16 Of The Most Expensive Mistakes In History
A Regretful Sellout For Ronald Wayne
Alongside Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne was instrumental during the formative years of Apple. Afraid of past experiences and skeptical about the future, Wayne sold his share in Apple for just $800 (£516), 11 days after Apple was formed. According to reports, Wayne would have been worth more than £25 billion today had he kept his stock.
Toshihide Iguchi's Prolonged Miscalculation
Japanese bank executive Toshihide Iguchi converted a US $70,000 debt (£45,000) into a loss of $1.1 billion (£709 million) for the Daiwa Bank after he failed to recover a bet made on U.S. government bonds in 1983. Though Iguchi managed to dodge authorities for over a decade, FBI agents finally caught up with him after 12 years.
Rogue Trader Nick Leeson
Seldom does an individual bring about the downfall of an entire financial institution, but “Rogue Trader” Nick Leeson managed to do so by causing the collapse of the oldest investment bank in the United Kingdom—Barings Bank—in the mid '90s.
His unauthorized speculative trading brought him success at first, but in the end, disaster struck as losses ballooned to over £190 million. He fled to Singapore, where he was arrested and sentenced to six years in prison.
Mathematical Error Ends £80-Million NASA Mars Probe
NASA spent around £80 million on the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was originally designed to study the climate on Mars. However, a small mathematical error proved to be the orbiter’s undoing as NASA lost contact with the probe, and it was eventually destroyed over the planet in 1999.
Sar Alexander II Sells Off Alaska For Just £4.6 Million
During the late 19th century, Russian emperor Tsar Alexander II was unable to look at Alaska as something other than a land with a lot of ice cover. Fearful of a forceful takeover of Alaska by the United States, the Tsar decided to sell the vast territory to the United States for just £4.6 million in March 1867.
Since the values of ruble and dollar at the time were almost similar, Russia gained little in cash and lost natural resources worth billions of dollars.
A £116 Million Jackpot That Went Unclaimed
A British couple lost a fortune of around £116 million in 2010. A woman’s ticket for the Euro Millions lottery won the jackpot, but her husband threw it in the trash, which meant that they could not claim the prize money.
Equipment Fault Causes A £230 Billion Nuclear Disaster
A tragedy that still send shivers down the spines of many around the world, the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster was caused by an equipment failure in four reactors that went out of control during a test.
The entire 1986 disaster cost around a massive £230 billion in cleanup and in the value of lost farmland. The loss at today's inflated rate stands at around a staggering £464 billion!
Xerox Fails To Protect Commercial Secret From Apple
To continue reading, please go to the original article here:
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/news/16-of-the-most-expensive-mistakes-in-history/ss-BBjZkVx#image=2
TNT:
Mot: Christmas 1881
Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors.
It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve, 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas.
TNT:
Tishwash: The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve
A beautiful read during this magical season
The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate.
He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.
TNT:
Mot: One of the most famous Christmas scenes in movie history was filmed in secret
One of the most famous Christmas scenes in movie history was filmed in secret, right in front of thousands of New Yorkers who didn’t know what was going on.
When you watch Miracle on 34th Street, you’re not looking at a Hollywood set or paid extras. You’re seeing a real moment from 1946, captured as it happened.
Director George Seaton decided not to use a studio and instead put his cast in the real Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
TNT:
Mot: Christmas 1881
Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their
means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were
genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him
that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve, 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the
world had caved in on me because there just hadn't been enough money to buy
me the rifle that I'd wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that
night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we
could read in the Bible.
.When Massachusetts Banned Christmas
Christopher Klein
Ebenezer Scrooge and the Grinch had nothing on the 17th-century Puritans, who actually banned the public celebration of Christmas in the Massachusetts Bay Colony for an entire generation.
The pious Puritans who sailed from England in 1630 to found the Massachusetts Bay Colony brought with them something that might seem surprising for a group of devout Christians—contempt for Christmas.
In a reversal of modern practices, the Puritans kept their shops and schools open and churches closed on Christmas, a holiday that some disparaged as “Foolstide.”
15 Ways to Safe Guard Sudden Wealth
In this Alux.com video we will be answering the following questions:
What to do with money?
What to do if you suddenly get money?
What to do if you inherit a large sum of money?
DJ: DID YOU KNOW?
There is a difference between desire and desperation. Wanting and wishing for something to happen doesn’t make it come true or change reality.
I take issue with Intel providers feeding off the desperation of those who have been put into a mindset of hope they have created.
Twenty years ago most would have been happy enjoying a moment of solitude watching a good movie laying in bed. But now its become torture because we want so much more.
