"Why choose Matthew Horner as the chief spokesperson for Mercedes-Benz?"
In the press room at the Stuttgart Mercedes Center, the president of Mercedes-Benz faced the reporters' question and responded in German-accented English, "It's simple. Matthew represents the kind of reliability and strength that Mercedes embodies. His outstanding appearance, grand personality, and inner wisdom make him the perfect fit."
Matthew remained calm upon hearing these flattering comments. Contrary to the stereotype of Germans being stiff, this Mercedes-Benz president was skillfully praising him after Matthew had passionately spoken about Mercedes vehicles to the media.
Of course, as the chief spokesperson for all Mercedes-Benz passenger models, the president praising Matthew was essentially endorsing their own products.
Hundreds of reporters from around the globe applauded simultaneously.
Next, a reporter from Bild directed a question back to Matthew, "Mr. Horner, we've noticed that you've been using the Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV for your travels over the past two years. Could you share your experience of riding and driving it?"
This was clearly a question arranged by Mercedes' PR. Matthew, having a friend like Elena Boyar in the media industry, was well aware of these tactics.
"The Mercedes-Benz G-Class SUV is a remarkably reliable and outstanding vehicle."
Taking a moment to gather his thoughts, Matthew assembled a response using almost every term he could think of, "It exudes a robust and sunny aura, with a unique quality that translates inner toughness into powerful external presence. It naturally reflects an invaluable character of perseverance and upward mobility, showcasing a personality that is just, brave, strong, and decisive. It embodies the spirit of being a trailblazer and an indomitable force, giving a sense of security and a distinct charm unique to Mercedes."
The Mercedes-Benz president turned slightly and glanced at Matthew, impressed by how deeply and aptly he had described the vehicle. These words were good enough to be used in the new G-Class SUV advertisements.
In reality, this was the extent of the praise Matthew could muster. In his school days, he had paid special attention to descriptions that matched his own appearance and temperament, some of which he had memorized. Fortunately, his persona aligned well with the G-Class, making his assembled description not just fitting but perfectly appropriate.
Another reporter stood up and asked, "Mr. President, could you disclose the amount involved in this endorsement?"
Without hesitation, the Mercedes-Benz president replied, "We have renewed a three-year contract with Mr. Matthew Horner, with an annual endorsement fee of $12 million."
This was indeed a top-tier commercial endorsement deal.
The journalists murmured in surprise at the hefty sum. The Mercedes-Benz president smiled, knowing that disclosing the contract amount was part of the promotional strategy.
The press conference and signing ceremony concluded successfully. Afterward, in the back room of the press hall, Matthew shook hands with the Mercedes-Benz president.
"Mercedes has gained an exceptional global ambassador," the president remarked politely.
Matthew smiled and responded, "I believe this will be a win-win situation."
Champagne was brought over, and Matthew shared a toast with the president.
The president then said unexpectedly, "Your words earlier about the G-Class SUV were spot on. With slight modifications, they could serve as the slogan for our latest TV commercial. May we use them?"
"Of course," Matthew replied with a bit of surprise but smiled, "It would be my honor."
However, it felt a bit strange to him. Could words cobbled together by someone with no real expertise really be used as an advertisement slogan?
Then he recalled that the president had mentioned "slight modifications."
Renewing his contract with Mercedes-Benz meant that Matthew had entered the upper echelon of Hollywood's commercial endorsement income bracket. Starting next month, his image would be used to promote all Mercedes-Benz cars, including sedans, sports cars, SUVs, off-road vehicles, and commercial vehicles.
However, only three categories—SUVs, the G-Class SUV, and flagship sedans—would feature him in TV and video commercials. The rest would be limited to print ads.
In other words, the $12 million annual endorsement fee corresponded to his level of involvement.
Securing this contract left Matthew in high spirits. Previously, Helen Herman had reached an agreement with Mercedes-Benz that the first-year endorsement fee of $12 million would be paid within five days of Matthew completing the advertisement shoot.
This meant that he had successfully addressed more than half of the $20 million shortfall he was facing.
Additionally, for the next few years, he wouldn't need to worry about transportation costs. Mercedes-Benz would cover everything. According to their agreement, Mercedes would provide him with a flagship sedan, a G-Class SUV, and a commercial van for on-location shoots, and they would rotate sports cars and SUVs as needed for their seasonal advertising, increasing his exposure.
