Buzz
We’ve all been there: It’s 3 a.m. After hours of restless tossing and turning, mixed with mind-numbing TV, sleep deprivation and sheer curiosity take hold. By the third airing of that WaxVac commercial, you finally admit it—the pitchmen were right: Q-tips are hazardous to your ears! So, you pick up the phone, recite your AmEx details, and contribute to a booming $150 billion industry: infomercials.
From acne treatments to ridiculously large blankets with sleeves, here are 10 of the top-selling infomercial products ever.
1. Proactiv
Annual revenue: $1 billion
Proactiv’s journey from its early days in 1995—when its founders, Dr. Kathy Fields and Dr. Katie Rodan, along with actress Judith Light (a.k.a. Angela from Who’s The Boss?)—to today has been quite the evolution. With annual revenue estimated at $1 billion, the company now enjoys the support of real celebrity endorsers like Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, P. Diddy, Justin Bieber, and Katy Perry. These stars have earned between $2 to $3 million per commercial, helping Proactiv compete financially with industry giants like Estée Lauder and Johnson & Johnson.
2. P90X
Annual revenue: $400 million
Tony Horton, a stand-up comedian turned personal trainer, has turned his rock-hard, 54-year-old physique into a business empire. Since 2005, his P90X workout series has reshaped bodies—and revolutionized the infomercial industry. Horton’s program has gained a loyal following, from NFL star Kurt Warner to vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan. Beyond the main series, Horton has expanded his brand into projects like Body Gospel, Tony & The Folks (for senior fitness), and Tony & The Kids (for young muscle-builders).
3. Total Gym
Total sales: $1 billion
Chuck Norris’ most successful film, 1984’s Missing in Action, only grossed less than $23 million at the box office. Perhaps the producers should have teamed up the martial arts legend with supermodel Christie Brinkley. Their unlikely partnership in promoting the Total Gym exercise system has since generated over $1 billion in sales
4. George Foreman Grill
Annual revenue: $202 million
To be honest, George Foreman, a two-time World Heavyweight Champion, wasn’t involved in the creation or design of his famous grill. However, lending his name to this lean, mean, fat-reducing machine brought him $137.5 million in 1999—a small portion of the company’s total value. Since its launch in 1994, over 100 million units in various sizes have been sold.
5. Bowflex
Annual revenue: $193.9 million
Although Bowflex—the all-in-one gym system first released in 1986—faces stiff competition from more compact, budget-friendly fitness solutions like P90X, it continues to thrive. More than 2.5 million households aiming for six-pack abs have made room for the machine. In fact, the company saw a 7.5 percent increase in revenue in 2012, earning $193.9 million, compared to the previous year.
6. Showtime Rotisserie
Total sales: $1.2 billion
Set it, forget it, and watch the profits roll in. This compact rotisserie oven has become the crowning achievement in Ron Popeil’s career, with over 2.5 million units sold.
7. Ped Egg
Total sales: approximately $450 million
The close-up demonstration of the Ped Egg—scrubbing away dead skin and calluses—is a bit unsettling. However, more than 40 million people have signed up to try it themselves at home, making this budget-friendly product (priced at just $10) one of the most unexpected best-sellers in the industry.
8. Snuggie
Total sales: approximately $400 million
While Snuggie didn’t invent the blanket with sleeves (that credit goes to the Slanket creators), they did turn the concept into a cultural phenomenon with a series of unforgettable, often laughable commercials that insisted this oversized blanket was exactly what viewers needed. Apparently, they were onto something, as over 20 million Snuggies have been embraced to date. The product has especially gained popularity among groups, with Snuggie-wearing participants showing up at bar crawls and sports events. A notable moment occurred in April 2010 when more than 43,000 Los Angeles Angels fans set a Guinness World Record by attending a game in their Snuggies.
9. Sweatin’ to the Oldies
Total sales: approximately $200 million
When it comes to infomercial pitchmen, the louder and more in-your-face, the better (think Billy “OxiClean” Mays or Vince “ShamWow!” Shlomi for example). This made Richard Simmons an ideal candidate for the industry. In the 1980s, he strutted into over 20 million living rooms worldwide wearing his signature teeny-weeny striped shorts, encouraging viewers to get fit simply by Sweatin’ to the Oldies.
10. ThighMaster
Total sales: $100 million
In a storyline that could have come straight from Three’s Company (minus any racy misunderstandings), Suzanne Somers became an unlikely business genius when she revealed the secret to toned legs: this butterfly-shaped device, which promised stunning results for thighs, hips, upper arms, and even the chest. More than 10 million people jumped on board.
