Kwame Jackson makes the most of being No. 2

LOS ANGELES -- The real game has just begun for "The Apprentice" runner-up Kwame Jackson.

Any regret over losing a job with Donald Trump to competitor Bill Rancic was quickly salved by a rush of offers and by Jackson's own ambitions to make the most of his reality TV fame.

"This was basically a chance to have NBC pay for a 15-episode Kwame commercial in a business environment," Jackson said of "The Apprentice."

In a phone interview from New York, Jackson said he is weighing offers from another famous billionaire, Mark Cuban, as well as the KFC fast-food chain. He's also starting his own company.

Being No. 2 is turning out to be as much a problem for Jackson as it was for "American Idol" runner-up Clay Aiken, who has outsold winner Ruben Studdard.

"My theme is, 'Don't cry for me, Argentina," said Jackson, 30, a Wall Street investment manager before "The Apprentice."

Jackson is starting an entertainment company, Legacy Communications Group, to produce films, video games and live events with a focus on concert series.

"Something I think people don't realize about contestants on the show is that we are true business people, we're not reality show 'Hey, I'm happy to be on camera' people," he said. "We're people who are focused on the bottom line and commercializing this opportunity."

One of the first Legacy projects: helping raise $2.5 million for a documentary on Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden.

The offer from Cuban involves handling an investment portfolio and working on operations for the Dallas Mavericks, the basketball team owned by Cuban, according to Jackson.

The KFC deal, reported to be $25,000 weekly for his endorsement of new menu items, needs a bit of seasoning.

"It's not because of the $25,000. I'm not really up for a publicity stunt. I'm more focused on, 'If you want to do a true endorsement deal, treat me like a businessman and let's do it,"' he said.