15-Minutes-of-Fame Paydays

When your life is briefly a front-page story, the window for profit can be narrow. These three newsmakers struck quickly:

MARK (DEEP THROAT) FELT

The Deal

The FBI leaker sold his Watergate tale for a book and a movie

Celebrity Godparent

History buff Tom Hanks, who will develop the film and may star

The Real Winners

Felt's heirs, who might want to invite Nixon's grandkids--or Bob Woodward--out to lunch

JENNIFER (RUNAWAY BRIDE) WILBANKS

The Deal

She bartered book and TV-movie rights to the story of faking her kidnapping days before her wedding

Celebrity Godparent

Go-getter Katie Couric, whose interview with Wilbanks...

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