Bill Phillips was smart when he sold EAS

[hangclean]

After looking at how many different supplement companies have come into the picture, it looks like Phillips really was smart when he sold EAS.  The supplement business is a sham and Bill knew this but capitalized on it anyway and made millions.  He sure looks like a gimp but a great businessman nonetheless.

[youandme]

Supplement business is turning into a huge scam operation, it will kill itself off and force government regulation. FTC is gearing up.

Yes I agree with you Phillips is a smart guy! He made all the right moves, later in life.

[hangclean]

Without the supplement business there would not be any big bodybuilding shows.  The Arnod Classic would have an attendance of 23.

[Special Ed]

Bill Phillips was a man with a plan. His gimmick worked once and it would work again in a heartbeat. Wonder who's going to step up and claim the prize this time...

Special "Body for Life" Ed

[The Heckler]

Bill Phillips was a man with a plan. His gimmick worked once and it would work again in a heartbeat. Wonder who's going to step up and claim the prize this time...

Special "Body for Life" Ed

That is interesting, Jason.

[The True Adonis]

I`ve tried to warn the idiots in the bodybuilding industry of this fact.  Corporate sponsorship is needed from Mcdonalds, Nestle` etc..... Afterall, those are real products that work.

[wolfgang187]

I`ve tried to warn the idiots in the bodybuilding industry of this fact.  Corporate sponsorship is needed from Mcdonalds, Nestle` etc..... Afterall, those are real products that work.

Oh thats why MD wouldn't have you along for the ASC.


Some stuff on Bill Phillips.


In 1985 Phillips' soon to be flourishing publishing empire, Mile High Publishing, began with a small newsletter teaching bodybuilders how to use anabolic steroids. The newsletter was written and printed in his mother's basement. Funded with $185 he and his brother had made from mowing lawns, its original name was The Anabolic Reference Update.

[edit] MM2K

In 1992, Phillips moved out of his mother's home and dramatically changed the publication's format and its name to Muscle Media 2000 (usually referred to as "MM2K"). The magazine grew rapidly in popularity, partly because of its frank discussion of the underground aspects of bodybuilding such as the use of and even how-to smuggle steroids, and columns by controversial writers such as The Steroid Guru Dan Duchaine, and Editor-in-Chief TC Luoma. At the time every other bodybuilding publication was completely devoid of such "taboo" subjects.

Phillips also stated that MM2K would independently laboratory test every prospective advertiser's supplements and ensure they met nutrient label claims before he allowed their advertisements in the magazine. Such assurances and the new-found candid way previously taboo subjects were openly covered appealed strongly to many bodybuilders, and accordingly Phillips gained their trust.

[edit] MET-Rx

In MM2K Phillips highly endorsed MET-Rx (a meal replacement supplement), and this relationship with readers helped it become the highest selling bodybuilding supplement ever at that time.
The cover of Muscle Media 2000 in September 1996
The cover of Muscle Media 2000 in September 1996

It was later revealed however, that Phillips and the creator of MET-Rx, Dr. A. Scott Connelly, were in fact business partners, and the endorsements clever marketing. [1] This partnership also included bodybuilders Lee Labrada and Jeff Everson. It was around this time that Phillips began working with convicted felon James Bradshaw. Bradshaw was considered at the time to be the largest steroid dealer on the West Coast, grossing over $40,000 a week. This eventually would lead to Bradshaw serving four years in a Louisiana prison, where he educated himself on marketing.

It was Bradshaw who reportedly convinced Phillips to market MET-Rx heavily in the Natural Supplement Review, Phillips' supposed unbiased review of numerous bodybuilding supplements. He also had the idea for Phillips to give the Review away for free to readers of Muscle Media 2000 providing the MET-Rx with addresses of potential buyers, and a large amount of advertising. Sales of MET-Rx rose exponentially. Bradshaw and Phillips had stumbled upon a very successful method of marketing to bodybuilders, and they, and original investors Everson and Connelly, got very wealthy. Their partnership was short-lived however.

Phillips and Connelly had an agreement that distribution of MET-Rx would be controlled, and that they would not sell it to retail outlets in order to keep supply low during the period of high demand created by the advertisements in Muscle Media 2000. Connelly however, had other ideas and began selling it to mainstream distributors and department stores. Phillips believed this move lessened its appeal to bodybuilders, and destroyed the "mystique" of the product. The two parted ways, and as part of the settlement, Phillips was legally bound not to mention the name of MET-Rx in his magazines (thereafter he would refer to it as "the leading brand"). But by then Phillips had his eye on another venture that would eclipse MET-Rx altogether - EAS.

[edit] EAS

Phillips acquired Experimental and Applied Sciences (EAS) from founders Anthony Almada and Ed Byrd in 1996. He promoted the company's products through heavy editorial-style advertisements in MM2K, and led by flagship products like Myoplex (ironically a MET-Rx copy), Phosphagen and HMB this would eventually put him at the forefront of the nutritional supplement industry for more than five years.

By 1995 Phillips was a multi-millionaire, and was well known in celebrity and sports circles. Athletes like José Canseco would contact Phillips for advice on steroids, and he also consulted with celebrities such as Jerry Seinfeld, John Elway, Sylvester Stallone and Demi Moore. However it was that year that he had a medical scare when a tumor in his jaw and neck was discovered. Phillips promptly proposed to then-girlfriend Ami Cusack. The tumor turned out to be benign, and was removed from around his salivary gland. Some employees at the time of MM2K later noted in Testosterone Magazine that by that time Phillips had become rather eccentric. Reportedly, after the tumor was removed, he returned to "hanging up survey sheets from MM2K that showed Bill was our most popular writer. Each one had the words, 'Bill knows his audience!' written on them."[2] Soon Phillips and Cusack's wedding was postponed and Phillips was regularly seen at strip clubs and in his magazine with fitness models and Playboy bunnies.

