Bloomberg News reports that Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen refuses to be paid in dollars. In addition to landing undefeated (9-0) New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady -- although that relationship could be on the rocks -- she is one savvy currency trader.
Gisele Bundchen is proving to be a shrewd analyst of the U.S. dollar's weakness. When Bundchen signed a contract in August to represent Pantene hair products for Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE: PG), she demanded payment in euros. She'll also get euros for the deal she reached last October with Dolce & Gabbana SpA in Milan to promote the Italian designer's new fragrance.
"Contracts starting now are more attractive in euros because we don't know what will happen to the dollar," Patricia Bundchen, the model's twin sister and manager in Brazil, said in a telephone interview in September from Sao Paulo.
Those Bundchens are smart cookies! Too bad I can't say the same for Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and his strong dollar policy.
On an mildly related note -- Boston is clearly the hub of the sports universe. With the Red Sox having won the World Series in 2004 and 2007 and the New England Patriots defeating Peyton Manning's Indianapolis Colts last night 24-20 in an amazing fourth quarter comeback, it is absolutely great to be a sports fan in Boston these days. Even the Boston Celtics are winning.
Peter Cohan is President of Peter S. Cohan & Associates. He also teaches management at Babson College and edits The Cohan Letter. He has no financial interest in P&G securities.
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan: A Romantic Facebook Timeline
Why Facebook's Falling Share Price Really Doesn't Matter


Reader Comments (Page 26 of 26)
11-07-2007 @ 7:52PM
LARRY GODDEN said...
CALL ANY ADVERTISER SHE WORKS FOR AND TELL THEM YOU WILL BOYCOTT THEM FOR HIREING SUCH AN ANTI-AMERICAN VILE PERSON
SHE NEEDS TO GO HOME IF SHE DOES NOT LIKE AMERICA BOYCOTT ANY PRODUCT SHE ADVERTISES FOR =I AM TIRED OF ALL THESE AIR-HEADS & STARS SUDDENLY THOINKING THAT THEIR HUGE FORTUNES MAKE THEM SMARTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE LIKE MOVIE STARS THAT WANT TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY AFTER THEY GOT RICH OFF OF IT-ENGLAND HAS A 85% TAX ON THOSE HIGH SALARIES
11-07-2007 @ 5:38AM
W.D.C said...
Screw Her, Send her Brazailian Butt Home and live off Euros. Super Model or Super Bitch.
11-07-2007 @ 5:39AM
bon said...
giessle, I think your just so beautifu and talented. you go for what you want, and that takes brains and courage. do what you want and get what you want. just one question for you....what's the best eyeliner...pencil or powder out there that last for at least 5 hours..if we all had what you have, these empty comments wouldn't be here to badger you. you have what it takes, take all you can get. Just a friend of your side.....:)
11-07-2007 @ 5:51AM
Robert Weiner said...
This may come as a surprise to many of you, who are into Giselle, as being so beautiful....and smart?My girlfriend can put her to shame in both categories. First of all my honey was a playboy model and Wallstreet broker. She bought Euros a couple of years ago when they were selling at $0.89 and sold them last month when they peaked...and states that the dollar is now at the bottom...going up. What do you think of that!
11-07-2007 @ 8:46AM
destineusa said...
Blame Bush; don't blame the model. I do agree with the fact that she wants to work in America but doesn't respect us enough to accept out dollars. If you want to be paid in Euros then go work in Europe and not America you dolt!
11-07-2007 @ 9:07AM
SmartCookie said...
Hello America... We now live in a globalized world.Everybody depends on everybody. And Capitalism sees no frontiers. Stop whinnying. Don't use a cheap attempt to justify everything through false pretenses of what this country stands for.
Bush, Cheney & co are getting away with murder, literally. While you sleep, they are changing civil rights, even breaking the Constitution. In the process, America is losing allies and its Economy. And, those who think that just the fact of being born in US will make them a better human being are letting them.
But, hey! Lets blame the illegal immigrants, or...wait...maybe Giselle. Guess what? Illegal people don't vote. We are the ones who ellected them.
