Renowned author Michael Lewis has recently alleged that NBA All-Star Steph Curry was paid a staggering $35 million by FTX cryptocurrency exchange for a promotional deal that required just 60 hours of his time. The revelation comes as part of Lewis’s discussions during a CBS “60 Minutes” interview, where he discussed his latest book, “Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon.”
Lewis, who claimed to have met with disgraced FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried on numerous occasions, shared insights from internal FTX documents that shed light on the payments made to celebrities for their association with the cryptocurrency exchange. According to Lewis, Bankman-Fried also paid NFL legend Tom Brady a staggering $55 million for a similar promotional commitment of 20 hours per year, spread over three years.
The reported payouts to Curry and Brady underscore the aggressive marketing strategies adopted by FTX to gain prominence in the competitive cryptocurrency space. Such high-profile endorsements have become increasingly common as crypto platforms seek to tap into the popularity and influence of well-known public figures to attract new users and investors.
While these allegations regarding Curry’s payment for FTX promotion raise eyebrows, they also highlight the evolving landscape of celebrity endorsements in the cryptocurrency world, where substantial sums are being offered to secure the support of prominent individuals.