[edit] Muscle Media

In 1997 Phillips was eager to expand his empire beyond the bodybuilding industry. MM2K changed from targeting the hardcore bodybuilder, to the more mainstream exercise participant, and the July 1997 issue saw the magazine redubbed simply as Muscle Media. The change in direction alienated most of the traditional readers. Publication has now ceased, however Muscle Media at its peak had a distribution of half a million
The cover of Muscle Media, October 2003 long after the failed stab at the mainstream market
The cover of Muscle Media, October 2003 long after the failed stab at the mainstream market

[edit] High Point Media

In 1999, Phillips sold his majority interest in EAS (though he remained on the Board of Directors for a number of years afterward) to a private equity firm and concentrated on his writing and on promotion of his books through his publishing company, High Point Media. In 2004, he completely sold his remaining interest and is no longer involved with EAS.

Phillips' more recent work, Eating for Life: Your Guide to Great Health, Fat Loss and Increased Energy!, offers his plan "to help inspire and guide even more people to improve their health and lift their quality of life to new heights." His forthcoming book "Transformation: Now and for LIFE" is scheduled for release May 17, 2007.

In February 2006 Phillips announced his "Great American Transformation Experience" (GATE) with a goal to transform America's fitness from world's worst to first within 10 years.[3]

[edit] V3S

In October of 2000 Phillips' non-compete contract with EAS/Ross Labs expired and he launched his next project: V3S or Vitacube Systems. V3S was a vitamin, nutritional and health products company that sold the VitaCube System. The line failed to catch on despite extensive marketing and endorsement from Mike Shanahan of the Denver Broncos and has since been discontinued.

[Bluto]

thanks for the info on bill!

yeah he's gone a long way since the steroid days. i still got some copies of that mag from 1995 or so

[wolfgang187]

He still has great vision today, and he might get back in the game.

[jwb]

wasn't he a GHB lover?

[wolfgang187]

It was legal at one time up in till 1996, who cares.

[jwb]

We talking about the same drug?

GHB is a CNS depressant used as an intoxicant. It has many street names, including Gina, Georgia Home Boy, G, GB, GBH, Juice, Fantasy, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X, Gamma-OH and Jungle Juice.

The drug is often represented as a date rape drug, much in the same way as alcohol and rohypnol. It is sometimes referred to as liquid ecstasy due to its tendency to produce euphoria and sociability and its use in the dance party scene, however the effects of GHB are quite different from those of MDMA.

[wolfgang187]

We talking about the same drug?

GHB is a CNS depressant used as an intoxicant. It has many street names, including Gina, Georgia Home Boy, G, GB, GBH, Juice, Fantasy, Liquid Ecstasy, Liquid X, Gamma-OH and Jungle Juice.

The drug is often represented as a date rape drug, much in the same way as alcohol and rohypnol. It is sometimes referred to as liquid ecstasy due to its tendency to produce euphoria and sociability and its use in the dance party scene, however the effects of GHB are quite different from those of MDMA.

 It was used to fall asleep while on a strict pre-contest diet,  it kills the hunger pains for bodybuilders.

[jwb]

I heard Bill loved it as a party drug when the $ started rolling in...

[wolfgang187]

Regular people missused it and GNC sold it and now we don't have it, but their is an alternative out there still in use.

[wolfgang187]

I heard Bill loved it as a party drug when the $ started rolling in...

So what it's like drinking a shot of vodka and your drunk for hours, he's not a drug dealer or an addict.  By the way alot of wealthy, affluent people sit in their big home and take drugs.

[jwb]

So what it's like drinking a shot of voka and your drunk for hours, he's not a drug dealer.

I didn't say he was but he was a drug user when he was pumping the whole "clean living" angle to the general public with a straight face...

more power to him he got rich the prick.

[kawaks]

I`ve tried to warn the idiots in the bodybuilding industry of this fact.  Corporate sponsorship is needed from Mcdonalds, Nestle` etc..... Afterall, those are real products that work.

No. Corporate sponsorship is needed from Organon, British Dragon, Roche, Eco Oils, Galenika, Yabang, GenLei

I mean all the "champs" use their products, right?

[wolfgang187]

No. Corporate sponsorship is needed from Organon, British Dragon, Roche, Eco Oils, Galenika, Yabang, GenLei

I mean all the "champs" use their products, right?

I like the way you think, got some great ideas, should have thought of that earlier................. ........

[Gregzs]

"Hold on to hope and it will hold on to you -
I SURVIVED!!!
Damn straight, sure as hell not kidding, we gotta get this virus off the planet. Do yourself a favor and just get the vaccine already. I lost 70 pounds to this monster and I’m lucky I had the muscle and energy and a fighting partner in Maria to survive. Covid you little B*itch — I’m coming after you!! Time to rebuild.
More to come soon..."

[IroNat]

Interesting that he already had the natural anti-bodies from the original Covid but the Delta got to him.

This has been happening to the vaxxed as well.

Nobody, vaxxed or unvaxxed is immune to the variants.

[Humble Narcissist]

No way he lost 70lbs because of Covid.

[TheFranchise]

Looks like he has aids. Such a shame really.

[pamith]

After looking at how many different supplement companies have come into the picture, it looks like Phillips really was smart when he sold EAS.  The supplement business is a sham and Bill knew this but capitalized on it anyway and made millions.  He sure looks like a gimp but a great businessman nonetheless.

Bro...

[Never1AShow]

Some websites say he's worth $1-5 milllion, another claims $100 million.  Which is it because if it's the first, he's no smarter than anyone who owned a house or two.