Tiger Woods for Buick

Tiger Woods spent years endorsing Buick, one of the least cool car brands in America, creating a mismatch so stark it became a running joke in advertising circles. The deal, which paid Woods an estimated $7 million annually, failed to boost Buick’s sales among younger demographics—sales dropped 18% during the partnership’s peak. This is 40% more baffling than #4 Hulk Hogan for Rent-A-Center because Woods had premium endorsements with Nike and Titleist, making the Buick association a strategic anomaly that diluted his brand cachet.