Julia Roberts’ one massive paycheck came from one of her brand endorsements. Ever since Roberts joined Lancôme as the brand ambassador, the French luxury cosmetics house has been a cult favorite of many women. She was originally paid $20 million for her deal with the L’Oréal-owned company, but her payment was upped when the company sealed a five-year deal with the Pretty Woman actress.
Roberts’ income from this single-brand deal was more than some of her best paychecks put together. She earned a massive income of $50 million as the brand ambassador. Every cent of her paycheck proved its worth to the company eventually.
Julia Roberts Earned $50 Million For A Brand Endorsement Deal
Ocean’s Eleven actress Julia Roberts earned one of the highest paychecks from a brand endorsement deal by a Hollywood artist. She became Paris-based Lancôme’s spokeswoman and did a few ad campaigns for the brand, earning $50 million in the process. She found herself on a list of the costliest celebrity brand endorsement deals, from the South China Morning Post.
Speaking of her deal in a 2010 piece for WWD, Roberts shared that working with the brand at 42, as a mother of three kids, was a great moment. She joked that she had to stand up straighter and wash her face more because she was a beauty brand ambassador. She also thanked the company for the opportunity and praised them for choosing a working mom like her. Roberts told WWD:
I think I have to stand up straighter and wash my face more. It’s kind of like every girl’s dream, really. To be 42 and have three kids and be a working mom, it’s a great moment to be asked to do this and to be able to do it. I think it says a lot about Lancôme and what they stand for.
Right after closing the deal with Lancôme, she featured in her first advertisement for the brand’s product — Définicils Precious Cells Mascara in the US. According to WWD, it was shot by photographer Mario Testino in a Manhattan apartment. Roberts also starred in several TV ads for the same.
Youcef Nabi, Lancôme International’s president, shared with the outlet that Roberts was not just a brand ambassador but also had involvement in the development of the products. Roberts also shared that it was great to test out beauty products and give her honest opinion without having to invest in them.
Julia Roberts’s Involvement Made Millions For The Brand
Lancôme’s $50 million multi-year deal with Julia Roberts paid off heavily for the brand. The product gained a large customer base right after the deal. The company saw the biggest profits in decades since the company came into existence. A source from the company stated to StyleCaster (via South China Morning Post):
They’ve made profits of US$100 million since she joined, and they’re delighted with her.
The Erin Brockovich actress showed the best example of how to endorse a brand. She had been using their products for years before she came on board as the ambassador. During an interview with HollywoodLife, she revealed that Lancôme was her first-ever luxury makeup purchase. She bought the Bi-Facil eye-makeup remover from the brand in the ’80s. She told HollywoodLife:
Bi-Facil eye-makeup remover was my first-ever Lancôme purchase. I walked up to the makeup counter at Richards department store back in the ’80s, took a deep swallow, and bought it.
Besides Roberts, renowned actresses like Isabella Rossellini, Drew Barrymore, Kate Winslet, Anne Hathaway, and Emma Watson have also worked with the brand. Among the new-age actresses in the industry, Lily Collins, Lupita Nyong’o, and Zendaya currently work for the brand (via Vogue). According to Yahoo!, Hoyeon Jung was announced as the Global Brand Ambassador in April 2024.