Of course, he only had the right to use these vehicles.
After signing the contract, Matthew stayed in Stuttgart for another five days, finishing all the necessary ads for Mercedes-Benz before planning his return to Los Angeles. Unexpectedly, there was an issue with the ad shot the next day, requiring a reshoot. After Helen Herman informed him, Matthew promptly changed his flight and stayed two additional days in Stuttgart.
Having once experienced delayed salary payments from a non-contract-abiding boss during his bricklaying days across the Pacific, even resorting to sit-ins to protest, Matthew now understood the importance of fulfilling his contractual obligations. His years in Hollywood had taught him that sticking to agreements was crucial.
Hollywood, with its fierce internal competition and numerous hidden scandals beneath its glamorous exterior, placed a high value on contractual integrity. Deliberately breaching a contract could lead to significant trouble.
For well-established stars, agents often negotiate exit clauses in their film contracts. Similarly, production companies sometimes include such clauses to allow for easy replacement of actors if necessary without breaching the contract.
Take Rachel McAdams and the "Iron Man" project as an example. Without an exit clause, it would have been much more complicated for the "Iron Man" team to replace Rachel McAdams with Gwyneth Paltrow.
In Hollywood, the importance of contract adherence is nearly on par with the significance of copyright.
It's widely recognized how crucial copyright is to Hollywood's success. Many of Hollywood's current achievements are built on the foundation of intellectual property rights.
Hollywood stars might indulge in drugs, alcohol, or promiscuity, but violating the sanctity of a contract is akin to committing a severe crime in the industry, leading to widespread condemnation.
Regarding the agreements between actors and production companies, every aspect of an actor's work during filming is strictly defined in the contract. Non-compliance could result in losing the job or even ruining one's reputation. Thus, actors must perform their duties "seriously and artistically" as stipulated.
Moreover, actors are required to allocate "free time" for post-production voice work and must be available for reshoots as specified in the contract. They also need to participate in the film's promotion as arranged.
These rules, however, typically don't apply to top-tier superstars, who occupy a unique and privileged position in Hollywood's ecosystem.
After completing the Mercedes-Benz commercials, Matthew returned to Los Angeles and reached out to David Ellison, arranging a meeting with this genuine scion of wealth.
"Why the sudden need for a loan?" David Ellison asked curiously. "You've made quite a bit of money and don't seem to spend extravagantly."
Matthew responded vaguely, "I'm planning an investment and temporarily need some funds."
In reality, his lifestyle was far from frugal. He maintained a high standard for his daily expenses but didn't splurge on expensive artwork like Leonardo DiCaprio or others who might drop millions on a painting.
Besides owning the Horner Estate and a small house in the northern suburbs of Burbank, he hadn't invested in additional properties.
As for art, he knew little about it and was aware of its complexities, so he avoided it altogether.
Regarding real estate, buying a luxury home in New York would mean dealing with exorbitant property taxes, which was a significant concern.
Most of his income, apart from purchasing the Horner Estate and setting aside $20 million for emergencies, had been invested in Apple stocks.
David Ellison, sensing Matthew's reluctance to elaborate, didn't press further and instead asked, "Did you mention needing around $10 million over the phone?"
Matthew thought for a moment, "Eight million dollars will suffice."
"That's doable," David Ellison agreed without hesitation, "We'll calculate the interest based on the bank rate."
"No problem," Matthew nodded.
If he were to opt for a mortgage loan, the process would be more complex. Currently, he urgently needed this money. Helen Herman's team had almost finalized negotiations with Marvel Entertainment.
Marvel, wary of Matthew's potential liquidity issues, insisted that the $40 million investment be deposited into a third-party escrow account within 24 hours of signing the agreement.
David Ellison was also willing to lend Matthew the money. The post-production of "300" was nearing completion, and at an internal screening at Skydance, the film received overwhelming praise. Two veteran film experts, formerly with Paramount, even suggested that the film had the potential to be a blockbuster.
Compared to his sister Megan Ellison, David Ellison firmly believed that Matthew could bring value far exceeding this $10 million loan.
With the $40 million secured, Matthew was now ready to proceed. All that remained was for Helen Herman's negotiation team to finalize the agreement with Marvel Entertainment.
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