How Much Did The Original Gerber Baby Make? The Surprising Truth

The original Gerber baby, Ann Turner Cook, received a one-time payment of $5,000 for the use of her image. This payment, received in 1951, allowed her to make a down payment on her first home.

While this might seem like a small sum today, it was a significant amount in the 1950s. The average new home price at the time was around $10,000, so a $5,000 down payment was a considerable investment. The fact that Ann received this payment at all is remarkable considering the widespread use of her image for the Gerber brand. It’s important to remember that the concept of using a baby’s image for commercial purposes was relatively new at the time, and there wasn’t a clear understanding of the potential for long-term profits.

Ann didn’t receive royalties for the use of her image, meaning she wasn’t paid for each product sold with her picture on it. This is a common practice in the advertising world, especially for images used in long-term campaigns. While Ann didn’t become a millionaire off of her Gerber image, the $5,000 she received undoubtedly played a significant role in her life. It helped her establish a foundation for her future, allowing her to purchase a home and invest in her future. It’s a testament to the lasting power of her image that, even after all these years, people still recognize her as the iconic Gerber baby.