When it comes to hospitality, the phrase “10 outrageous requests” immediately brings to mind the astonishing lengths concierge teams will go to satisfy a guest’s whims. From sourcing rare condiments across continents to arranging theatrical entrances, these ten tales showcase just how far the world’s most dedicated hotel front‑line experts will stretch to make the impossible happen.

10 Must Love Sauce

Food‑related errands sit at the heart of a concierge’s daily grind. They know the city’s culinary map like the back of their hand, can secure hard‑to‑find dishes, and even place orders on a guest’s behalf. One particularly memorable episode involved New York’s own Burak Ipecki, a concierge whose dedication led him to coordinate a cross‑border food procurement mission.

The adventure kicked off when a affluent patron asked Ipecki to locate a very specific barbecue sauce. Though the task seemed straightforward, the sauce was produced in limited batches by a boutique maker in Louisiana. Adding a twist, the client didn’t want the bottle shipped to his Manhattan loft; he needed it delivered to his private island in the Caribbean for a garden party the very next day. Leveraging his Les Clefs d’Or connections, Ipecki reached out to the sauce producer, secured the coveted condiment, and arranged overnight freight that covered roughly 3,200 km (2,000 mi) to ensure the party could go on without a hitch.

9 Like Mother’s Milk

Providing milk is a routine part of any hotel’s breakfast service, but the request that landed on Simon Thomas’s desk at London’s Lanesborough took the concept to a whole new level. The guest, a horse‑enthusiast, needed a substantial quantity of mare’s milk—not for a latte, but to feed an orphaned foal back on his family’s farm.

Thomas sprang into action, tracking down a reputable supplier willing to provide 50 kg (110 lb) of fresh mare’s milk. He coordinated the logistics, ensured the milk met health standards, and arranged for it to be shipped directly to the guest’s rural property, allowing the little foal to enjoy a proper start on its own. The effort turned an ordinary dairy request into a heart‑warming rescue mission.

8 Flowers For The Princess

The holiday season can be a quiet time for many service staff, yet Mary Stamm of the Rosewood Mansion in Dallas turned Christmas Eve into a royal affair. A mysterious “king” of an unnamed nation asked her to greet a visiting princess with an extravagant floral display.

Even though most florists were closed for the holiday, Stamm secured the entire stock of blooms from a local shop, then orchestrated a rapid delivery to the mansion. A hired designer transformed the petals into an opulent arrangement fit for royalty, creating a memorable welcome that delighted the princess and her entourage despite the festive staffing lull.

7 Just Dropping In

Checking into a hotel usually involves a quick front‑desk exchange, but Geneva’s Jonathan Schmitt was once tasked with arranging a far more dramatic arrival. A guest dreamed of parachuting onto Lake Geneva right in front of the hotel, a stunt straight out of a spy thriller.

Schmitt dove into the legal and safety paperwork, liaised with city officials to secure the necessary permits, and calculated the costs of such a high‑octane entrance. The final price tag—100,000 Swiss francs—proved too steep for the guest, leading to a cancellation. Nonetheless, Schmitt’s thorough preparation highlighted the concierge’s mantra: “We never say no; we find a way and let the guest know the reality.”

6 Sugar Rush

Celebrities often make headlines with eccentric hotel demands, and the 1980s saw Van Halen insisting on a bowl of M&M’s with all brown pieces removed by hand. In a similarly flamboyant episode, Montreal concierge Hugo Grand was approached by a high‑profile client who wanted a bathtub filled to the brim with jelly beans.

Grand launched a city‑wide scavenger hunt, contacting virtually every candy shop in Montreal to amass enough beans for the massive tub. He organized a fleet of bell staff to dash across town, gathering each order and delivering the colorful bounty. The result was a bathtub overflowing with candy—no hand‑picking of colors required—providing the celebrity with a truly sweet soak.

5 That Darn Cat

Pets are family, and separating them can be heart‑wrenching. When a New York guest planned a move to China, he discovered his beloved cat lacked the proper paperwork for export. He turned to concierge Frederick Bigler for help.

Bigler sprang into action, arranging a veterinary visit for vaccinations, navigating the maze of international animal‑transport regulations, and re‑booking the guest’s flight to accommodate a four‑legged passenger. In a race against the clock, he secured all the required documents and ensured the cat boarded the next‑day flight, reuniting the traveler with his furry companion.

4 Blood Orange Is The New Black Market

Legal gray zones can still be navigated by a savvy concierge. Michael Romei, chief concierge at New York’s Waldorf Astoria, was approached by a film‑industry investor needing authentic blood oranges for a movie set in Cuernavaca, Mexico. At the time, Mexican customs prohibited the fruit’s import.

Undeterred, Romei purchased the required oranges in New York, chartered a private flight to Mexico City, and enlisted a fellow Les Clefs d’Or member on the ground to discreetly retrieve the fruit without alerting customs. The next day, the production crew had the coveted blood oranges on set, keeping the shoot on schedule.

3 A Most Unusual Wedding

Wedding planning can be a logistical nightmare, but some concierges turn it into a theatrical masterpiece. At New York’s Muse Hotel, a concierge transformed a suite into a replica of the iconic “Friends” proposal scene, complete with hundreds of tea lights, red roses, scattered petals, and chilled Champagne while the couple dined elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Sandra Newman of Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace faced an even quirkier celebration: a wedding for two teddy bears. Over 25 stuffed guests were seated by name, each receiving a slice of pizza as their ceremonial feast. “It was a serious affair,” Newman laughed, highlighting the limitless creativity concierges can bring to even the most off‑beat events.

2 Buttering Her Up

Vegas is famous for its over‑the‑top requests, and Palms concierge Jered Hundley has fielded his share. Beyond bachelor‑party planning, tractor shipping, and babysitting, he was once asked to locate an artist capable of sculpting a plaster mold of a girlfriend’s body.

The guest’s ultimate vision involved filling the mold with butter, creating a bizarre, buttery statue. While Hundley never disclosed whether the plan came to fruition, the request alone underscores the lengths to which guests will go—and the willingness of a top‑tier concierge to explore even the most unconventional ideas.

1 The Bored Businessman

Life on the road can be glamorous, yet the endless layovers often breed boredom. Business traveler Sean Fitzsimons turned his routine hotel stays into a playground of whimsical requests. He began by asking staff to draw a portrait of him and hang it in his room, then escalated to more playful ideas.

Fitzsimons once commissioned a pillow fort built on his bed, later demanded pictures of Alfonso Ribeiro and Jeremy Jackson positioned to appear as if they were eye‑to‑eye, and even requested a portrait of a dog dressed as a boat captain. Hotel employees embraced the challenges, frequently asking when the next quirky request would arrive, proving that even the most mundane business trips can become a canvas for creativity.

Welcome to a whirlwind tour of the most jaw‑dropping, eyebrow‑raising, and outright bizarre episodes in thoroughbred history. These are the 10 outrageous horse scandals that have left fans gasping, regulators scrambling, and bookmakers checking their pockets. Buckle up as we gallop through deceit, drama, and downright daring tricks that have forever changed the sport.

Why These 10 Outrageous Horse Scandals Matter

Each tale below isn’t just a footnote; it’s a cautionary saga that illustrates how far some will go for a win, a payout, or sheer notoriety. From faked fatalities to high‑tech betting hacks, the stakes have never been higher, and the fallout has reshaped rules, ethics, and public perception of horse racing.

10 Faking a Horse’s Death

Veterinarian‑turned‑owner Dr. Mark Gerard, who once tended to legends like Secretariat, decided to purchase two of his own horses in 1977. The first, Cinzano, was a champion, racking up seven victories out of eight starts and earning the title of Uruguay’s Best Three‑Year‑Old Colt in 1976. The second, Lebon, was a modest performer with just a single win over two years. Cinzano’s price tag was a hefty $81,000, while Lebon was acquired for a modest $1,600.

Shortly after both horses arrived at Gerard’s farm, tragedy struck: Cinzano suffered a gruesome accident, smashing its skull and breaking a leg after striking the ceiling. The death was officially recorded as an accident. Undeterred, Gerard entered Lebon in the September 1977 Belmont Park race, where Lebon astonishingly crossed the finish line first.

A vigilant journalist soon raised the alarm, pointing out that the winning horse bore a striking resemblance to Cinzano. Both horses shared a white star on their foreheads, yet one sat slightly lower. An investigation confirmed the swap, leading to immediate suspensions for Gerard and his trainer. Gerard spent a year behind bars, was fined $1,000, and received a lifetime ban from every racetrack in the United States.

9 Gay Future Scandal

Tony Murphy, a flamboyant figure who cruised around in a gold‑plated Rolls Royce, headed an Irish betting syndicate that hatched a daring plot centered on a horse named Gay Future. The scheme involved entering Gay Future in a race while simultaneously placing a series of strategic bets across the United Kingdom. To muddy the waters, the conspirators entered two additional horses under the same trainer’s name, hoping to confuse bookmakers.

On race day, the real Gay Future was swapped for a more impressive mount, Arctic Chevalier. After the two decoy horses were withdrawn, only Arctic Chevalier and one other remained. To discourage onlookers from betting on Gay Future, the conspirators drenched its legs with soap, making the animal appear sweaty and unfit. Against all odds, Gay Future surged ahead, winning by a landslide.

Journalists and bookmakers quickly caught wind of the irregularities, noting that the two supposed “other” horses never even traveled to the track. The payouts were halted, Murphy and his crew were arrested, and while Murphy was convicted of attempted fraud, he never served prison time.

8 2002 Breeder’s Cup Betting Scandal

Following the 2002 Breeder’s Cup, Derrick Davis walked away with a staggering $3 million after scoring perfect Pick‑Six tickets—an achievement where a bettor predicts the winners of six consecutive races. His tickets were the sole winners, purchased through a freshly opened telephone account with Catskill Off‑Track Betting. The unusual betting pattern immediately triggered a multi‑agency investigation.

The probe uncovered that Davis’s fraternity brother, Chris Harn, a senior programmer at Autotote (the company managing the telephone betting platform), had the capability to retroactively alter race outcomes in the system. Harn manipulated the data after the races concluded, ensuring Davis’s tickets reflected the winners. Further digging revealed additional rigging with another fraternity brother, leading to convictions and prison sentences for all three conspirators.

