Rich Roll | What Sponsorships Lie in His Future?

Rich Roll: famous vegan athlete

There are only a few proven ways to make millions upon millions of dollars. One is to make it big in the entertainment industry. One is through financial savvy. One is coming up with brilliant invention. And then there is extraordinary athletic ability.

By that logic, Rich Roll stands to make lot of money now that Men’s Fitness named him one of the “25 Fittest Guys in the World.” Rich Roll was the first athlete ever to compete in the Ultraman World Championships on an entirely plant-based diet.

Commercials the key to cash

The Ultraman World Championships is “a grueling three-day uber-endurance triathlon circumnavigating the Big Island of Hawaii that involves 6.2 miles of swimming, 260 miles of cycling and culminates with a 52.4-mile double marathon run,” Rich Roll wrote on CNNhealth.com.

Rich Roll, image from CNN.

So how does one turn the ability to swim, cycle and run for three days into a big pile of cash? Through commercial sponsorships, of course. I don’t suppose he’d be a good spokesman for paydayadvance loans, but I bet everyone from vitamin supplement suppliers to shoe retailers will be knocking at his door asking for his endorsement.

Will Rich Roll take the bait?

Of course, Rich Roll is bound to be pretty picky about what he chooses to advertise. However, if companies can use Rich Roll’s own philosophy on food and health, he just might speak for them. He writes on CNNhealth:

Conventional wisdom would say that an athlete cannot perform on plants alone. But I am living proof that this is false, and I have ample research to support this position. Personally, I cannot overemphasize the difference this has made in my own life, a secret weapon for enhanced athletic performance and overall long-term wellness. (In the last two years, I have not gotten sick or even suffered a cold.) I realize, of course, that not everyone is ready to go 100 percent vegan, but a program built on a strong foundation of fresh organic vegetables, fruits and grains should be the focus.

Clearly, he is very picky about what he puts into his body. However, smart companies out there will want to capitalize on Rich Roll’s newfound fame and his clear willingness and desire to advocate veganism.

Primer for advertisers

There are a whole slew of products out there that fit into Rich Roll’s lifestyle. He are a few more tidbits on his everyday philosophy:

Don’t skip meals, but reduce your portions slightly. Read the labels and educate yourself. Avoid saturated fats, processed foods and soft drinks, all of which are entirely devoid of nutritional value. Eating whole fresh foods high in nutritional content will also stave off those unhealthy urges to binge.

OK, so fast food places, soft drink companies and Oscar Meyer are out. However, if companies can do the “read labels and educate yourself” test, and Rich Roll likes what he see, they just might have themselves an endorsement.