Finance might seem like a serious topic, but it’s full of bizarre, funny, and downright strange facts that will make you see money matters in a whole new light. From weird taxes to eccentric billionaires, here are 20 finance facts that will leave you both amused and amazed!
1. The U.S. Once Issued $100,000 Bills
While you might think a $100 bill is a lot, the U.S. Treasury once printed a $100,000 bill featuring President Woodrow Wilson. It was never meant for public use but was used for transactions between Federal Reserve Banks.
2. The Word “Salary” Comes from Salt
The word “salary” originates from the Latin word “salarium,” which refers to the payments made to Roman soldiers for purchasing salt. Salt was so valuable in ancient times that it was sometimes used as currency!
3. There’s a Law Against Carrying Too Many Pennies
In Canada, businesses can legally refuse excessive amounts of pennies as payment. The Currency Act states that you can’t use more than 25 pennies for a single transaction.
4. Monopoly Money Is More Common Than Real Cash
Hasbro prints more Monopoly money every year than the U.S. Federal Reserve prints real money! In fact, over $30 billion worth of Monopoly money is printed annually.
5. Warren Buffett Still Lives in the Same House He Bought in 1958
Despite being one of the richest people in the world, Warren Buffett still lives in the modest home he purchased in Omaha, Nebraska, for $31,500. Talk about financial discipline!
6. The Stock Market Used to Be Traded by Pigeons
In the 19th century, European traders used homing pigeons to carry stock market updates between cities, making them the original high-speed trading technology!
7. A Man Once Traded a Paperclip for a House
In 2005, Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald started with a red paperclip and traded his way up to a house in just 14 trades. His story became a viral sensation and even inspired a book.
8. The U.S. Debt Is So High It’s Astronomical
If you stacked $1 trillion in one-dollar bills, it would reach nearly 68,000 miles high—more than a quarter of the way to the Moon! The U.S. national debt currently sits in the tens of trillions.
9. Sweden May Become the First Cashless Society
Sweden is on track to becoming the world’s first cashless society. Many businesses in Sweden already refuse cash payments, preferring digital transactions.
10. A Billion Dollars in $100 Bills Weighs Over 22,000 Pounds
Ever wondered how heavy a billion dollars is? If it’s all in $100 bills, it would weigh around 22,046 pounds (about 10,000 kg) or roughly the weight of an adult African elephant.
11. The First Credit Card Was Invented After a Man Forgot His Wallet
In 1949, businessman Frank McNamara forgot his wallet while dining out, leading to the creation of the Diners Club card—the first credit card ever!
12. The Queen Owns All the Swans in the UK
This may not seem like a finance fact, but since all unmarked swans in open waters belong to the British Crown, their “value” technically belongs to the Queen (now the King).
13. Zimbabwe Had a $100 Trillion Bill
Due to hyperinflation in 2008, Zimbabwe printed a $100 trillion bill, which became nearly worthless almost immediately. It’s now a collector’s item.
14. There’s More Monopoly Money in Circulation Than Real Currency
At any given time, there is more Monopoly money floating around than real U.S. currency!
15. The World’s Most Expensive Coffee Is Made from Poop
Kopi Luwak, a luxury coffee, is made from beans that have been eaten and excreted by civet cats. It can cost up to $600 per pound.
16. The FBI Has an Entire Division for Counterfeit Money
Fake money is such a big issue that the FBI has an entire department dedicated to catching counterfeiters. In fact, the U.S. Secret Service was originally created to combat counterfeiting, not protect the president.
17. A $1 Coin Costs More to Make Than a $1 Bill
It costs about 2 cents to make a $1 bill but over 30 cents to make a $1 coin. Despite this, coins last much longer than paper money.
18. The IRS Once Taxed a Thief on Stolen Money
In 1960, a man who stole money and then reported it as income to avoid suspicion was still charged with tax evasion. The IRS doesn’t care how you get your money—they just want their cut!
19. Coins Used to Be Cut Into Pieces for Change
Before standardized currency, people would cut coins into halves or quarters to make change—hence the term “pieces of eight” for Spanish dollars.
20. The Largest Legal Tender Banknote Ever Printed Was 100,000 Pesos
The Philippines once issued a 100,000-peso banknote for a special occasion. It was about the size of a standard sheet of paper and is now a rare collector’s item.
Finally I have to say, finance doesn’t have to be all serious and boring. These weird and funny facts prove that money has a fascinating history and some truly strange quirks. Whether it's trading paperclips for houses or owning a trillion-dollar bill, the world of finance is full of surprises!
Do you have a weird finance fact to share? Let us know in the comments below!
0 Comments