7 30 Horses Die in Six Months

A shocking wave of fatalities struck Santa Anita Racetrack when 30 horses perished within a six‑month span, with 23 deaths occurring between December 2018 and March 2019. The spate ignited public outcry and intense scrutiny of the track’s safety protocols, prompting calls for immediate suspension of racing activities.

Initial theories blamed heavy rainfall for destabilizing the dirt surface, potentially causing fractures. However, extensive scientific testing disproved the weather hypothesis, revealing no abnormal conditions. After thorough investigations, the track temporarily shut down, only to reopen once officials concluded that no illicit substances or procedural failures were responsible. The California Horse Racing Board noted that pressure on trainers to keep horses on the schedule contributed to the tragedy, but no direct wrongdoing was identified.

6 2020 Horse Doping Scam

Maximum Security, famously disqualified from the 2019 Kentucky Derby for interference, later amassed four wins out of five high‑profile races. Yet behind the success lay a sprawling international doping operation spearheaded by trainer Jason Servis. Over two dozen trainers and veterinarians were implicated in a conspiracy to administer performance‑enhancing drugs to horses.

Authorities charged 27 individuals with drug adulteration and misbranding conspiracies. The illicit substances induced cardiac stress, overexertion, and heightened injury risk, even leading to fatal outcomes. Among the accused was trainer Jorge Navarro, whose horse X Y Jet earned over $3 million before succumbing to a sudden heart attack, underscoring the lethal potential of the scheme.

5 1968 Kentucky Derby Winner Disqualified

The 1968 Kentucky Derby delivered a dramatic showdown when Dancer’s Image surged from last place to clinch victory by a narrow margin of a length and a half. Days later, the triumph was nullified after the horse tested positive for phenylbutazone, an anti‑inflammatory medication then prohibited in Kentucky.

Owner Peter Fuller, a vocal civil‑rights supporter who had donated $60,000 to Coretta Scott King after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, claimed the positive test was the result of sabotage. He alleged that opponents, perhaps motivated by his activism, had slipped the drug into the horse’s system. Fuller faced a protracted legal battle that lingered for nearly five years, never conclusively proving foul play.

Ultimately, the ruling stood, stripping Dancer’s Image of the title. The incident prompted a rule change, and phenylbutazone is now permitted in many jurisdictions, reflecting evolving attitudes toward medication in the sport.

4 Bold Personality Spray Painted to Mimic Another Horse

Australian owner John Gillespie, desperate for a win, concocted a scheme involving his low‑profile horse, Fine Cotton. He initially intended to swap Fine Cotton with his faster peer, Dashing Solitaire, which bore a close resemblance. When Dashing Solitaire suffered an injury and could not race, Gillespie pivoted to a third horse, Bold Personality, which looked nothing like Fine Cotton.

Undeterred, the conspirators resorted to cosmetic deception: they dyed Bold Personality’s coat to match Fine Cotton’s color and used spray paint to recreate the distinctive white socks. The painted horse crossed the finish line first, seemingly securing a lucrative payout. However, observers soon noticed drips of white paint trailing down the horse’s hind legs, raising suspicions.

Investigators uncovered the ruse, leading to Bold Personality’s disqualification and a four‑year prison sentence for Gillespie, cementing the episode as one of racing’s most flamboyant frauds.

3 “Big Tony” Bribed Jockeys

Anthony Ciulla, better known by his moniker “Big Tony,” orchestrated a massive bribery ring during the 1970s, paying jockeys to deliberately slow their mounts in hundreds of races. By throttling the pace of certain horses, he engineered outcomes that favored his favored runners, inflating payouts for his betting operations.

The scheme unraveled during a 1975 Atlantic City race when a jockey’s obvious sluggishness attracted the attention of officials. Faced with mounting evidence, Ciulla was apprehended, tried, and sentenced to prison. However, the FBI offered him a deal: in exchange for cooperation, he would testify against fellow jockeys and trainers involved in race‑fixing, subsequently entering the Witness Protection Program.

Ciulla’s testimony helped expose a deep‑seated network of corruption within the sport, prompting stricter oversight and harsher penalties for those who attempt to manipulate race outcomes.

2 Horse Abducted & Never Found

Shergar, a legendary Irish thoroughbred, captured the world’s imagination after winning the 1981 Epsom Derby by a record‑breaking margin. Retired to stud, the 11‑year‑old champion seemed destined for a tranquil breeding career—until a fateful night in 1983.

Masked gunmen stormed the Irish stud farm, forcing staff to load Shergar onto a waiting vehicle before police could respond. The kidnappers demanded a staggering $3 million ransom, rumored to be linked to the Irish Republican Army, which was reportedly struggling financially at the time.

The owners refused to pay, fearing that acquiescence would encourage further abductions. Despite extensive investigations, no ransom was ever collected, and Shergar vanished without a trace. The mystery endures, cementing the case as one of the most haunting unsolved crimes in horse racing history.

1 2021 Kentucky Derby Winner Fails Drug Test

The 2021 Kentucky Derby seemed to crown a new champion when Medina Spirit surged ahead to claim victory. However, post‑race testing revealed elevated levels of betamethasone, a prohibited anti‑inflammatory drug, prompting an immediate controversy.

Trainer Bob Baffert faced a 90‑day suspension and a $7,500 fine, though the penalty was later extended amid broader concerns about his horses’ repeated drug violations. Over a 40‑year career, Baffert’s stables had failed 30 drug tests, with Medina Spirit’s case marking the fifth infraction within a single year.

Tragically, Medina Spirit died suddenly seven months after the Derby, adding a somber footnote to an already turbulent saga that reshaped conversations about medication, safety, and accountability in the sport.

If you’ve ever binge‑watched Hot Ones or followed the antics of Man vs. Food, you know that food challenges can be as entertaining as they are terrifying. Below we count down the 10 most outrageous restaurant food challenges that push both willpower and digestion to the brink.

10 Most Outrageous Food Challenges Overview

10 Pound Burger

Clinton Station Diner in Clinton, New Jersey, proudly proclaims its 105‑pound (47.6‑kg) monster as the “8th Wonder of the World.” The colossal patty can be tackled by a party of nine friends, but the entire stack must disappear within a single hour. Pull it off and you pocket a $2,000 cash prize plus bragging rights that last a lifetime; flop, and you’ll be shelling out roughly $600 for the unforgettable experience.

The diner, part of which is housed inside a vintage blue‑and‑white rail car, offers a menu of equally intimidating challenges. Five diners can attempt the “Mt. Olympus” burger—a 25‑pound (11.4‑kg) beef behemoth that also must be devoured in an hour. Solo competitors can try the “Zeus” at nearly 8 pounds (3.6 kg) with a 90‑minute limit, or the “Atlas” at 3 pounds (1.4 kg) with just 45 minutes on the clock.

9 69‑oz Mixed Grill

Sizzle and Grill in Wales has turned a traditional mixed grill into a 69‑ounce (1.95‑kg) gauntlet of meat and sides. The plate piles together a steak, five pork chops, half a chicken, two pieces of gammon, four sausages, two eggs, peas, mushrooms, a generous heap of chips, and a side salad. The clock is ruthless: challengers must finish everything in 60 minutes or less. Thousands have taken the plunge, but only a select few have managed to conquer the mountain of protein.

The fastest recorded time is a jaw‑dropping 22 minutes. Victors earn a complimentary T‑shirt and a free meal, while the rest walk away with a story and a spot on the “Wall of Shame.” Sizzle and Grill also tempts diners with a “Quadruple Bypass Burger,” the “Widow Maker,” and seven “Suicide Wings” drenched in some of the hottest sauces imaginable, plus two‑foot‑long po‑boys and a six‑liter bucket of ice cream, all inspired by the TV hit Man vs. Food.

8 Fire In Your Hole Wing Challenge

Munchies 420 Tiki Bar & Grill in Sarasota, Florida, is famed for its eclectic menu—think Philly cheesesteaks that rival the originals, daily‑fresh burgers, and over‑the‑top Fat Sandwiches loaded with mac & cheese, broccoli cheese bites, and onion hoops. The venue’s wing selection boasts more than twenty dry rubs and sauces, earning it Travel Channel accolades as one of America’s best eateries.

For heat‑seekers, the Fire In Your Hole Wing Challenge delivers ten wings slathered in a sauce extracted from the world’s hottest peppers. Contestants have a strict 20‑minute window; succeed and your name joins the Wall of Fame, fail and you’re relegated to the Wall of Shame. Even Adam Richman of Man vs. Food could only manage a single wing before tapping out.

7 The Kitchen Sink Challenge

The San Francisco Creamery Company, known for its sandwiches, burgers, and pasta, also serves up a dessert that lives up to its name. The Kitchen Sink Challenge is a towering sweet creation: three bananas, a generous swirl of whipped cream, up to eight scoops of ice cream in flavors of your choosing, another layer of whipped cream, eight distinct toppings, yet more whipped cream, and a finishing sprinkle of almonds and cherries.

Solo diners must beat the current record time without any assistance and are forbidden from leaving the table for any reason. Achieve the record and you win a year’s supply of free ice cream, plus a framed photo displayed for all to admire. The challenge tests both appetite and endurance, turning a simple sundae into a legendary feat.

6 The Kodiak Arrest Challenge

Anchorage’s Humpy’s Alaskan Alehouse offers a seafood showdown that lives up to its name: the Kodiak Arrest Challenge. This $450 extravaganza includes seven crab nuggets, a hefty 4‑pound (1.8‑kg) portion of Alaskan king crab, a 14‑inch (36‑cm) reindeer sausage, assorted sides, a wild‑berry crisp, and a scoop of ice cream—all to be devoured in under an hour.

Finish within the time limit and you earn a coveted spot on the Hall of Fame, a “I got crabs at Humpy’s” T‑shirt, and a free meal. The current record stands at a blistering 12 minutes and 10 seconds, proving that this challenge is not just about size but also about speed.

5 The Bombay Burner

London’s upscale Cinnamon Club hides a fiery secret on its menu: the Bombay Burner. This clandestine lamb‑mince curry is crafted with Dorset Naga chilies that can soar to a scorching 1.6 million Scoville Heat Units (SHU). To even order the dish, diners must give a 48‑hour heads‑up and sign a disclaimer acknowledging the extreme heat.

