Have any companies paid Ben Carson to appear in infomercials promoting mental performance products?

1. How the claim usually appears: polished but false endorsements

Social posts and online ads have circulated headlines and video snippets purporting to show Carson endorsing cures for dementia, Alzheimer’s or memory loss; fact-checkers found headlines and clips were fabricated and that the promoted products do not appear in FDA databases or have legitimate backing (AFP) ^{[2] [1]}.

2. What independent fact‑checkers actually found

AFP traced multiple examples of Facebook ads and doctored articles that credited Carson with discovering cures or endorsing sprays and supplements; AFP reports Carson’s representatives say he has never developed, endorsed or even heard of the specific product in those adverts ^{[2] [1]}. Snopes, reviewing related claims, found no evidence Carson created or sold a memory-enhancing supplement and noted his past appearances before supplement-company audiences rather than formal commercial endorsement contracts ^[3].

3. The Mannatech connection — context, not necessarily endorsement pay

Reporting and Snopes note Carson made multiple speeches at Mannatech events between 2004 and 2013 and spoke positively about taking supplements in at least one speech; however, Snopes found no clear evidence of a direct financial or contractual relationship beyond those speaking engagements ^[3]. That history explains why some promotional claims latch onto his name even when formal endorsement deals are not documented ^[3].

4. Distinguishing paid appearances, speeches, and infomercial endorsements

Being paid to speak at a company event is different from starring in a paid infomercial or being a contracted product endorser. The available sources document speeches before Mannatech executives and appearances for speaking fees (Mother Jones cites his substantial speaking fees), but they do not document appearance in infomercials promoting brain‑performance products or a signed commercial endorsement for such goods ^{[3] [4]}. Available sources do not mention any specific paid infomercial contracts.

5. Why fraudulent ads use high‑profile names

Advertisers and scammers amplify credibility by attaching famous medical credentials and public figures to unproven remedies; fact‑checkers demonstrate operators fabricate headlines, certificates and even fake “news” screenshots to sell products, and in these cases they used Carson’s profile to imply medical authority ^{[2] [1]}.

6. Conflicting signals and limits of the public record

Sources show Carson’s public profile includes paid speeches, TV appearances and commercial ad airings tied to political or organizational messaging (iSpot tracks ad airings) but do not show him endorsing commercial brain‑performance infomercials ^{[5] [4]}. The reporting is explicit where it has evidence and equally explicit in debunking fabricated ties; if a paid infomercial contract exists, it is not documented in the available sources ^{[5] [2]}.

7. Bottom line for readers and consumers

Don’t treat viral ads or social posts claiming Ben Carson endorses a memory cure as credible. Fact‑checking organizations found fabricated headlines and direct denials from Carson’s representatives about specific products; past appearances at supplement company events explain why scammers latch onto his name, but documented paid infomercial endorsements for mental‑performance products are not shown in the provided reporting ^{[2] [3] [1]}.

Limitations: these conclusions use only the supplied sources. If you want, I can search broader news and public records (ad registries, FTC filings, or paid‑endorsement disclosures) for any documented infomercial contracts or payments beyond the materials already cited.