# Ringo Starr and Skechers **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 26, 2015, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568 "2015-04-26T12:35:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cold\_Dish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@Cold\_Dish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cold_Dish)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/1 "2015-04-26T12:35:00Z")
I just saw a magazine ad with Ringo Starr featured in an ad for Skechers. Is he donating his paycheck from this to a registered charity? He can’t possibly need the money. Am I missing something? I felt somehow betrayed. Come on, Ringo, you’re better than this. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/2 "2015-04-26T12:43:52Z")
My guess: he came out with a new album called _Postcards from Paradise_ and he sees the ads as a form of marketing for the album. He timed the release related to his induction as a solo artist in the RRHoF I would surmise, too… ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/3 "2015-04-26T15:31:51Z")
Ringo sells shoes, Pete Townshend licenses tracks to be themes for TV crime shows, Matthew McConaughey sells cars, Lou Reed sold motor scooters, Bob Dole sold Pepsi and Viagra; [Sally Ride Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell sold luggage](http://www.demodablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/louis-vuitton-journeys-09.jpg)… I never felt that doing publicity was “beneath” a serious artist or a cultural icon. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/4 "2015-04-26T16:05:10Z")
Gotta remember that rich people lead rich lives. Almost every single thing they buy or do costs a lot more than it does for regular folks (like they aren’t going to Wal Mart to buy socks or Eating off of McD’s dollar menu). Taxes, employee payroll, services, maintenance of their properties … All expenses you add to your list as you acquire more wealth. You’re right that Ringo has money from his music and makes more every day. But I don’t know if there is ever “enough” for a wealthy and famous person. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/5 "2015-04-27T14:02:34Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Ringo sells shoes, Pete Townshend licenses tracks to be themes for TV crime shows, Matthew McConaughey sells cars, Lou Reed sold motor scooters, Bob Dole sold Pepsi and Viagra; [Sally Ride Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell sold luggage](http://www.demodablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/louis-vuitton-journeys-09.jpg)… I never felt that doing publicity was “beneath” a serious artist or a cultural icon. Heck, [Kurt Vonnegut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XZMq9KtHYg) hawked credit cards. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/6 "2015-04-27T14:37:01Z")
There’s a TV ad also. I was a little surprised because I haven’t seen or heard much about him recently, but it’s nothing all that surprising, especially if it’s part of promoting an album. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/7 "2015-04-27T14:44:18Z")
Ringo might be wealthy, but he isn’t Paul wealthy. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/8 "2015-04-27T15:44:45Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Ringo might be wealthy, but he isn’t Paul wealthy. Right- Ringo didn’t write songs, so he doesn’t have tons of royalties coming in the way John and Paul did. And while Ringo put on a fun show in his day, he could never fill up hockey arenas all over the world the way Paul still can. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/9 "2015-04-27T15:54:40Z")
[He’s worth $300 million.](http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/rock-stars/ringo-starr-net-worth/) Quite rich for most people, among the rich not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/10 "2015-04-27T16:10:03Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > And while Ringo put on a fun show in his day, he could never fill up hockey arenas all over the world the way Paul still can. He’s touring again in October with 22 dates that month! I didn’t check all the venues, but they seem to be 3000+ capacity in the main. Not too bad for a 75 year old. But not stadium gigs, right enough. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/11 "2015-04-27T16:12:33Z")
> [@sciurophobic](#): > > Ringo might be wealthy, but he isn’t Paul wealthy. Yeah, Ringo didn’t write many songs. Nothing like John and Paul, anyway. It is the songwriting royalties that really bring in the big bucks, or so I have heard… ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/12 "2015-04-27T17:19:23Z")
Maybe his hair dye is extraordinarily expensive. It might have unicorn jizz in it or something. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2015, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/13 "2015-04-27T17:21:34Z")
> [@Meurglys](#): > > He’s touring again in October with 22 dates that month! I didn’t check all the venues, but they seem to be 3000+ capacity in the main. > Not too bad for a 75 year old. But not stadium gigs, right enough. Cool- do you know who’s in his band this time? He usually has a fun, eclectic backup group. Since he knows everyone in music, he can go through his Rolodex and say, “Let’s see… I need a guitarist. Hey, Joe Walsh? Doing anything this summer? Now I need a bassist… hey John Wetton, doing anything this summer? Now for a keyboard player… doing anything this summer, Paul Carrack…”" ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/14 "2015-04-28T10:51:09Z")
Not sure but according to his website his recent March shows were billed as _Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band_, which at the time consisted of Steve Lukather, Richard Page, Gregg Rolie, Todd Rundgren, Gregg Bissonette and Warren Ham. No idea if there will be any changes to that line-up. I’m not in the US so I’m not likely to ever see him anyway… ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/15 "2015-04-28T11:02:53Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Ringo sells shoes, Pete Townshend licenses tracks to be themes for TV crime shows, Matthew McConaughey sells cars, Lou Reed sold motor scooters, Bob Dole sold Pepsi and Viagra; [Sally Ride Buzz Aldrin and Jim Lovell sold luggage](http://www.demodablog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/louis-vuitton-journeys-09.jpg)… I never felt that doing publicity was “beneath” a serious artist or a cultural icon. > [@scabpicker](#): > > Heck, [Kurt Vonnegut](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XZMq9KtHYg) hawked credit cards. … and who could have forseen that Johnny Rotten would become a shill for Big Dairy? > **[Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s … John Lydon in a Butter Commercial?](https://www.openculture.com/2013/07/never-mind-the-bollocks-heres-john-lydon-in-a-butter-commercial.html)** > > A few days ago we posted an expletive-laced letter that John Lydon, formerly known as 'Johnny Rotten,' faxed to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 to make it clear that the surviving members of the Sex Pistols would have nothing to do with their... ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/16 "2015-04-28T15:03:52Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > [He’s worth $300 million.](http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/rock-stars/ringo-starr-net-worth/) Quite rich for most people, among the rich not so much. Not sure what your point is, (I’m assuming it’s sarcasm.) $300M is a ton of cash in any room in the world. I can’t imagine that Skechers is paying him anything that will move the dial on that $300M. I think that stars loved to be wanted and loved. And a commercial keeps him in the public eye and that drives this more than the money. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/17 "2015-04-28T15:07:06Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > Not sure what your point is, (I’m assuming it’s sarcasm.) $300M is a ton of cash in any room in the world. > > I can’t imagine that Skechers is paying him anything that will move the dial on that $300M. > > I think that stars loved to be wanted and loved. And a commercial keeps him in the public eye and that drives this more than the money. Largely sarcasm. He’s a guy who can hobnob with the super rich and he’s at the lower end of their scale. Your point about adoration is probably more apt, the super rich can’t just buy fans like Ringo has, he’ll get more out of that than the endorsement money. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/18 "2015-04-28T15:15:25Z")
> [@Cold\_Dish](#): > > He can’t possibly need the money. I’m not poor, but I’m far from rich. We have a pontoon boat. If my yearly earnings were doubled, I’d have a far nicer boat, with more expensive upkeep. Doubled again and instead of a week in St Martin and a week in NOLA each year, we would spend a month in each. Doubling again would mean we could buy a place in St Martin. Each doubling of income would lead to more expenses to enjoy the lifestyle I’d be able to afford. I don’t know about anyone else, but I could never have so much money that I’d turn down more. ---
**Author:** ![vd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b19c9b/32.png) [@vd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vd)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/19 "2015-04-28T15:40:38Z")
I always figure this kind of thing is to remind everyone “I’m not dead yet!” ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2015, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568/20 "2015-04-28T15:44:02Z")
Yes, he does have something like 60,000 tickets to sell for his October gigs… Reminding the public that he’s not dead yet seems like a good idea! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ringo-starr-and-skechers/718568.md?page=2)