In addition to the Naga chilies, the curry incorporates Scotch bonnet peppers (around 350,000 SHU) and a modest jalapeño (about 2,500 SHU) for contrast. The result is a dish that burns on the way in and leaves a lingering, fiery trail on the way out—an unforgettable test for any spice aficionado.

4 Shepherd’s Pie Challenge

Mulligan’s Irish Pub & Grill in Wisconsin stakes its claim with an 8‑pound (3.6‑kg) Shepherd’s Pie Challenge. The towering stack comprises three individual shepherd’s pies layered with peas, carrots, parsnips, cheese, celery, beef, mashed potatoes, and a rich gravy. Solo competitors have a full 60 minutes to demolish the massive mound.

The entry fee is $45; finish the challenge and the meal is on the house, plus a $75 gift card and a coveted spot on the “Winner Wall.” Those who fall short still walk away with a photo on the “Weenie Wall” and a $45 bill. Mulligan’s also offers a 3‑pound (1.4‑kg) beef burger challenge packed with half a pound of cheese, a pound of corned beef, and a pound of beer‑battered fries for those craving a different kind of overload.

3 Carnivore Challenge

Big Pie in the Sky Pizzeria in Kennesaw, Georgia, invites duos to take on its Carnivore Challenge: an 11‑pound (5‑kg) all‑meat pizza loaded with a smorgasbord of toppings. The stone‑deck oven‑baked masterpiece can be split between two participants, who must finish the entire pie within one hour.

The price tag to attempt the challenge is $59.95, but triumph nets a $120 payout. Roughly 25 pairs have successfully conquered the beast, with the fastest time hovering just over 30 minutes. The pizzeria also serves other specialty pies like the West Coast Pesto and the Big Kahuna, but the Carnivore remains the ultimate test for meat lovers.

2 Phozilla

Pho 87 in Las Vegas has turned a classic Vietnamese noodle soup into a monstrous 10‑pound (4.5‑kg) bowl dubbed “Phozilla.” The steaming broth is packed with twelve ingredients, and challengers must slurp the entire bowl in 1,987 seconds (just under 33 minutes) or less.

Entry costs $50, and the prize pool grows progressively—true Vegas style—so the winner walks away with a juicy jackpot. The bowl is literally twice the size of an adult’s head, making it both a visual spectacle and a stomach‑shaking challenge.

1 Travis on a Silver Platter

Grandma K & I Diner, a nostalgic roadside stop on Albuquerque’s Broadway Boulevard, serves up a colossal burrito known as Travis on a Silver Platter. This 8‑pound (3.6‑kg) creation layers three flour tortillas with beans, beef, cheese, red chili sauce, and a towering mound of French fries, all wrapped into a single, massive bite.

Challengers have one hour to finish; success means a free meal and a place on the wall of fame, while defeat lands a photo on the wall of shame. The diner’s classic comfort fare—biscuits and gravy, burgers, chicken‑fried steak—provides a tasty backdrop to this epic culinary showdown.

Welcome to our deep‑dive into the world of 10 outrageous liars who tried to profit from the dead, exposing schemes that range from forged wills to phantom authors.

10 Outrageous Liars Who Tried to Cash In on the Dead

10 Emily Grant Hutchings

When aspiring writers rack up a mountain of rejection letters, the dream of a publishing break can feel hopeless. In the early twentieth century, a handful of opportunists claimed they could channel deceased literary giants through Ouija boards.

Emily Grant Hutchings was one of those charlatans. In 1917 she released Jap Herron: A Novel Written From the Ouija Board, insisting that the spirit of Mark Twain was dictating a fresh manuscript from beyond the grave.

The entire text is accessible on Google Books for the curious, but Twain’s spectral contribution appears to have lost its sparkle after death. The New York Times panned the work mercilessly, even joking that Twain’s ghost should appear in court via the board to defend himself.

Twain’s estate sued Hutchings’s publisher, forcing a halt to further print runs. Although the novel never became a bestseller, Hutchings still secured a New York Times review and managed to rake in cash from the surrounding controversy.

9 Brian Adams

Brian Adams, a 56‑year‑old jobless man, shared a modest home in Green Cove Springs, Florida, with his elderly mother Janell and his own son. Their household relied entirely on Janell’s Social Security checks and pension.

In 2014, Brian learned that Janell had died of natural causes. Reporting her death would have cut off the family’s only source of income, so he persuaded his son to help him move the corpse to the backyard, dig a deep pit, and bury her.

Month after month, the benefits kept rolling in. Brian siphoned the checks into Janell’s account, then transferred every dollar into his own name, eventually amassing $35,345.

Brian’s daughter Brittanie eventually confronted him about the inexplicable cash flow. He confessed, and she swiftly alerted authorities. With a prior criminal record, Brian now faces up to a year in prison for his fraud.

8 Thomas Patrick Morris

At the turn of the twentieth century, the Wendel family dominated New York City’s rental market, amassing a fortune so vast they became multimillionaires.

Paradoxically, the Wendels lived a reclusive, frugal lifestyle, shunning marriage and children. The last surviving member, Ella Wendel, spent her days with a poodle named Tobey and a cadre of servants.

When Ella passed away in 1931, she left behind a jaw‑dropping $100 million estate (roughly $1.6 billion today). Her will directed the bulk of the wealth to charities, with a modest portion for servants to care for her dog. Over 2,300 claimants rushed to the newspapers, asserting kinship.

Thomas Patrick Morris, a Scotsman, journeyed to New York claiming he was Ella’s nephew. He produced a forged marriage certificate alleging he was the son of Ella’s brother, John Wendel, and even fabricated a heartfelt letter supposedly penned by John, describing a secret Scottish elopement.

Thomas bore an uncanny resemblance to John, making the deception plausible. Had his claim succeeded, he would have inherited a massive fortune.

However, the estate’s attorney dug into Scottish records, discovering the forged certificate was penned in Thomas’s own hand. Business documents proved John Wendel was in New York during the alleged Scottish romance, debunking the story. Morris was promptly arrested for fraud.

7 Carel Cody

From 1988 to 1994, Carel Cody operated a licensed elder‑care facility out of her Cottage Grove, Oregon residence. When social services grew suspicious of unusually rapid patient deaths, they investigated.

Inspectors found the home filthy and unfit for caregiving, even noting a pet monkey that added to the unsanitary conditions. As a result, Cody’s caretaker license was revoked, though she continued to siphon money from every resident.

After losing her license, Cody began volunteering at nursing homes, where she seduced a disabled elderly man, “M.B.,” into marriage. The Social Security income from this union proved insufficient, prompting her to lure another patient into her home.

John H. Arnold, a 76‑year‑old orphan with no family, was persuaded to leave his nursing home and move in with Cody. He died in 1996.

Cody clandestinely buried Arnold’s body on her mother’s property. Deprived of official oversight, she claimed Arnold had moved away, deceiving her husband. When M.B. finally realized Cody’s abuse, he divorced her.

For the next sixteen years, Cody continued to collect Arnold’s Social Security checks and accessed his bank accounts, stealing over $200,000. In 2013, she was finally apprehended and sentenced to four years in federal prison.

6 Anna Anderson

In 1920, a striking young woman attempted to leap from a Berlin bridge. A police officer rescued her and placed her in a mental institution, where she spoke only in a thick Russian accent and was labeled “Miss Unknown.” She bore numerous scars, hinting at past trauma, and refused to reveal her identity.

Two years later, a fellow patient informed doctors that Miss Unknown bore a striking resemblance to one of the Romanov daughters, sparking speculation that she might be Anastasia, the youngest daughter presumed dead after the 1918 Bolshevik execution.

The Romanov tragedy had left many hopeful that at least one child survived. Miss Unknown matched Anastasia’s age and appearance, and because she could not recall her past, she never refuted the claim.

The press seized upon the story, and numerous acquaintances who had known the real Anastasia personally met Miss Unknown, posing probing questions only a true princess could answer. Opinions split: some believed she was genuine, while others dismissed her as a fortune‑seeker.

Romanov relatives ultimately denied her any inheritance, yet a circle of aristocrats took her under their wing. Philanthropist Annie Burr Jennings financed her move to the United States, granting her the name Anna Anderson and a lavish Manhattan apartment. Over the years, she lived in various aristocratic homes, supported by generous patrons.

Decades later, DNA testing finally resolved the mystery: Anna Anderson was, in fact, a Polish factory worker who had suffered a grenade explosion, accounting for her scars. While she may have genuinely believed she was Anastasia due to her amnesia, scientific evidence proved otherwise.

5 Marsha Henderson

In her twenties, Marsha Henderson married 76‑year‑old Newton Davies, a retired school crossing guard living in London. Beyond his modest pension, Newton owned a house in a rapidly appreciating London neighbourhood.

When Newton passed away at 85 in 2013, his estate listed a £600,000 inheritance. However, his will allocated only £25,000 to Marsha, leaving the bulk of the money and the property to his daughter, Paulette.

Unwilling to vacate the home, Marsha concocted a forged will that claimed she deserved the house and over £500,000. The falsified document was riddled with spelling errors and even mistakenly referred to Newton as a woman.

She claimed the “new” will had been hidden in an attic crawl space inside an empty Doritos bag, only now discovered. In court, the judge exposed the absurdity of her fabrications and ordered Marsha to pay Paulette £42,000 in back‑rent for refusing to leave.

4 Renee Bowman

In the United States, foster parents receive monthly stipends to cover the costs of caring for children. In Maryland, that amount can approach $800 per child.

Renee Bowman took in three girls, two of whom were sisters fleeing an abusive home. For this arrangement, she collected $2,400 each month, enough to cover rent and personal expenses.

In 2009, a seven‑year‑old foster child leapt from a window and sought help from a neighbor. The incident revealed that Bowman had been starving and abusing the child.

Even more chilling, the other two girls—one sister and a third foster child—were discovered dead, their bodies stored in a freezer that Bowman moved with her during multiple relocations. She kept the third girl alive only to mask the disappearances.

3 Albert Houghton Pratt

In 1918, Albert Houghton Pratt published My Tussle with the Devil and Other Stories, claiming it was dictated by the ghost of O. Henry via Ouija board. He opened the book with a direct address to skeptics, insisting any stylistic differences were due to his after‑life evolution.

