, despite reports that he's considered returning some cash.
In the end, Armstrong is likely to keep the $100 million-plus fortune he's reported to have, but his future earnings will no doubt take a hit. In addition to his "$75 million day," some feel his doping scandal and subsequent confession will cost him tens of millions in future endorsements, appearance fees and speaking engagements.
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: wendy | Jan 20, 2022 1:27:15 AM
wellwe all know opras new network is not hot, hence they both made mega money for that interview
Posted by: Allen | Jan 20, 2022 4:37:08 AM
The guys a fraud should go to jail with the rest of the cheats in the World .He is no difference than any one out there that takes money from people.
Posted by: D. O'Brien | Jan 20, 2022 9:35:05 AM
He's a friggin CHEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: david | Jan 20, 2022 12:16:35 PM
Lasnce Armstrong is a "THIEF" and a "LIAR"
Posted by: Colette | Jan 20, 2022 12:55:07 PM
Too bad stupidity appears to parallel money - all he had to do was admit it - humans, in general have empathy but our tolerance for being lied to, is non-existent. His actions borderline psychopathic tendencies!! He felt he was better than most, he wouldn't get caught, he can lie and all of us idiots will believe and support him. I feel sorry for his family and close friends who believed in him - at least I can walk away from supporting him, they are stuck with him. Enjoy your millions Lance - I hope you are proud of how you earned it.
Posted by: marcel gauthier | Jan 20, 2022 3:58:36 PM
whAT MONEY IS HE LOSING WHEN HE DID NOT DESERVE ANY.LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO
THE BANK HE IS A MILLIONNAIRE WITH MONEY HE STOLE FROM HONEST CYCLIEST WHAT ABOUT THE HONEST ONE HE CHEAT FROM THEY HAVE NO MONEY IF HE WANTS TO COME CLEAN GIVE ALL HIS MONEY BACK START FROM SCRATCH
Posted by: silenceisgolden | Jan 20, 2022 4:27:22 PM
Why don't we just hang him?? That's what is happening anyway, by all the judgment handed down to him by common citizens that really don't know what happens in the world of sports.
He lied. He cheated. He confessed. Now, let it go and move on. Have you done nothing wrong in your life?? "Let the man who hath NOT sinned cast the first stone."
Posted by: Adrian | Jan 20, 2022 7:00:19 PM
Amazing how there have been 3 US winners of LeTour, yet Floyd and Lance were both caught.
Where Floyd was thrown out immediatley, Lance continued to go about his deception for 7 wins.
Alberto Contador, was caught and faced a 6 mnth ban - now if LAnce had done the same, he`d still (may have) won a few tours, but on the clean bill.
Lance went on to be known as the greatest Tour winner ever - Indurain won and never got caught, as did many other multiple winners.
IMO, he should thrown into obscurity and never mentioned again, unfortunate the likes of Oprah and countless media sites, he seems to get all the attention he needs!!! pathetic.
Posted by: GILLES BOUCHER | Jan 20, 2022 7:24:36 PM
Give me a break,another cheat looking for simpathy c-mon!!!!!!!!!! Lets just think for a min.about us hard working people that get up every morning go to work pay the bills,help others when we can even when we cant aford it and you wride about another cheatter thats spent more money that I will ever make and now cying the blues whats wrong with this picture!!!! Get off your ass go find a job work for your next meal,the cravy train over move on.Gilles a hard working canadian not looking for any hand outs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Posted by: GILLES BOUCHER | Jan 20, 2022 7:41:30 PM
AGAIN ITS ME SORRY FOR ALL THE MISTAKE IN MY SPELLING IN MY LAST COMMENT BUT ITS SICKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK to read or watch this unfold just SICK,show or write a true person that has work't hard all his life not looking for simpathy when they get caught CHEATTING or STEALING,and the end of or lives we all have to anser to the big guy best of luck to you then you wont need a jackett were your going lol
Posted by: rogdog | Jan 20, 2022 8:58:45 PM
Oprah and Armstrong are one and the same in that both seek fame and the spoltlight. How much do you think she paid Armstrong so she could get in the spotlight? Can I be the first to suggest that a yearly Oprah free day be proclaimed.
Posted by: JF | Jan 20, 2022 10:51:56 PM
To all the people that say he cheated, I say he probably did it to be competitive because I bet everybody does it. You can't compete if everyone else around you does blood doping...it's impossible. And to the claims that he should repay sponsorship money, I say BS...those companies benefited at the time from endorsing him and now that they're not paying him anymore it's not like the benefit is gone from all those years they sponsored him. Companies are just greedy and looking for ways to benefit from his demise. Doping or not, he is still an unbelievable athlete for doing what he did.
Posted by: southbound | Jan 21, 2022 11:55:16 PM
Good for Lance,how many cheats (in the new age of cheating)make millions and steal from us in manipulating stockmarkets, government and other venues ,he won all those races doped up just like all the other dopers in cycling,what he did,he beat the doctors and drugtesters for years,
Posted by: John | Jan 22, 2022 3:53:33 PM
I am so glad I don't give a rat's behind about sports, athletes, or any famous people for that matter. I just cannot understand why these athletes have so much influence on so many people. What is the big deal about someone who can ride a bike faster, or run faster, or handling a puck on the ice, or throwing a ball through a hoop, etc, etc?
Posted by: Mike Jordan | Jan 24, 2022 1:19:56 AM
It is ironic that the board that took Lance's titles couldn't find anyone behind him to hand the titles to!
We should have two Tour de Frances. One stock and one modified so we can dope them all up and see who comes out on top.