This post is part of our feature on Money Winners of 2008. See all 20.

It wasn't like Michael Phelps hadn't done well for himself by the time he got into the swimming pool at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was pulling in between $4 and $5 million a year after winning six gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics. And was already a sports marketer's wet dream, so to speak.

But then he went and broke Marc Spitz's 36-year record by winning eight gold medals, and the real race was on: to break out as the first $100 million Olympian.

Or at least that's what his managers and agent were saying. Measuring the precise wealth of sports stars is something of an art. Most of their great wealth comes from corporate endorsement deals, which are often heralded more as approximations than exact hard figures.

Continue reading Money winners of 2008: Michael Phelps, the golden boy of Beijing

Money winners of 2008: Michael Phelps, the golden boy of Beijing originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of AOL Money & Finance's Best & Worst in Money 2008 feature.

Well, 2008 has come and gone. If you were looking to be entertained over the past 12 months, you had a lot of choices. From Batman's battle with the maniacal Joker to Hannah Montana singing her little heart out in 3-D, there was something for everyone. Let's look at five of the hottest properties that made their way into the heart of the cultural mindshare in '08.

Up first is The Dark Knight, the second iteration of director Christopher Nolan's new vision of the Caped Crusader. That movie killed at the box office, and Time Warner (NYSE: TWX) could not have been happier. Knight scored almost $1 billion at the global box office. More than half that number was captured in the domestic marketplace. There's no question that the movie mesmerized the collective intellect of the audience. There's also no question that Heath Ledger, who tragically passed away earlier in the year, impressed everyone with his portrayal of the chaotic and cruel Joker villain. I, however, do have a question. Is it just me, or was Knight not as awesome a film as the hype makes it out to be? I saw it, thought it was okay. I don't know, I'm just not sure that this new entry in the cinematic Batman mythos would have brought in as many bucks if the notoriety of Ledger's death wasn't attached to these particular reels of celluloid. To be honest, I didn't think Ledger did that unique of a job. And I thought The Joker's voice was annoying, almost sounding like Sam Raimi -- did anyone else happen to think that? Maybe it's just me. Nevertheless, I salute the success of Knight and respect the project for the impact it had on theaters 'round the world.

Continue reading Best & Worst in Money 2008: Hottest in entertainment

Best & Worst in Money 2008: Hottest in entertainment originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 06 Dec 2008 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Chinese markets: The truth will set you free -- maybe

Chinese markets: The truth will set you free -- maybe originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Director and producer Steven Spielberg resigned his non-paying artistic director advisory role for the 2008 Summer Olympics Games in Beijing because he has become disenchanted with China's lack of effort to use its influence in Sudan to end violence in the Darfur region.

The Chinese want to be players on the world stage without accepting the responsibility that goes along with it, and that was not acceptable to Spielberg. There has been growing pressure around the world on the Chinese, who purchase most of Sudan's oil and sell them weapons, to exert political and economic pressure on the government of Sudan. While Spielberg is only one more voice in a long list condemning Chinese actions and the lack there of, he is a very prominent voice.

Governments, Olympic athletes, religious leaders and shareholders have been complaining that China was not doing enough, if anything to curb the violence. This was an issue with Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) shareholders at their 2007 annual meeting. While stating that he sold off BRK's interest in PetroChina (NYSE: PTR) based on valuation, Warren Buffett was completely divested in a matter of months and the stock has fallen almost 40% from its highs.

Continue reading Spielberg walks because China won't talk

Spielberg walks because China won't talk originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"We are poor."

That's exactly how numerous Chinese in the southern Henan Province start conversations according to today's New York Times article about China: "Lives of Grinding Poverty, Untouched by China's Boom."

While the article contents that China has, more so than any other country, moved people out of poverty, there are still 300 million poor in China.

We've seen a booming Chinese stock market. The iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index (NYSE: FXI), a popular index of the 25 largest Chinese companies available to foreign investors, was up over 60% in 2007. While we've seen a strong pullback, Beijing is hosting the 2008 Olympics and continued focus and interest on China as an international investment destination should continue as a rising middle class in China spends on consumer products, travel, and electronics.