Pratt’s work featured interludes where he purportedly recorded dialogues between himself and O. Henry’s spirit, further cementing the supernatural premise.

Public reaction was sparse, but records show Pratt later released other titles, including a treatise on mysticism. By 1922, the New York Times reported his eviction from a New Jersey residence for mortgage default, suggesting his ghost‑writing venture failed to generate lasting profit.

2 Arafa Nassib And Adil Kasim

In 2017, 48‑year‑old Arafa Nassib was apprehended after claiming she had died. She and her 18‑year‑old son, Adil Kasim, had secured a sizable life‑insurance policy on Arafa’s name.

The duo traveled back to Tanzania, where Adil reported that Arafa had perished on Zanzibar. The insurance company paid out £136,000, despite Arafa being very much alive.

Adil initially returned to the United Kingdom, spreading the false news of his mother’s death. The ruse unraveled when Arafa attempted to re‑enter the country; airport officials flagged her passport, which listed her as deceased, leading to her arrest.

1 The Manchester Frauds

GoFundMe is designed for people in need to raise money for medical bills, emergencies, or charitable causes. Anyone can start a campaign, and donors often trust the platform to deliver aid.

In May 2017, Manchester was rocked by a terrorist attack outside an Ariana Grande concert, killing 22 people. Unscrupulous individuals quickly created fake GoFundMe pages, claiming to collect money for the victims’ families.

These fraudulent campaigns siphoned donations straight into the creators’ accounts. GoFundMe’s policy allows fundraisers to withdraw money at any time, making it easy for scammers to disappear with the cash.

The sheer volume of bogus pages prompted GoFundMe staff to work around the clock, constantly deleting and suspending fraudulent accounts.

One of the fraudsters, Shannon Quinn, a writer and entrepreneur from Philadelphia, was among those caught exploiting the tragedy for personal gain.

Some call him “The Newton of Electricity,” and others call him “The First American.” Whatever the nickname, we can all agree Benjamin Franklin was a one‑of‑a‑kind character. After all, he invented his own alphabet, was a chess master, and even lent his name to a psychological effect. (Although he never actually campaigned for the turkey as the national bird.) These tidbits barely skim the surface of his wild life. So, let’s roll out the list of the 10 most outrageous things Benjamin Franklin ever did.

10 Most Outrageous Highlights

10 The ‘Drinkers Dictionary’

Benjamin Franklin was a man who cherished wine without being a heavy tippler. He kept roughly 1,200 bottles of Bordeaux, champagne, and sherry locked away in his Paris residence. In a letter, he famously called wine “constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy,” even weaving a playful anecdote about the Genesis flood.

He wrote, “Before the days of Noah, men, having nothing but water to drink, could not discover the truth. Thus they went astray, became abominably wicked, and were justly exterminated by water, which they loved to drink.” Of course, Noah saw through this “pernicious beverage,” and after the Ark, learned to make wine, thereby “discovering numberless important truths.”

Franklin wasn’t shy about his occasional tipsiness. In a humorous exchange about his chronic gout, he lamented, “What have I done to merit these cruel sufferings?” Gout smugly replied, “Many things; you have ate and drank too freely….”

In short, Franklin knew a thing or two about getting plastered. In a 1737 edition of the Pennsylvania Gazette, he published the “Drinkers Dictionary,” offering 200 colorful synonyms for intoxication. Phrases like “He’s had a thump over the head with Sampson’s Jawbone,” “He’s contending with Pharaoh,” and “the King is his Cousin” peppered the list. Shorter versions include “wamble crop’d,” “fuzl’d,” “pungey,” and “trammel’d.” My personal favorite? “He’s right before the wind with all his studding sails out.”

9 Frankenstein And The Kite

What do Benjamin Franklin, frog legs, and the horror genre have in common? The answer is electricity. Everyone knows Franklin flew a kite into a thunderstorm and proved that lightning was indeed electricity. The popular story places the experiment in 1752, with his son William lending a hand. Using a silk string to avoid becoming a “Fried Founding Father,” he sent an iron key soaring into the clouds, and the rest became legend.

Franklin’s triumph rippled worldwide, inspiring Italian physiologist Luigi Galvani. Galvani began zapping dead frogs, discovering that electricity made their muscles twitch. Those shocking demonstrations spurred showmen to animate corpses with electric currents, eventually catching the imagination of Mary Shelley, who transformed the concept into the world’s most famous horror tale, Frankenstein. Some even argue the “Frank” in the title nods to Franklin’s surname.

But there’s a twist: biographer Tom Tucker argues the kite episode might be a fabrication. In his book Bolt of Fate, Tucker notes Franklin stayed silent about the experiment for years, puzzling historians who wonder why he didn’t broadcast such a breakthrough in the 1750s.

Tucker even recreated the experiment with period‑accurate supplies, only to watch the kite refuse to lift off. Whether Franklin invented the story or simply was a poor kite flyer, the credit for the first successful kite‑lightning test belongs to Frenchman Thomas François‑Dalibard, who sent his kite aloft a month before Franklin’s alleged attempt.

8 He Was A Military Commander

Believe it or not, Benjamin Franklin was an 18th‑century Rambo. Though he never sported a bandana, he did lead troops during the French and Indian War. In 1756, after a series of French and Native American victories, Pennsylvania governor Robert Morris tapped Franklin to command a Philadelphia militia and strike the French.

Franklin’s first strategic move was to erect a fort at the Moravian settlement of Gnadenhutten. Guiding an army of 170 men through dense wilderness, he defended against enemy attacks while teaching his soldiers the art of fort construction. Once the stronghold was complete, he cleared the surrounding area of French forces and established additional defenses, with assistance from his son William, a seasoned Tory‑leaning officer.

Beyond battlefield tactics, Franklin innovated soldier welfare. He urged scouts to bring dogs for tracking, and he tackled morale by distributing daily rum rations after church services, prompting a rapid surge in religiosity among his men. Remarkably, he served without pay, earning admiration from Pennsylvanians and even spooking the British, who imagined he might march on Philadelphia. Of course, such a rebellion never materialized; Franklin remained loyal to the Crown.

7 He Was A Security Risk

We tend to picture Benjamin Franklin as a sharp‑witted diplomat, yet his judgment of character sometimes faltered—dangerously so. The misstep unfolded in 1776, when tensions with Great Britain escalated and the American colonies courted French support.

The Continental Congress dispatched a diplomatic commission to Paris, comprising merchant Silas Deane, lawyer Arthur Lee, and Franklin as chief. In the City of Light, they mingled with French officials, procured weapons, chartered supply ships, and spread pro‑American propaganda. However, the commission’s headquarters were far from secure.

Top‑secret documents lay strewn about, and Franklin routinely discussed classified matters in public. Compounding the security breach, the commission’s secretary, Dr. Edward Bancroft—a chemist and Franklin’s protégé—was in fact a British spy.

Unbeknownst to Franklin, Bancroft covertly examined confidential papers, penned notes with invisible ink, and transmitted intelligence through a dead‑drop, all under Franklin’s unsuspecting nose. Although Arthur Lee suspected Bancroft’s treachery and warned Franklin, the Founding Father dismissed the warning, preferring his friend’s counsel. Consequently, the British agent relayed troop movements and treaty details back to London.

After the war, Bancroft continued corresponding with Franklin, remaining oblivious to his double life until 70 years after his death—thanks to Lee’s diligent record‑keeping.

6 Bones In The Basement

Although he epitomizes the American spirit, Franklin spent 16 years residing in London. He rented several rooms on the first floor of a Georgian townhouse at 36 Craven Street, where he pursued experiments, socialized with luminaries, and even took “air baths”—stripping naked by an open window to breathe fresh air, much to the horror of his neighbors.

In 2003, the “Friends of Benjamin Franklin House” sought to restore the property as a museum. While excavating the windowless basement, they uncovered a macabre cache: the skeletal remains of 15 individuals, including an elderly man and an infant, with mutilated leg bones and trepanned skulls, all dating to the 1700s.

The grisly find was not Franklin’s doing but rather the work of William Hewson, a pioneering anatomist who ran an anatomy school in the basement (the building technically belonged to Hewson’s mother‑in‑law, Margaret Stephenson). Hewson likely employed grave‑robbers to procure fresh corpses for his pupils, discarding the remains in the basement pit. While Franklin probably attended some of Hewson’s clandestine lectures, he was not directly responsible for the bone stash. Tragically, Hewson died of blood poisoning after accidentally nicking his finger during a dissection.

5 Drinking Songs And The Glass Armonica

Benjamin Franklin was a musical aficionado. He could play harp, violin, and guitar, and he frequently attended concerts. Scholars even debate whether he composed a tongue‑in‑cheek string quartet. In the 1740s, he penned drinking songs, setting witty verses to popular tunes. One such ditty, “The Antediluvians Were All Very Sober,” mocked pre‑flood humanity for lacking wine, concluding that “there can’t be good Living where there is not good Drinking.”

Franklin’s crowning musical triumph was the invention of the glass armonica. Musicians of the era produced tones by rubbing moist fingers around water‑filled wineglasses. Inspired, Franklin engineered the “glassychord,” later known as the armonica, consisting of 37 glass bowls nested like Russian dolls, mounted on a rotating spindle powered by a foot‑treadle. Wetting his fingers and gliding them over the spinning bowls generated ethereal music.

The instrument quickly captivated European aristocracy. Madame Marie Antoinette took lessons, while Mozart and Beethoven composed pieces for it. Yet the armonica’s popularity waned as some performers reported unsettling vibrations affecting their minds—later attributed to lead poisoning from the glass. Its decline set the stage for Franklin’s next eccentric venture.

4 Franklin Vs. Mesmer

In 1778, while serving as America’s ambassador to France, Franklin found himself tangled in the fashionable craze of mesmerism. Developed by Franz Anton Mesmer, the practice claimed an invisible “animal magnetism” flowed through all living things, a notion that fascinated the French aristocracy, including Queen Marie Antoinette.

Mesmer asserted that this fluid could become trapped within the body, causing illness, and that his treatments—performed in dimly lit rooms with soothing music (often Franklin’s own armonica)—could free it. Patients would stare into Mesmer’s gaze, convulse, and emerge feeling rejuvenated.