Americans are great people, but not the ones who are still contemplating their own belly buttons and blaming the world for not getting what they wish.
11-07-2007 @ 9:14AM
SmartCookie said...
Hello America... We now live in a globalized world. Everybody depends on everybody. Stop whinnying. Don't use a cheap attempt to justify everything through false pretenses of what this country stands for.
This is Capitalism - the money will go to wherever pays better. She is in business, not charity --- for this matter.
Bush, Cheney & co are getting away with murder, literally. While you sleep, they are changing civil rights, even breaking the Constitution. In the process, America is losing allies and its Economy. And, those who think that just the fact of being born in US will make them a better human being are letting them.
But, hey! Lets blame the illegal immigrants, or...wait...maybe Giselle. Guess what? Illegal people don't vote. We are the one who ellected them.
Americans are a great people here, but not the ones who are still contemplating their own belly buttons, while doing the blame game. Peace!
11-07-2007 @ 9:18AM
SmartCookie said...
Trekker, you said it all! Well put.
11-08-2007 @ 5:17PM
Trudy said...
If being paid by our dollar isn't good enough for you then take Tom Brady and go back to your own country!!! You deserve one another...he has no trouble taking MILLLIONS OF DOLLARS out of our pockets to play football. Ungrateful snot!!!!
11-10-2007 @ 3:12PM
Lorna said...
Gisele has financial savvy? Maybe. But she sure didn't wait in line for brains when it comes to marketing.
Americans are crazily patriotic, and when news of this reaches consumers far and wide in the US, PG sales will take a decline on Pantene or whatever it is she's sponsoring, you can bet.
Sure, it's a money thing, but the bottom line is that you have to sell to reap.
I don't think we'll see Gisele with PG very long and that will probably hurt her in the long run. But, alas, she IS the richest model.
Personally, I think she has very harsh features that aren't suitable for an American market. We tend to prefer softer, more "doll like" femininity.
11-12-2007 @ 3:43AM
meganfans said...
but seems she is still a single? It seems she has a profile on a dating site http://herpesmates.com, does someone joke?
11-12-2007 @ 2:19PM
Mort said...
She is getting good financial advice. Euros look very good at this point.
11-12-2007 @ 2:22PM
Harry said...
The dollar is the weakest in decades, credit problems are bombing major banks, oil is around $100 predicting major gasoline price increases soon, housing is literally frozen and falling, grocery and energy prices are soaring,, medical costs are jumping, manufacturing jobs continue to go overseas and the huge illegal alien problem remains ...
...and we have a $12 BILLION A MONTH war full of corruption that we can't seem to win.
Whoever thought this would happen during a Republican Administration ???
11-13-2007 @ 11:50AM
BAB said...
Bundchen's representative says that the story about euros is not true, according to Barron's.
In any case, welcome to the real world. World War II ended a long time age and we need to understand that we are less and less the center of the world. Pride goeth before a fall.
11-19-2007 @ 5:46AM
mediapusher said...
Everyone on here dissing Giselle...(shakes his head) It's amazing to me how stupid and blind USA's patriotism is. Your dollar is in the toilet ok? Get over it. Even Australia's dollar is better than yours, and their trade value isn't as high, however their standard of living is better.
Proctor and Gamble can deal with her or not, if they choose to, and they do pay her in Euros, what does that say about the U.S.A.? Not much.
11-19-2007 @ 7:27PM
in the know said...
Why bash Giselle for using some sense when it comes to how she gets paid. If I had the choice, I would do the same thing as most of us should be smart enough to realize that the dollar is losing its value. Why boycott her for a simple personal choice and business decision and not bash all these companies that you are buying from that are outsourcing american jobs to places where they can get cheaper labor. You can only blame the american economy on our administration and not be critical of someone who is proactively trying to protect her assets and pay. Have you read where Britney is pulling in about 800,000 a month and not putting a penny of it in any type of savings and gives a grand total of 500 monthly to charity and a measly 15,000 a month to the father who is raising her kids and you want to talk about Giselle.
By the way, Kate Moss originated the choice of payment....I think on her last few modeling assignments, she asked to be paid in 8 balls of cocaine...lol