Excessive want is a form of desperation. It’s like our conscious state has been reduced to this toxic blend of hope and uncertainty.
![ZPMXORF7YZCTTGN2JVPJATYOSU[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5222a44813620001d89582/fc814dfb-1b96-48cb-a88b-11e0cfc7cbb3/ZPMXORF7YZCTTGN2JVPJATYOSU%5B1%5D.jpg)
How Popeye’s Obsession With Spinach Was Created From Glaring Misprint
Mistake from scientist led to signature feature of iconic cartoon
Popeye reaches for a can of spinach in a still from an unidenitified Popeye film, c. 1945. (Image by Paramount Pictures/Courtesy of Getty Images) (Paramount Pictures, Getty Images)
One of the most iconic cartoons of all time is “Popeye the Sailor,” and believe it or not, there is a day that has been created to honor the fictional character.
That day is today, but before any fans of the cartoon delve into celebrating Popeye The Sailor Man Day, they might not know how spinach consumption became the source of Popeye’s strength and a signature staple of the cartoon.
POPEYE® THE SAILOR MAN DAY | January 17
POPEYE® THE SAILOR MAN DAY
January 17 marks the 95th Birthday of the world’s most famous spinach loving, nautical hero — it's Popeye the Sailor Man! Today, we are taking epic strides to honor this legendary sailor who is tough and fit with tons of grit, as one of America’s most renown, pop-culture icons. After all, he yam what he yam!
#PopeyeTheSailorManDay
Popeye is the seeming underdog with bulging forearms, a mean uppercut, and a love of canned spinach. He is a defender of the weak and protector of those he loves. As the embodiment of strength and fitness, Popeye inspires us all to work hard, care for others, be persistent, and stay strong to the finish. Of course, all with the help of a hefty amount of spinach. In 2024, we are celebrating 95 years of this iconic figure, and the timeless inspiration Popeye has brought to billions of people.
Popeye was created by Elzie Crisler (E.C) Segar and made his first appearance in the comic strip "Thimble Theatre" on January 17, 1929. Originally created as a minor character, Popeye quickly became a super star. By 1938, the comic changed its name to “Popeye,” creating one of the most iconic cultural comic strips of all time.
.TNT:
Mot: THE LITTLE WHITE ENVELOPE:
"It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years.
It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it – overspending and the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma – the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.
Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.
![nutcracker-2[1].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d5222a44813620001d89582/1608922081926-CUVLU4VHII7C44Z2S8L0/nutcracker-2%5B1%5D.jpg)
A Brief History of How Nutcracker Dolls Became A Christmas Symbol for the Ages
Around the start of December, it’s not unusual to see decorative nutcrackers on store shelves, arranged on mantelpieces, hanging from Christmas trees, and even decorating holiday sweaters. For some, their colorful outfits, hand-painted faces, and tufts of white hair are the very definition of Christmas cheer. But have you ever wondered how these nutcrackers got to be so popular, and why people usually only bring them out at Christmastime? The answer involves German literature, a Russian ballet, and lots of generous American G.I.s.
From Basic to Beautiful
Humans have been using tools to crack nuts for thousands of years. The earliest designs were merely two pieces of wood joined by leather or a metal hinge, but as the centuries progressed, artisans started to create figurative designs for nutcrackers, such as brass crocodiles in India and cast-iron squirrels in England.
Santa Claus Images History
Lorraine Boissoneault December 19, 2018
A Civil War Cartoonist Created the Modern Image of Santa Claus as Union Propaganda
Thomas Nast is legendary for his political cartoons, but he’s also responsible for the jolly St. Nick we know today
You could call it the face that launched a thousand Christmas letters. Appearing on January 3, 1863, in the illustrated magazine Harper’s Weekly, two images cemented the nation’s obsession with a jolly old elf. The first drawing shows Santa distributing presents in a Union Army camp.
A NEW CHRISTMAS STORY . . .This story is better than any greeting card.
The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been
anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to
him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate.
He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last
hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless
man stepped through.
Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his
customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank
you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy,
I'll just go."
"Not without something hot in your belly." George said.
America's Story Told by 1,500 Drones 🇺🇸 | America 250 Drone Show
Open Sky drone Light Shows: 7-4-2026
To celebrate America's 250th Anniversary, Open Sky Productions created a breathtaking drone light show that transforms the night sky into a living story of our nation's history, values, and spirit.
Using 1,500 synchronized drones, this one-of-a-kind production brings iconic American imagery to life, from the American Flag and Founding Fathers to the Statue of Liberty, the bald eagle, and other powerful symbols that have shaped our country for 250 years.