King Louis XVI, skeptical of the spectacle, convened a commission of scientists—including Franklin and the notorious Joseph Guillotin—to assess the claims. Their experiment, staged on Franklin’s Parisian lawn, involved a blindfolded 12‑year‑old boy who was led from tree to tree, each allegedly “magnetized” by Mesmer. The boy exhibited sweating and shaking, yet none of the trees had been treated.

The committee concluded the boy’s reactions stemmed from imagination, not magnetic forces—effectively conducting one of history’s first placebo‑controlled trials. Their findings debunked mesmerism’s supernatural pretensions, cementing Franklin’s reputation as a rational investigator.

3 He Was A Major Troll

“Fish and visitors smell in three days.” “Early to bed and early to rise….” “Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead.” These pearls of wisdom sprang from the pen of Richard Saunders, the pseudonym Franklin used for his wildly popular almanac, Poor Richard’s Almanack. In colonial America, almanacs were the go‑to source for weather forecasts, farming advice, and witty maxims, and Franklin’s edition reigned supreme.

However, Franklin faced competition from Titan Leeds, author of An American Almanack. Leeds’ prose was notoriously clumsy, exemplified by a dreadful poem: “Out of the Frying into the Fire / And he that’s not True must be a Lyar.” Determined to out‑troll his rival, Franklin fabricated a prophecy predicting Leeds would die on “Oct. 17, 1733, 3:29 p.m., at the very instant of the conjunction of the Sun and Mercury.”

When the foretold date arrived, Leeds survived and publicly denounced Franklin as “a Fool, and a Lyar.” Undeterred, Franklin claimed Leeds could not have uttered such language while alive, implying the real Titan had already perished and that impostors were masquerading as him. The hoax boosted Poor Richard’s sales, as readers were drawn to the scandal.

Leeds eventually died in 1738, but Franklin kept the prank alive, publishing a final issue that declared the impostors had finally abandoned their charade. The episode cemented Franklin’s reputation as a masterful, mischievous marketer.

2 Balloon Experiments

Benjamin Franklin lived in an era of revolutionary ideas and daring inventions. When French pioneers Jean‑François Pilâtre de Rozier and the Marquis d’Arlandes launched the world’s first manned hot‑air balloon flight on November 21, 1783, Franklin was present in Paris to witness the ascent.

Enthralled, Franklin brainstormed practical applications for balloons. He imagined military logistics—using balloons to ferry supplies across rivers—and even proposed attaching a hydrogen‑filled balloon to a servant, reducing his weight to “perhaps 8 or 10 pounds,” allowing him to zip through city streets delivering messages. He also entertained the notion of a balloon‑borne icebox: by lofting a meat‑filled container high into the colder atmosphere, the cargo would stay fresh, and the same method could produce ice. Unfortunately, Franklin’s frail health in his later years required four men to help him walk, and he never got to ride in a balloon before his death.

1 Benjamin Franklin, Tornado Chaser

In 1749, panic rippled across the Mediterranean as a waterspout was sighted off Italy’s coast. To calm the populace, Pope Clement XVI dispatched the scientifically inclined priest Father Ruder Boscovich, who published a treatise explaining that waterspouts, though rare, were natural phenomena.

By 1750, a London magazine had reviewed Boscovich’s work, prompting scholars worldwide—including Benjamin Franklin—to weigh in. Franklin, unfamiliar with tornadoes, dove into scientific journals, compiled eyewitness accounts, and assembled a network of amateur meteorologists to decipher these swirling mysteries.

Franklin’s research led him to challenge prevailing theories that waterspouts were water‑filled. He argued they were massive columns of wind capable of traveling onto land, coining the term “landspouts.” His contemporaries dismissed his ideas as fanciful, and the Royal Society rejected his treatise, leaving him frustrated without tangible proof.

That changed in 1754 when Franklin and his son William, traveling toward Maryland, encountered a violent whirlwind. The vortex rose roughly 15 meters (50 feet) high and spanned about 9 meters (30 feet) at its apex. While his companions hesitated, Franklin pursued the twister on horseback, noting that “the whirl was not so swift that a man on foot could not keep pace.” He even brandished his riding whip at the spinning column, though the storm remained unmoved, sucking up leaves and branches as it roared through the forest.

Eventually, Franklin deemed the chase too perilous and withdrew, while William continued to track the tempest until it vanished. Their daring pursuit earned them the distinction of being America’s first storm chasers, cementing Franklin’s legacy as a relentless seeker of natural truth.

Nolan Moore believes Benjamin Franklin got all his best ideas from an anthropomorphic mouse. If you’re curious, you can email Nolan or follow him on Facebook.

McDonald’s operates over 36,000 restaurants worldwide, serving roughly 69 million guests each day – making it the second‑largest fast‑food chain after Subway. With such massive reach, it’s no surprise the brand has been embroiled in a parade of controversies. Below we count down the 10 outrageous mcdonald scandals that have left a dent in the golden arches’ reputation.

10 Outrageous McDonald Scandals Unveiled

10. The McDonald’s Virginia Racism Lawsuit

In 2015, a group of former employees at three Virginia McDonald’s outlets filed a civil‑rights suit alleging that their new franchise owner, Michael Simon, deliberately trimmed the number of minority workers on his staff.

According to the complaint, supervisors openly complained that “there were too many black people in the store,” prompting a wave of white hires. Two months later, fifteen Black employees were abruptly terminated, and the dismissed workers claim their attempts to reach corporate for help fell on deaf ears.

The case raises a thorny question about how far the corporate franchisor must be held accountable for actions taken by individual franchisees. If courts deem McDonald’s a joint employer, its legal responsibilities could expand dramatically—a debate that is still simmering.

9. The McLibel Case

In the early 1990s, activists Helen Steel and David Morris, together with a handful of supporters, distributed a sharply critical fact sheet about McDonald’s across London, prompting the corporation to sue them for libel.

Defending a libel claim in England is notoriously pricey and time‑consuming. The defendants were offered a chance to drop the case if they issued an apology; while some accomplices accepted, Steel and Morris stood firm and refused.

The courtroom drama quickly turned into a David‑versus‑Goliath narrative, draining the activists of roughly £30,000 in legal fees while McDonald’s poured tens of millions into its defence. Ultimately, the judge ruled in favour of the fast‑food giant, ordering the pair to pay £60,000 in damages, later reduced to £40,000 on appeal.

Undeterred, Steel and Morris appealed to the European Court of Human Rights, arguing that the UK’s libel laws stifled free expression. The ECHR awarded them £57,000 in compensation, payable by the British government.

8. The McDonald’s Strip Search Scam

Questioning authority can be dangerous, and the infamous McDonald’s strip‑search scam illustrates just how far a prank can go when employees obey without hesitation.

For about a decade, a prankster named David Stewart called restaurants pretending to be a police officer chasing a thief, demanding that the answering staff conduct a strip search on the alleged culprit.

On April 9 2004, Stewart zeroed in on a McDonald’s in Mount Washington, Kentucky. When employee Donna Summers answered, Stewart described a thief who matched employee Louise Ogborn, then instructed Summers to strip‑search Ogborn on the spot.

After an hour of confusion, Summers asked to return to the counter. Stewart then told her to enlist someone she trusted. She called her boyfriend, Walter Nix, who followed the caller’s bizarre instructions for two more hours, ultimately committing multiple assaults on Ogborn under the prankster’s direction.

Summers eventually grew suspicious, contacted her manager, and learned that no police officer had ever called. The realization that she’d been duped set in motion a legal battle.

A jury awarded Ogborn $5 million in punitive damages and $1.1 million for actual losses; Summers received an additional $1.1 million, based on McDonald’s alleged prior knowledge of similar pranks and its failure to warn staff.

7. French Fry Controversy Results In $10 Million Payout To Vegetarians

Throughout the 1990s, McDonald’s faced a wave of lawsuits over the composition of its iconic french fries, which many vegetarians believed were entirely meat‑free.

In 1993, the chain sent a letter assuring a customer that the fries were “cooked in 100 percent vegetable oil.” While the oil was indeed plant‑based, the company also used a beef‑derived seasoning, effectively rendering the fries non‑vegetarian.

After protracted litigation, McDonald’s settled in 2002, issuing a public apology and paying $10 million to various vegetarian and religious groups. The controversy resurfaced later when a Muslim family in Alabama claimed pieces of bacon had been deliberately placed in their McChicken sandwiches, a claim the chain attributed to an honest mistake but which still sparked legal scrutiny.

6. Mayor McCheese Is A Rip‑Off Of H.R. Pufnstuf

Fans of the whimsical McDonaldland universe may recall characters like Grimace, the Hamburglar, Officer Big Mac, and the rotund Mayor McCheese. The latter met an abrupt end in 1985 after a successful copyright infringement lawsuit.

The lawsuit argued that Mayor McCheese was a blatant copy of H.R. Pufnstuf, a mayor‑type character from the 1969 children’s TV series of the same name. McDonaldland debuted two years later, borrowing not only the mayoral role but also a strikingly similar visual design.

Beyond the single character, the entire McDonaldland concept—psychedelic, surreal, and populated by anthropomorphized objects—mirrored the oddball aesthetic of the Pufnstuf show, making the infringement claim especially compelling.

McDonald’s attempted to distinguish the two by pointing to minor differences, such as McCheese’s diplomatic sash versus Pufnstuf’s cummerbund. The jury disagreed, noting that an ordinary child would see the characters as virtually identical. An initial $50,000 payout was later increased on appeal to over $1 million.

5. Aggressive Corporate Ownership Of ‘Mc’

McDonald’s has an almost obsessive drive to erase the “Mc” prefix from any competing business, even when the name predates the fast‑food empire.

A notable defeat came when the chain challenged McDonald’s Family Restaurant in Fairbury, Illinois—a diner opened in 1956 by a man named Ronald McDonald, who argued he had every right to use his own surname for his eatery.

When McDonald’s attempted to open a corporate outlet in the same town during the 1990s, locals rallied behind the family‑run spot, forcing the franchise to withdraw. The original restaurant even had to temporarily remove the possessive “s” from its signage, only to regain it after the corporate threat faded.

4. McDonald’s Ripped Off Viz’s Top Tips Nearly Word For Word

Viz, the adult‑oriented British comic, is famed for its “Top Tips” column, which dishes out cheeky, thrift‑savvy advice. In May 1989, Viz suggested, “Save a fortune on laundry bills. Give your dirty shirts to Oxfam. They will wash and iron them, and then you can buy them back for 50p.”

