He had his bar mitzvah while on a trip to Israel and was later confirmed at a Conservative-Reconstructionist synagogue. Fogle attended North Central High School in Indianapolis and graduated from Indiana University in 2000. Shortly after graduating, he worked briefly for American Trans Air.

Rise to Fame through Weight Loss

Fogle gained national attention after a fellow student at Indiana University wrote an article about his dramatic weight loss. Once obese due to frequent consumption of junk food and a sedentary lifestyle, Fogle adopted a healthier routine, incorporating daily walking and a simplified diet centered around Subway sandwiches. This change led him to lose over 200 pounds.

The Subway location he frequented used his story in their local marketing campaign. His success caught the attention of the company's national marketing team, and he soon became the face of Subway’s healthy eating message. His role as a brand ambassador positioned him as a prominent figure in the conversation around diet and obesity prevention.

Fogle went on to star in over 300 commercials for Subway, becoming a central figure of the brand’s advertising strategy during the early 2000s. His story was widely regarded as a powerful anecdote for promoting healthier food choices.

Subway Advertising and Popular Culture

In 2002, Fogle was parodied in an episode of the animated series South Park titled Jared Has Aides. Despite the controversial title, Fogle publicly stated he found the parody flattering, interpreting it as a sign of having achieved widespread fame.

In February 2008, Fogle donated one of his old pairs of pants to a museum as part of a Subway initiative called Tour de Pants, highlighting his remarkable weight loss. However, his prominence in Subway’s campaigns started to decline with the launch of the $5 Footlong campaign, which shifted the brand’s marketing focus.

Beyond commercials, Fogle made minor appearances in pop culture, including cameos in the films Sharknado and Sharknado 2: The Second One.