17 Ads That Helped Build Empires (But Were Wildly Misleading)
Some of the world’s most powerful brands didn’t rise to the top with honesty. They did it with big promises, flashy words, and just the right amount of bending the truth.
These ads didn’t just sell products—they built empires. But when you take a closer look, a lot of them were, well, not exactly what they seemed.
Here is a list of 17 notorious advertising campaigns that helped companies achieve massive success while playing fast and loose with the facts.
Lucky Strike Cigarettes
“Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet.” That was the slogan that made Lucky Strike a favorite in the 1920s and 30s. It didn’t just promise a smoke—it promised a slimmer waistline.
Women were told that lighting up was healthier than eating candy. It helped the brand soar, even though we now know smoking does a lot more harm than sugar ever could.
Volkswagen Beetle
The Beetle’s “Think Small” campaign is legendary in advertising history. It made the car seem humble, honest, and nothing like the flashy American cars of the 60s. But what the ads left out? Volkswagen’s roots in Nazi Germany.
While the campaign was smart and fresh, it cleverly buried a very dark backstory that would’ve turned off plenty of buyers.
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Coca-Cola
Coke didn’t just sell soda—they sold happiness in a bottle. In the early days, they claimed Coca-Cola could cure headaches, boost energy, and even calm nerves. Sounds more like medicine than a fizzy drink, right?
That’s because it originally had cocaine in it. The drug was quietly removed later, but not before the brand grew into a giant.
Pear’s Soap
This ad didn’t just sell cleanliness—it pushed the idea that using Pear’s Soap made people more “civilized.” The ads were deeply racist, showing dark-skinned people being “washed” into whiteness.
It built the brand’s global appeal, especially in colonial markets, while spreading harmful ideas that stuck around far too long.
Red Bull
“Red Bull gives you wings.” Everyone remembers that line, but in 2014, the company had to pay over $13 million in a class-action lawsuit. Why? Because the energy drink didn’t actually improve performance like the ads suggested.
Turns out, caffeine and sugar can only do so much. Still, the empire kept growing, wings or not.
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Ovaltine
This chocolate drink was advertised as a miracle in a mug. Kids were promised stronger bodies, sharper minds, and better grades—just from drinking Ovaltine. The ads ran for years, backed by kid-focused radio shows and comic books.
The truth? It’s mostly sugar and milk powder. But the empire it built was very real.
Camel Cigarettes
Doctors in white coats claiming they smoked Camels? That was the pitch in the 1940s. The ad campaign said more doctors smoked Camels than any other brand.
What they didn’t say was that the doctors were never surveyed properly and many were paid to appear in the ads. Still, it made Camels a top choice.
Nutella
For years, Nutella was sold as a “healthy” breakfast spread. Parents thought they were giving their kids a balanced start to the day.
In reality, it’s packed with sugar and palm oil. The backlash came later, but not before the brand became a staple in kitchens around the world.
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McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish
This sandwich was introduced as a fresh, wholesome seafood option during Lent. The ads made it sound like a healthy choice compared to burgers.
But dig deeper, and it’s fried, packed with sodium, and served with processed cheese. It was smart marketing that helped McDonald’s grow, even if the meal was far from what it seemed.
Listerine
Listerine didn’t start as a mouthwash—it began as a surgical antiseptic. But once sales dipped, the company rebranded it as a cure for bad breath.
They even invented the term “halitosis” to make people think they had a medical condition. The fear worked, and Listerine became a bathroom staple.
Apple’s “1984”
Apple’s famous Super Bowl ad made them seem like rebels, fighting against a dull tech world. It painted IBM as the villain and Apple as the hero.
But in reality, Apple was on its way to becoming just as powerful. The ad didn’t lie—it just created a story people wanted to believe.
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Quaker Oats’ Cap’n Crunch
Cap’n Crunch looks like a naval commander, but here’s the funny part—he’s not a real captain. His stripes are all wrong. Also, the cereal claimed it wouldn’t hurt your mouth.
Ask any kid with a scratched roof of the mouth and they’ll tell you that wasn’t true. Still, the character and the crunch helped build a cereal empire.
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers sold a lifestyle change, not just a diet. But early on, the ads focused more on quick results than realistic habits. The before-and-after photos didn’t always match up to real experiences.
Still, the program became a giant in the diet world, thanks to clever marketing and celebrity endorsements.
Duracell Bunny
Everyone knows the pink bunny that just keeps going. But that idea came from Energizer, not Duracell. In fact, Duracell used the bunny first, but stopped using it in the U.S., letting Energizer take over the idea.
People still think of Duracell when they see a battery ad, though. Confusing? Very. But it helped both brands.
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A Diamond is Forever
This line didn’t just sell diamonds—it sold the idea that love had to come with a rock. De Beers created the slogan in the 1940s to boost slow diamond sales.
It worked so well that people now believe diamonds are a must for marriage. The ad didn’t lie, but it did change culture forever.
Subway’s “Eat Fresh”
Subway promised healthy food fast. Their “Eat Fresh” ads made it seem like a lighter, better choice.
But many of the subs were loaded with sodium, sauces, and processed meats. Jared’s weight-loss story helped boost the brand, even though most people couldn’t get the same results.
L’Oréal’s “Because You’re Worth It”
This ad line made women feel strong and beautiful. But behind the slogan were photoshopped images and unrealistic beauty standards. The brand sold a message of self-love, while pushing products that often made women feel they weren’t enough without them.
It worked—but not without criticism.
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Advertising’s Complicated Legacy
Looking back at these marketing campaigns reveals how powerful misleading advertising can be in building commercial empires. Today’s stricter regulations prevent some of the more outrageous claims but creative deception continues to evolve alongside enforcement efforts.
The most successful brands typically moved beyond their misleading origins developing genuine value propositions after capturing market share through exaggerated promises.
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