In 1996, McDonald’s rolled out a “Money‑Saving Tips” campaign that featured almost identical wording: “Save a fortune on laundry bills. Give your dirty shirts to a second‑hand shop. They’ll wash and iron them, and then you can buy them back for 50p.” The similarity extended to several other tips in the campaign.

Readers assumed Viz had licensed its ideas, but the comic’s publisher clarified that McDonald’s never approached them for permission. A spokesperson for the fast‑food giant denied any borrowing, insisting the campaign was entirely original.

Viz’s creators sued, and the case settled out of court for an undisclosed sum, which they reportedly donated to Comic Relief, turning a legal spat into a charitable gesture.

3. McDonald’s Drive‑Through Intercom Hacks

On December 4 2016, a McDonald’s in New Bern, North Carolina, fell victim to a hack that commandeered its drive‑through intercom, allowing an unknown prankster to broadcast his own messages to unsuspecting customers.

A video posted to YouTube captured the hacker’s rambling monologue, in which he bragged about serving food while sitting on the toilet, refusing to wash his hands, and eventually splicing in explicit adult audio. He claimed he was “just going to give you whatever the f—k I feel like giving you.”

Owner Bill Purcell responded, promising to tighten security and prevent future incidents, emphasizing the restaurant’s commitment to a positive customer experience. No further intercom hacks have been reported since the remedial steps were taken.

2. Blind People Are Refused Service At The Company’s Drive‑Throughs

Many McDonald’s locations operate 24 hours a day, often relying solely on a drive‑through window to serve customers, which effectively bars pedestrians and those who cannot drive.

In 2016, legally blind patron Scott Magee attempted to use a drive‑through on foot and was denied service, even mocked by staff. He filed a lawsuit alleging the practice violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, which guarantees equal access to public accommodations.

After a district court initially dismissed the case, a federal judge in February 2017 ruled that Magee had legitimate grounds to pursue the claim, opening the door for potential policy changes such as allowing disabled customers to order from the curb and have their meals brought to them.

1. The San Ysidro McDonald’s Massacre

In July 1984, James Huberty, plagued by severe mental‑health issues, sought help from a local mental‑health clinic but never received a callback due to a clerical error that mis‑recorded his name and marked his request as “non‑crisis,” delaying a response for two days.

Frustrated, Huberty told his wife he was “going to hunt humans” and, on July 18, drove to a McDonald’s on San Ysidro Boulevard in San Diego, where he unleashed a rampage that claimed 21 lives and wounded 19 others before a SWAT sniper neutralized him.

Survivors sued McDonald’s Corporation, arguing the company bore responsibility for ensuring customer safety. Courts ruled in favor of the chain, deeming the tragedy unforeseeable and thus beyond the restaurant’s duty of care.

Huberty’s widow also pursued legal action against McDonald’s and his former employer, Babcock & Wilcox, citing his high blood‑lead and cadmium levels—likely from his welding work—and a diet rich in McDonald’s fare as contributing factors. Those claims were ultimately rejected.

Alright, folks, buckle up because we’re about to plunge headfirst into the wild world of reality television, where the on‑screen spectacle is just the tip of the iceberg. If you’re hunting for the ultimate top 10 reality show moments that make your jaw hit the floor, you’ve landed in the right spot. The drama doesn’t stop when the cameras cut; in fact, it often erupts behind the scenes, turning ordinary production rooms into battlegrounds of egos, secrets, and outright chaos.

Top 10 Reality: Behind‑the‑Scenes Secrets Revealed

10 Keeping Up with the Kardashians

Love them or loathe them, the Kardashian‑Jenner dynasty has perfected the art of perpetual drama. Off‑camera, family members frequently clash over everything from business ventures to personal grievances, creating a pressure‑cooker environment that fuels endless headlines. One particularly notorious saga involved Kim Kardashian’s whirlwind marriage to Kris Humphries, a union that quickly spiraled into a public spectacle of disagreements and an even messier divorce.

The family’s meticulously crafted on‑screen personas mask a far messier reality. While viewers were treated to Kim’s lavish wedding ceremony, the subsequent unraveling of the marriage unfolded both in the media and behind closed doors. Rumors swirled that the whole affair was a publicity stunt, and the ensuing legal battles kept tabloids buzzing for months, highlighting how the family’s real‑life turbulence often eclipses their glossy television image.

9 The Bachelor and The Bachelorette

Rose ceremonies may look like dreamy romance on TV, but the truth behind The Bachelor and The Bachelorette is anything but sweet. Contestants have come forward describing how producers deliberately engineer situations to spark conflict, and accusations of skewed editing have become a staple of the show’s lore. One high‑profile case involved Rozlyn Papa, who was abruptly removed after allegations surfaced that she had an inappropriate relationship with a producer.

Behind the glittering dates and rose‑laden evenings, participants claim that the production team often nudges them into more sensational scenarios to boost viewer engagement. Rozlyn’s scandal, where she was accused of an affair with a producer, highlighted the blurry line between authentic emotion and manufactured drama, igniting heated debates about how much of the narrative is truly “reality.”

8 Jersey Shore

The iconic mantra “Gym, Tan, Laundry” defined Jersey Shore, yet the off‑camera reality resembled “Fights, Tantrums, Drama.” The cast’s relentless party lifestyle frequently spilled over into heated confrontations, culminating in a shocking incident when Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi was punched in the face by an aggressive bar patron.

The show’s beach‑side antics were a ratings goldmine, but the behind‑the‑scenes chaos was equally intense. Snooki’s punch incident exposed how volatile the environment could become when the party’s momentum ran wild, underscoring the challenges of managing fame, constant nightlife, and personal boundaries under relentless public scrutiny.

7 The Real Housewives

From Manhattan’s penthouses to Beverly Hills’ mansions, The Real Housewives franchise has turned shade‑throwing into an art form—both on the screen and in private. Numerous reports detail cast members clashing during filming, with some disputes escalating into lawsuits. A prime illustration is the fierce feud between Teresa Giudice and Jacqueline Laurita on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

While the series showcases opulent lifestyles and over‑the‑top arguments, the real drama often erupts behind the cameras. Teresa’s infamous “table‑flip” moment gave fans a glimpse into the genuine tension simmering beneath the glossy façade, and the public fallout between Teresa and Jacqueline spilled onto social media, fueling endless tabloid coverage.

6 Survivor

When you hear “outwit, outplay, outlast,” you picture rugged competitors battling nature. Yet the backstage drama on Survivor adds a whole new layer of intrigue. Contestants have revealed that beyond hunger and sleepless nights, producers sometimes intervene by strategically placing hidden immunity idols or subtly steering alliances, turning the game into a masterclass in manipulation.

While the series tests physical endurance and strategic thinking, the production crew’s behind‑the‑scenes tactics often raise eyebrows. By orchestrating twists and influencing player dynamics, the show creates heightened suspense, making every blindside and alliance shift feel both earned and engineered.

5 America’s Next Top Model

Tyra Banks may have turned “smizing” into a cultural catchphrase, but her tenure on America’s Next Top Model was also riddled with high‑tension moments. Behind the runway lights, tensions between contestants and judges frequently boiled over, leading to tearful breakdowns and fiery debates. One notable clash involved contestant Keenyah Hill confronting Tyra over a photoshoot concept she deemed racially insensitive.

The series spotlighted the glamorous modeling world, yet the fierce competition often unleashed raw emotions. Keenyah’s confrontation with Tyra exposed deeper conversations about race and ethics within the high‑stakes environment, illustrating how the pressure to succeed can ignite powerful, sometimes uncomfortable, dialogues.

4 The Apprentice

Before his political ambitions, Donald Trump ruled the boardroom on The Apprentice, where business challenges seemed to dominate the narrative. However, insiders suggest that the off‑camera atmosphere was just as cut‑throat, with tension simmering among contestants vying for Trump’s approval.

Former participants have hinted that Trump’s interactions sometimes diverged from the polished on‑screen persona, and rumors circulated that production decisions subtly swayed outcomes. This behind‑the‑scenes maneuvering added an extra layer of uncertainty, making the competition feel as ruthless as the tasks themselves.

3 The Real World

As a pioneering force in reality TV, The Real World introduced viewers to the concept of strangers sharing a house, a recipe that inevitably brewed off‑camera drama. Personal conflicts often escalated into heated arguments, and on occasion, even physical altercations. The notorious “Puck” incident from the third season highlighted just how explosive the environment could become.

The series captured a blend of camaraderie and chaos, but the close‑quarters living situation frequently sparked intense disagreements that didn’t always make the final cut. David “Puck” Rainey’s volatile behavior culminated in his removal from the house, underscoring the challenges of managing diverse personalities under constant surveillance.

2 Love & Hip Hop

Love & Hip Hop delivers a heavy dose of on‑screen drama, yet the real fireworks often ignite when the cameras stop rolling. A particularly outrageous moment unfolded during the reunion special of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, where a full‑blown brawl erupted among cast members, blurring the line between reality and spectacle.

The franchise is notorious for its explosive confrontations and a glimpse into the tumultuous relationships within the music industry. Reports suggest producers actively encourage conflict and sometimes orchestrate scenarios to keep the drama at fever pitch, ensuring viewers stay glued to every heated exchange.

1 Big Brother

Being locked inside a house with strangers while under constant surveillance sounds like a recipe for drama, and Big Brother delivers in spades. Contestants live under watchful eyes, battling for a coveted prize, while producers subtly shape the experience to maximize tension.

Season 15’s controversy, featuring instances of racial insensitivity and offensive remarks, thrust the show into a national conversation about representation, ethics, and the responsibilities of both contestants and creators. The incident highlighted how behind‑the‑scenes decisions can amplify or mitigate real‑world issues.

+ Bonus: Dance Moms

Step onto the polished floors of Dance Moms, and you’ll quickly discover that the drama extends far beyond choreography. Behind glittering costumes and flawless routines, the series functioned as a pressure cooker, with Abby Lee Miller’s demanding coaching style fueling endless controversy.

