Phelps already is collecting about $5 million a year in endorsement checks from companies like Visa -- payments that came after he won six gold medals during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.
His performance in Beijing, where he won a record eight gold medals, puts him in line to earn much more.
"He may be at $30, $40, $50 million a year in endorsements after all this is said and done," said David Harrow of the National Sports Lawyers Association.
Last week I wondered what Olympians do after its all over and maybe they're too old to go back next time. For some of them, it means raking in the cash, at least in the short term.