Continue reading Chinese growth: Rich and poor diverging

Chinese growth: Rich and poor diverging originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The management at GE (NYSE: GE) is once again considering the future of its NBC Universal entertainment business. According to the FT, the matter will be reviewed after the Beijing Olympics. The reason for that is profits. "The games allow GE to boost sales of its aviation, medical technology and other businesses in China. GE is forecasting $500m in extra sales from Olympics-related contracts, excluding NBC," the FT writes.

Wall Street analysts believe that NBC Universal may be worth as much as $40 billion. GE would have tax considerations if the unit was sold or spun-off as would its public shareholders.

But, the entertainment unit has been a financial dog. It usually performs worse that the overall GE numbers, which means that is probably pulling down the parent's overall valuation. GE has become known for its financial services, medical, and infrastructure businesses. The chorus about how NBC does not fit in goes on and on.

A spin-out or sale of the unit may not make the most sense. NBC may be worth more in pieces. It broadcast unit, stations, cable programming, and studios really are discrete operating entities. Selling them to the highest bidder may be the best way for GE to make money.

Douglas A McIntyre is a partner at 24/7 Wall St.

GE (GE) looks at NBC sale, again originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 11 Oct 2007 09:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Last December, over 100 stocks were featured in our Top Picks for 2007 report. Now, at mid-year, we turn to the 20 advisors whose picks showed the strongest gains to get an update on their previous picks, as well as a new favorite stock for the second half of the year.

Ian Wyatt, editor of The Growth Report, chose LJ International Inc. (NASDAQ: JADE) as his favorite stock for 2007. Its 173% gain as of 6/1/07 has made it the number one performer among all stocks in our Top Picks for 2007 report. Here is Ian's original recommendation for JADE and his current favorite stock for the rest of 2007.

Updating his recommendation, the advisor now says, "LJ International continues to capitalize on China's extraordinary growth and accompanying demand for luxury goods -- specifically high-end jewelry -- by expanding its network of ENZO branded jewelry stores.

"Since 2004, when LJI began opening retail jewelry stores in China, it has opened more than 45 stores, established a presence in all of China's major cities, including Hong Kong and Macau, and established itself as China's #1 foreign branded jewelry retailer (Hong Kong and U.S. based), ahead of Tiffany & Co.

"The company has plans to more than double its network to 100 stores by year-end 2007, ahead of the Beijing Olympics. These stores generate robust sales, and, more impressive, nearly half of the existing stores are already profitable. Continued growth of its retail operations will enhance LJI's profitability since ENZO gross margins are twice those of the wholesale business.

Continue reading Top 20 advisors: Ian Wyatt wins with JADE

Top 20 advisors: Ian Wyatt wins with JADE originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If mere athletic talent sold product, kids would be lining up for Tim Duncan's shoes, since he is the best player in the NBA. But it doesn't. It takes a combination of extraordinary athletic accomplishment and charisma to push a brand over the top. Three such athletes, Amanda Beard, LeBron James and Tiger Woods, are front and center in this week's news.

Two are at the peak of their pulling power. LeBron James (Nike, NYSE: NKE, Coca-Cola's (NYSE: KO) Powerade) fresh from an astonishing game five of the NBA Eastern conference playoffs, is dominating the sports page, if not the San Antonio Spurs. The Cleveland franchise has gained $185 million in value since his signing, and the $90 million he received from Nike seems like a bargain now. When his contract expires in 2008, he could demand -- $250 million? $500 million? It is possible, by the end of the career, he could be the first $1 billion athlete?

If Tiger doesn't beat him to it. Beginning tomorrow, Tiger Woods (Nike, Buick, General Motors, NYSE:GM) starts his pursuit of the 2007 U.S. Open. He's inked a 5-year, $40 million deal with Nike, and $25 million from Buick. Unlike LeBron, Tiger can look forward to another 30 years of playing, with lots of green jackets and green cash to come.

Continue reading Amanda Beard: Olympic sized...endorsement potential

Amanda Beard: Olympic sized...endorsement potential originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 13 Jun 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Housing bubble, debt bubble or same thing?

Housing bubble, debt bubble or same thing? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Aug 2006 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.