Miller’s relentless pursuit of perfection sparked frequent confrontations with parents, turning rehearsals into theatrical showdowns. While her methods aimed for excellence, they often left moms feeling bruised and viewers craving more conflict. Beyond the on‑stage tension, the show was plagued by legal battles, including Miller’s high‑profile bankruptcy fraud case, which cast a shadow over the series and highlighted the stark realities behind the glitter.

Watch a play. Go mountain climbing. Entertainment services cater to a wide variety of interests, but for some, that is simply not anywhere near enough. If you’re hunting for the ultimate thrill, no matter how strange, awesome or extreme, you’ve just struck gold. Here’s the definitive rundown of 10 outrageous entertainment options that will push your comfort zone, rewrite your bucket list, and maybe even give you a new perspective on life (or death).

10 Outrageous Entertainment Experiences Overview

10 Attend Your Own Funeral

For roughly $3,000 you can stage a full‑blown funeral ceremony, complete with somber music, tasteful décor, and a casket that holds… you. The service is attended by a hand‑picked crowd of mourners who reflect the various facets of your life. You’ll sit in the audience, watch the closed casket, listen to a minister’s eulogy, and watch a mock burial unfold. The package bundles a professionally crafted obituary and a remembrance session where guests share stories about your impact on the world. Expect a cocktail of emotions—perhaps a touch of melancholy, a fresh outlook on existence, or even a sudden surge of purpose. After all, you can only die twice.

9 Spend a Night in the Morgue

If a funeral isn’t eerie enough, you can upgrade to an overnight stay in a morgue for about $2,000. After a faux accidental death, you’ll be slipped into a body bag—complete with an optional ID tag—then escorted to a chilling mortuary. The deluxe option includes a personal mortician’s inspection, commentary on the “cause of death,” and a full set of mock medical records. You’ll receive a fabricated death certificate and a notice‑of‑passing letter for your next‑of‑kin, plus the unsettling experience of hearing officials make phone calls to inform loved ones of your “passing” before you even set foot inside.

8 Simulated Kidnap Experience

A French outfit called Ultime Réalité offers a full‑scale, simulated kidnapping for $1,000‑$3,000. After signing a waiver and a detailed terms‑of‑reference form, you’ll be stalked for 5‑7 days. Then, men in black will ambush you, thrust you into a vehicle, and deposit you in a secret holding cell or undisclosed location. Depending on the package you choose, you may be interrogated, robbed, threatened, or even held for a mock ransom. A negotiator might join the scene to discuss terms. The captivity can last up to 11 harrowing hours before you’re finally “released” back to safety.

7 Manhunt Adventure

If being kidnapped feels too passive, try the high‑octane manhunt package for about $2,000. You can elect to be the fugitive on the run or the bounty hunter in hot pursuit. The chase spans rugged terrain, open water, bustling city streets, and remote wilderness. Whether you’re dodging capture or hunting down a mock drug lord, the adrenaline rush of a real‑life cat‑and‑mouse game is unmatched. It’s the kind of experience that makes you feel like the star of an action blockbuster—only the stakes are your own heart rate.

6 Russian Fighter Pilot Experience

The ultimate aerial thrill comes from FlyFighterJet.com. For $16,000 you’ll climb aboard a Russian MiG‑29 Fulcrum and soar to the edge of space—over 72,000 feet. You’ll get a chance to actually control the jet, feeling the raw power of Mach‑2 speeds as you execute vertical rolls and a heart‑stopping hammerhead stall. The flight culminates in a low‑altitude, high‑speed pass over the Russian countryside. The package includes a comprehensive medical clearance and a handshake with a top‑ranked Russian fighter ace. Talk about a bucket‑list check‑off.

5 Night Dive with Manta Rays

Ready to face the ocean’s gentle giants? For a dive with 20‑foot manta rays—also known as devilfish—you’ll plunge into their natural habitat, flashlight in hand. These massive, wing‑like creatures glide past, sometimes brushing you as they feed on the tiny fish attracted to your beam. While they’re not predators of humans, they do possess massive mouths and teeth, so expect a respectful distance as they swirl around you. It’s an unforgettable underwater ballet that will leave you both humbled and exhilarated.

4 Formula 1 Racing Experience

If standard sports thrills don’t cut it, strap yourself into a 900‑horsepower Formula 1 car for just $600. You’ll take the driver’s seat of a single‑seater machine once piloted by legends like Michael Schumacher and Mario Andretti. After a quick safety briefing, you’ll roar around the track at speeds exceeding 200 mph, carving through corners with G‑forces that would make even the hardiest roller‑coaster fan’s stomach churn. It’s a high‑risk, high‑reward experience that puts you squarely in the cockpit of motorsport history.

3 Extreme Ironing Challenge

When you think ironing can’t get any more extreme, think again. Extreme Ironing International, born in New Zealand in 1999, turns the mundane act of smoothing shirts into a daredevil sport. For a modest fee, participants can iron while perched on a kayak, hanging off cliffs, wake‑boarding, or even sky‑diving. Ironing boards are strapped to rooftops, boulders, and moving vehicles, and competitors must press a shirt perfectly flat while battling wind, water, or altitude. It’s a bizarre blend of domestic precision and adrenaline‑pumping spectacle that has even seen enthusiasts ironing beside snarling crocodiles.

2 Sahara Desert Marathon

For the truly masochistic athlete, the Sahara Desert Marathon is the ultimate test of will. Applicants pay a $4,000 fee to run over 250 km across Morocco’s blistering dunes and rocky terrain—one of the planet’s five most extreme desert environments. Temperatures can soar above 135 °F, and the relentless sand pulls at every step. Preparation often spans three years, and the race has claimed lives; two participants perished in 2007 due to heat exhaustion and strain. Surviving—and finishing—this marathon is a badge of honor few can claim.

1 Antarctic Ocean Kayaking

For $16,000, you can paddle your way through the icy waters of Antarctica. Travelers launch from Tierra del Fuego, the southernmost tip of South America, and are ferried to the edge of the Antarctic ice sheets. Once there, you’ll brave sub‑zero air—down to minus 70 °F—and frigid, wave‑tossed seas. Maneuvering a vulnerable kayak amid shifting ice floes, you’ll navigate frozen passages while keeping an eye out for the occasional leopard seal that could decide to give you a close‑up encounter. It’s a raw, unforgiving adventure that tests both skill and nerve.

Whether you crave a surreal brush with mortality, the roar of a jet engine, or the silence of an Antarctic kayak, these ten off‑the‑wall entertainment options prove that the world is brimming with experiences that are as outrageous as they are unforgettable. Which one will you dare to try?

Looking to dodge massive loan bills for degrees that amount to little more than a pricey receipt? The 10 outrageous u list is your cheat sheet for steering clear of for‑profit institutions that have left countless students with empty wallets and broken dreams. In the United States, your safest bet is a regionally accredited post‑secondary school – stay far away from the glitter of national accreditation or, worse, any school that can’t claim accreditation at all.

Why 10 Outrageous U Schools Matter

These ten schools illustrate just how far the for‑profit model can go off the rails, from high‑pressure recruitment tactics to outright fraud. Many of the victims have since secured federal loan forgiveness, but the damage done to their finances and confidence is a cautionary tale worth sharing.

10 The Brown Mackie College

In a November 16, 2015 press release, the U.S. Department of Justice highlighted its role in a $95.5 million settlement against Education Management Corporation (EMC). The deal resolved four separate False Claims Act accusations filed in federal courts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Nashville, Tennessee. One allegation described recruiters working in a “high‑pressure boiler room” who were compensated solely based on the number of students they enrolled.

Brown Mackie College, one of many EMC‑owned campuses, offered bachelor’s, associate, and certificate programs across a broad spectrum. Its original campus earned approval from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools – an agency that later lost its authority after the BMC controversy – and it was licensed by the Kansas Board of Regents to confer associate degrees. Yet, despite its nationwide presence, the school suffered steep enrollment declines, leading to the shuttering of numerous campuses.

9 International Academy of Design and Technology

Amanda Luciano’s story puts a human face on the devastation wrought by the International Academy of Design and Technology. She borrowed $51,000, repaid $40,000, and still found herself owing $81,000. How could that happen?

Following the advice of a school recruiter, Luciano took a loan from a private lender instead of a federal program, as reported by Meredith Kolodner. Her $500‑a‑month payments barely covered interest, and because the loan’s rate was variable, it fluctuated over the years, causing her balance to balloon. She now realizes the school was part of a predatory scheme.

In a settlement covering 150 for‑profit colleges, a federal judge ruled that students were entitled to automatic cancellation of their government‑backed loans due to institutional misconduct. Since Luciano’s loan was privately financed, the settlement didn’t apply, leaving her to shoulder a debt she describes as one she’ll “never be rid of.”

8 ITT Technical Institute

At its height, ITT Technical Institute operated 138 campuses across 39 states. By December 2015, ITT Educational Services had spent roughly $12.9 million in settlements, legal fees, and administrative costs. A local Milwaukee TV station, TMJ4, discovered a student who, when answering a forensic‑computer assignment, earned full credit for simply listing pros and cons.

The instructor praised the work, noting, “Excellent job. You were able to generate the required number of points and counterpoints for each issue.” The student’s actual response was a noodle recipe: “Ingredients: 1 ½ cups of all‑purpose flour, one pinch salt, two eggs beaten.” TMJ4 reporter Aaron Diamant confirmed the quirky submission, saying, “Yup, a noodle recipe.”

ITT Technical Institute also faced a massive $6 billion settlement that forced the cancellation of loans for 200,000 students after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to block the debt‑relief measure, citing “substantial misconduct.”

7 Brightwood College

Brightwood College, formerly known as Kaplan College and run by Education Corporation of America, provided programs in health, criminal justice, and trades. The U.S. Government Accountability Office uncovered that all 15 schools tested, including Brightwood, made “deceptive or otherwise questionable statements” to undercover GAO applicants. Admissions staff were even caught on tape making misleading claims.

As a result, Brightwood College students’ loans were wiped out alongside those of other defrauded students from similar for‑profit institutions.

6 Corinthian Colleges, Inc.

At its peak, Corinthian Colleges, Inc. operated more than 100 campuses throughout the United States and Canada, offering courses in health care, business, criminal justice, transportation technology, construction trades, and information technology.

Investigations in both Canada and the U.S. led Ontario to suspend Everest College’s operating license and close the corporation’s 14 Canadian campuses. The company eventually declared bankruptcy after shuttering its U.S. locations.

