William Shatner, Stock Market Billionaire? He may be thanks to Priceline.

Fox Business News ^ | 03/29/2011 | Brian Sullivan

[SeekAndFind]

Is William Shatner officially a billionaire? He may be, thanks to Priceline.com.

Quietly PCLN shares have surged to yet another record high. They're up nearly $90 bucks this year alone and are closing in on $500.

When Captain Kirk .. er, Shatner .. became Priceline's pitchman more than a decade ago, he smartly (or desperately) decided to be paid in stock. After a brief run during the tech boom Priceline shares went into the dump, bottoming out below $2. Then the run began.

While we don't know how many shares or options Shatner was given, or if he has held onto them, reports last year were that his stake was worth some $600 million dollars. And that was when Priceline was trading at a mere $300/share.

With the stock up nearly $200 more/share since then, its possible Mr. Shatner is getting darn close to being a good, old fashioned stock market billionaire.

[SeekAndFind]

[BobL]

I will ALWAYS respect this man. He dealt with some of the worst in the universe, and he did it with class, and without any ‘hint of mint’, which seems to be required these days.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SeekAndFind. It’s difficult to find someone else, anyone else, his age, who finds as much acting work has he does, and pulls it off. Live long and prosper, Mister Shatner.

[Vendome]

 

[apillar]

Yep, he talked about this on one of the morning shows a few years back. The gist of the story is when priceline was unknown, they could only pay Shatner in stock for being their spokesman. He wisely accepted the offer. He wouldn’t disclose how much he has made, but he said that it was considerably more than all the money he had made during his entire acting career combined.

[boop]

Shatner if anything is a smart businessman. For a long time he tried to get away from the Captain Kirk image. But even in the 60’s he got himself a nice piece of the show. That’s probably worth a billion dollars by now. Too bad he was such a poophead to his fellow castmates, except for Nimoy. Not ONE other castmate has anything nice to say about the guy. I hope he’s mellowed over the years. He was genuinely surprised about the hatred the TOS actors had for him when he wrote his book. Maybe his gigantic ego prevented him from seeing it at the time.

[Avery Iota Kracker]

Oh, I remember in late Dec. 2000 or early Jan.2001 after the internet bubble popped and PCLN dove to a dollar a share. Hurts every time I think about it.

[Trajan88]

Well, I lost $2,000+ on PCLN after buying and holding in the years after it was first issued... I bought and held to to a reverse stock split. The loss was used to offset gains in other stocks.

[23 Everest]

Loved him in the youtube video about gun control while an actor for Boston Legal. “Thank God for guns huh Jerry?”

[alancarp]

"Don't tell me they don't use money in the 25th century"

"Well, we don't!"

[23 Everest]

Loved him in the youtube video about gun control while an actor for Boston Legal. “Thank God for guns huh Jerry?”

Link www.handgunclub.com/hca/?p=221

[Trajan88]

Exactly... another stock I owned in my Hall of Shame was Global Crossing (GX).

My experiences with these stocks caused me to get away from individual stocks ... I now invest in low cost broad market index funds along with inflation protected treasury funds (composed of short/mid/long term maturities).

[Vince Ferrer]

He once killed a lizard with sulfer, carbon, diamonds, and bamboo.

[boop]

"I will make your death merciful" For the ST geeks out there, who provided the voice of the Gorn?

[Ramius]

Good for him. I remember when Priceline stock cratered. Shatner hung in there, agreed to keep promoting them, and they finally recovered. He took the risk and it’s paying off. As it should be.

[Avery Iota Kracker]

I never owned PCLN, I guess that would hurt even more. The coulda woulda shoulda factor is enough pain.
Ditto on avoiding individual stocks. I invest in and trade the Russel 2000. Makes life easier, avoids stress.

[poindexters brother]

He once killed a lizard with sulfer, carbon, diamonds, and bamboo.

And he did it long before MacGruber -er- I mean MacGyver.

[Caipirabob]

For the ST geeks out there, who provided the voice of the Gorn?

Not sure, but for some reason I wonder how it'd taste dipped in butter...

I'd better go eat some dinner - cheers!

[RockinRight]

I wish I would have bought some PCLN about 5 years ago.

[BobL]

“Oh, I remember in late Dec. 2000 or early Jan.2001 after the internet bubble popped and PCLN dove to a dollar a share. Hurts every time I think about it.”

I hear you. But remember, the guy was a STARSHIP COMMANDER. You don’t get that rank be being a sleezeball. He’s the best of the best - we should have listened to him when he promised that Priceline would go big-time.