He has not formally appeared in
public for years, and recently he's been battling illness inside a Pretoria
hospital. But former South African president Nelson Mandela is still a beloved
icon across the world, an international symbol of courage, strength and hope.
The 95-year-old Nobel laureate is
also one of the world's most recognizable figures. More than just a man, he has
become a global brand -- one that's estimated to be worth millions of dollars.
Ever since Mandela was released from prison, where he had endured 27 years for
fighting apartheid, many South Africans have felt like they'd like to
"own" a little piece of him.
As a result, the smiling image of
Madiba, as
