BRADMAN’S EARNINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20183, 1 May 1937, Page 21 (Supplement)

BRADMAN’S EARNINGS.

SAID TO BE £50,000. ARTICLE IN LONDON PAPER. Don Bradman to-day replied briefly to a story in a London paper that Ms personal fortune exceeded £50,000, says the Adelaide correspondent of the Sydney Sun. “ It is regrettable,” said Australia’s Test captain, “that the paper has become confused in quoting the total runs scored by Dr. W. G. Grace.” He would make no further comment. Bradman, the London article stated, “was pulling in £6OOO a year in Sydney years ago,” as representative of a sports goods firm, by writing articles and by radio talks, and by autograph•ng cricket bats.

“He collects a royalty of Is 6d on every bat bearing his name which is sold in any country; about Is for each pad with the magic signature thereon; fid for every ball, and so on,” the article proceeded. Pictures to Pottery.

“It. doesn’t stop there. Advertising agents pay him handsomely for signing his name to recommendations of various goods. A publishing Arm produced hundreds of thousands of photographs of Bradman, all bearing his signature. Each picture sold meant something for Bradman. “Pqtteries began to produce cups, saucers and plates bearing the magic Bradman mark, and Don got his share or that enterprise, too He even made gramophDnc records. “Frequently he received cheques

(Tom wealthy and appreciative cricket enthusiasts as a reward for a particularly Ane innings. These cheques have been as large as £IOOO. “In 1935 Bradman made a decision that split Australian cricket wide open. He accepted an offer to bacome partner In an Adelaide Arm of brokers and transferred his cricket affections from the State of New South Wales to South Australia. “The slump in the Sydney gates after Bradman's departure was so marked that it has been estimated that It would have paid New South Wales lo have given Bradman £SOOO a year to alter his decision. “Bag”—And Baggage. “As an instance of Bradman's money-making propensities compared with other Australian cricketers, It Is known that he cleared more than £SOOO In actual cash over his last tour in England in 1934, against the £BSQ averaged by the other members of the side. "He arrived In England, like the others, with one trunk and a couple

of suitcases. He left with twentyone trunks, each packed tightly with the most amazing assortment of gifts ranging from radio sets to suits of clothes. The luckiest of the other members of the side increased his bagage by three trunks.” Bradman's reply, however, throwi considerable doubt upon these London speculations.