A Washington Post report noted that “allegations that Corinthian lied about the success of its programs and trapped students in predatory loans ultimately led to a series of government lawsuits and loss of its access to federal funding.” The U.S. Department of Education canceled $5.8 billion in federal student loans for 560,000 students who attended schools affiliated with Corinthian Colleges.

5 Le Cordon Bleu

The Las Vegas Review‑Journal highlighted that Career Education Corporation’s Le Cordon Bleu faced a five‑year investigation revealing that the corporation pressured employees to enroll students and engaged in unfair, deceptive practices – claims the company denied. Le Cordon Bleu closed its doors in 2016. Depending on when students attended, they could have qualified for debt forgiveness.

Relief was available through six distinct programs, provided applicants met the specific criteria. The Borrower Defense to Repayment program, for instance, allowed full or partial forgiveness for graduates who could demonstrate that Le Cordon Bleu misled them about job placement rates, accreditation, or other crucial aspects of their education.

4 DeVry University

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission found that DeVry University’s claims—that its graduates were more likely to secure jobs quickly and earn higher salaries than peers from other institutions—were deceptive. Consequently, the FTC mailed payments to harmed DeVry students. The first checks were dispatched in July 2017, and the total amount eventually reached an astounding $49 million. Some recipients never cashed their initial payments, prompting the FTC to send an additional 5,942 checks.

These checks represented each student’s share of the settlement between the FTC and DeVry University. While the settlement provided direct relief, it did not preclude recipients from pursuing additional remedies under federal or state law.

3 The Art Institutes

The Art Institutes, once a nationwide network of campuses, closed its final location in 2023 after being accused of fraud. The U.S. Department of Education reported that the schools lured students with “pervasive lies.” President Joe Biden stated that the institution “falsified data, knowingly misled students, and cheated borrowers into taking on mountains of debt without promising career prospects.”

The Department of Education subsequently erased loans for 317,000 students who attended the school between January 1, 2004, and October 16, 2017, at a cost of nearly $160 billion, which included $28.7 billion in loans already canceled.

This massive payback likely stemmed in part from a $95.5 million settlement between the Art Institutes and the Department of Justice in 2015, with the remainder funded by other settlements and loan‑cancellation programs targeting for‑profit schools.

2 The Famous Writers School

Fraudulent and misleading practices among for‑profit schools are not a new phenomenon. Investigative journalist Jessica Mitford’s scathing 1970 exposé of The Famous Writers School revealed that the organization siphoned tuition from enrollees while delivering little to no educational value.

Abigail Deutsch recounted Mitford’s interview technique—starting with innocuous questions that gradually turned more probing, coaxing subjects into self‑incriminating statements. The school claimed to offer “access to renowned authors,” yet publisher Bennett Cerf admitted he was too busy to review the aptitude tests prospective students submitted.

Poet Phyllis McGinley confessed she was merely a figurehead who never saw any applications or lessons. Mitford ultimately uncovered that teachers were sending students “cleverly camouflaged form letters,” underscoring the sheer emptiness of the program.

1 Trump University

David Whitman observed that the scandal surrounding The Famous Writers School bore striking similarities to the “trials of Trump University.” Donald Trump promised to share the secrets of his real‑estate success with those who enrolled in his venture.

Enrollment involved two steps: first, signing up for a $1,500 three‑day seminar after attending a free three‑hour introductory session; second, during the three‑day seminar, agreeing to a $35,000 mentorship program. While over 80,000 people attended the free seminar, only 6,698 proceeded to the paid events.

Attendees were told they would join a “family” with a hotline for advice and access to lenders willing to advance “investment money” for house‑flipping. Some were assured they could recoup their investment within two months. Although most surveys were positive, a few participants complained that Trump failed to provide ongoing mentorship after the seminar and that the cost was excessive. The New York Attorney General alleged Trump earned $5 million from the venture.

Ultimately, Trump agreed to settle the fraud cases in New York and California for $25 million—$21 million to reimburse parties in two California class‑action suits, $3 million for others not covered by those suits, and $1 million as a penalty for violating New York education law by operating an unlicensed university. While Trump denied wrongdoing, his organization claimed the settlement was “part of moving forward” as he prepared to assume the presidency.

When you think of marriage, you probably picture white dresses, rings, and maybe a modest gift from the groom’s family. But across the centuries, dowries and bride prices have taken some seriously bizarre turns. Below we count down the 10 most outrageous dowries and bride prices ever documented, ranging from gruesome war trophies to multi‑million‑dollar offers. Buckle up – the world of matrimonial economics has never been so wild.

10 Most Outrageous Dowries And Bride Prices

10 100 Philistine Foreskins

David, the shepherd‑turned‑king famed for slaying Goliath, faced a daunting hurdle to win the hand of Saul’s daughter, Michal. King Saul, jealous of David’s rising fame, demanded the foreskins of one hundred Philistines—his sworn enemies—as a bride price. Determined to impress, David didn’t just meet the quota; he doubled it, returning two hundred foreskins to prove his mettle. In that ancient context, presenting a warrior’s foreskin was a gruesome yet unmistakable badge of victory, symbolizing supreme bravery. Saul, begrudgingly impressed, finally consented to the marriage.

9 The Bride’s Weight In Shillings

In the 1600s, John Hull, the mastermind behind the first Massachusetts mint, was obsessed with his silver pine‑tree shillings. When Samuel Sewall asked for the hand of Hull’s daughter, Hannah, the negotiations took a literal turn: the bride price would equal Hannah’s weight in those very shillings. On the day of the weighing, the scale tipped to roughly 45 kilograms (about 100 pounds) of silver—a sum that, in today’s terms, would be around $1,600. While the exact weight remains unrecorded, the story illustrates how a father’s pride in his coinage could be turned into a literal measure of his daughter’s worth.

8 A Magical Pear

An enchanting Scottish legend from the 13th century tells of the Colstoun Pear, plucked by the wizard Sir Hugo de Giffard. When his daughter Margaret married into the de Broun family, the wizard warned that as long as the pear remained unharmed, the family would be shielded for generations. The pear was sealed in a silver casket, and centuries later, in 1692, Lady Elizabeth Mackenzie dreamed she had taken a bite. Servants rushed to the casket, only to find the pear untouched. Yet misfortune followed: her husband fell into debt, sold the pear to his brother Robert, who subsequently drowned along with his two sons. The tale underscores how a seemingly magical gift could bear a heavy curse.

7 130 Million (With A Catch)

In a startlingly modern saga, Gigi Chao, the openly gay daughter of Chinese billionaire Cecil Chao, faced her father’s outrageous proposal: any man who could convince her to marry and abandon her lesbian identity would receive a $65 million dowry, later doubled to $130 million. The offer, meant to pressure Gigi back into a traditional marriage, sparked global headlines. Undeterred, Gigi publicly affirmed her partnership with Sean Eav, demanding respect rather than a cash incentive. After a flood of suitors, Cecil eventually withdrew the offer, declaring the money would stay “in his pocket.” The episode highlights how even today, dowry demands can clash with personal freedom.

6 The Bride’s Weight In Soap

Early in the 20th century, a Frenchman known only as M. Le Blanc married a Parisian daughter whose father was a prosperous hairdresser. While the first dowry was a conventional cash sum, the second was peculiarly poetic: the bride’s weight, measured at a healthy 64 kilograms (140 lb), was given in soap. The gesture aimed to guarantee the couple a lifetime of cleanliness—an oddly practical yet romantic token that surely kept the laundry room well‑stocked.

5 A Million Facebook Likes

In 2013, Yemeni poet‑turned‑Internet personality Salem Ayash decided to replace traditional cash with digital clout. He challenged the suitor of his daughter, known only as Osama, to amass one million likes on a Facebook page created for the engagement—all within a month. The stunt was meant as a critique of soaring bride‑price demands that often overwhelm young families. Though the page has since vanished and the final tally remains unknown, Ayash hinted he might lower the target, underscoring the evolving nature of courtship economics in the social‑media age.

4 Much Of Southwestern France

Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of medieval Europe’s most powerful women, became queen consort of both France and England. After her father’s death, she inherited the Duchy of Aquitaine. When Louis VI, known as “the Fat,” arranged her marriage to his son Louis VII, the duchy itself served as her dowry. After fifteen turbulent years and an annulment, Eleanor cleverly retained the land, then married Henry Plantagenet eight weeks later, transferring Aquitaine to the English crown. Her strategic use of territorial dowry reshaped the political map of Western Europe.

3 The Greatest Qing Dynasty Sculpture

The exquisite Jadeite Cabbage, a masterpiece of Chinese jade carving, was likely presented as a dowry to Consort Jin of the Guangxu Emperor in the 19th century. Carved from jadeite, the sculpture depicts a pristine white cabbage, symbolizing purity, while two insects—a katydid and a locust—represent blessings for many offspring, as the insects lay thousands of eggs. Today, the piece resides in Taiwan’s National Palace Museum, drawing crowds whenever it travels, and remains a testament to how art and dowry could intertwine to convey wishes of fertility and virtue.

2 $156 Million

In 2012, Wu Ruibiao, a Chinese magnate famed for his kitchen‑and‑tile empire, made headlines by bestowing his unnamed daughter with a dowry exceeding one billion yuan—approximately $156 million. The lavish package included four gold boxes, a Porsche, a Mercedes‑Benz, and, most valuable of all, five million shares in his company Wanli, worth an estimated $15 million. The daughter wed her childhood sweetheart after an eight‑day banquet, prompting a Hong Kong newspaper to quip that marrying a Jinjiang girl was “better than robbing a bank.” The episode illustrates the modern arms race among China’s wealthy to out‑spend each other in matrimonial gifts.

1 The Cities Of Bombay And Tangier

Princess Catherine of Braganza, a 17th‑century Portuguese royal, married England’s Charles II and, beyond the famed tea‑bringing myth, delivered two entire cities as her dowry: Bombay (now Mumbai) and Tangier. While Tangier soon became a flashpoint of conflict—its residents accusing British forces of looting and eventual abandonment—the British held onto Bombay for centuries, only relinquishing it when India achieved independence in 1947. Catherine’s extraordinary dowry reshaped colonial geopolitics, turning a marriage contract into a trans‑continental legacy.