For years, Hulk Hogan has claimed that a missed phone call cost him millions—stating he was originally offered the endorsement opportunity that ultimately went to George Foreman, leading to the creation of the now-iconic George Foreman Grill.
However, a recent investigation by the YouTube series “Pablo Torre Finds Out” has cast serious doubt on that long-told tale.
Host Pablo Torre reached out to the family of Michael Boehm, the inventor of the George Foreman Grill. Boehm’s family responded directly, stating that Hogan was never part of the conversation:
“George Foreman was the only celebrity our dad approached about endorsing the grill,” Torre quoted from their message. “We don’t know who started the story about Hulk Hogan being approached, but it isn’t accurate.”
Torre also followed up with Henry Holmes, the lawyer who represented both George Foreman and Hulk Hogan at the time the endorsement deal was struck. Holmes similarly dismissed Hogan’s claim:
“The Hulk Hogan story is not my recollection,” Holmes said. “In fact, it was two other celebrities sharing representation that their agent was asking about.”
Hogan had previously stated that his agent—a man named Sam, now deceased—was responsible for mishandling the call that allegedly led to Foreman securing the deal instead. But Holmes, the legal link between both athletes, added further skepticism to the story’s credibility.
“Unfortunately, Sam also passed away last fall,” Torre noted, “but according to the lawyer they shared, this story doesn’t match what actually happened.”
This investigation adds to the long list of urban legends and embellished anecdotes surrounding Hogan’s storied career—many of which have been scrutinized or debunked over time.
