Quick Facts

Tony has over 45 million customers.

Tony is believed to log more airtime on U.S. TV than any other celebrity.

Tony is seen on TV in 81 countries.

Tony's infomercials have generated more than $3 billion in sales globally.

Tony averages about 6,000 hours a year on TV.

Tony has appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno three times.

Tony was a well-established bodybuilding champion before a car accident ended his promising career.

Tony comes from the same town in Ohio that produced Rutherford B. Hayes, the 19thPresident of the United States.

Tony is an avid collector of antiques and classic cars.He owns eight of the latter.

Tony has been parodied on TV by stars such as Alec Baldwin and Chris Farley.

Tony's character has been portrayed on shows such as The Simpsons and South Park.

Timeline

1956: Born (Sept. 16).

1974: Moves to Florida to live with uncle.

1975: Graduates from St. Petersburg Dixie Hollins High School.

1978: Wins Mr. St. Petersburg bodybuilding competition.

1979: Mr. Suncoast champion.

1980: Mr. Southern States champion.

1981: Mr. Florida, Mr. Southern USA champion.

1983: Finishes second to eight-time Mr. Olympia Lee Haney by one point at Junior Nationals; Sustains serious back and neck injuries from car accident that effectively ends bodybuilding career.

1985: Introduces his first exercise show on local cable television.

1987: Successfully lobbies Home Shopping Network to sell his exercise tapes.

1992: Has $32 million in annual sales for HSN.

1993: Releases first infomercial (Target Training), which brings in more than $100 million to rank No. 1 in sales in both the U.S. and Europe.

1995: Releases Ab Isolator infomercial — over 7million units are sold; Was cover story for December issue of Muscle & Fitness Magazine.

1997: Needs 200 facial stitches after being involved in another serious car accident; Begins promoting the Gazelle product line.

1998: On New Year's Eve, sells more than 200 tractortrailer truckloads of the Gold Gazelle Glider on QVC.

1999: Hosts Ms. Fitness USA and Ms. Fitness World competitions.

2001: Sets United Kingdom record by selling 8,000 units of the Gazelle Platinum in less than two hours of airtime.

2004: Releases the book One-on-One Trainer with Tony Little.

2005: Appears on popular TV commercial for Geico Insurance.

2006: Inducted into National Fitness Hall of Fame; Appears on VH1's Celebrity Paranormal Project; Begins endorsing HyperActive Extreme Energy drink.

2007: Appears on popular CNBC show The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch.