What's the Most Slot Machine Money Ever Won in the History of Las Vegas?

Las Vegas has produced plenty of big win stories, but what’s the most money ever won there on a slot machine? That honor belongs to a 25-year-old software engineer from Los Angeles who spent about $100 before the Megabucks machine delivered $39,713,982.25. That $39.7 million Excalibur payout remains the largest slot machine payout ever, verified by Guinness World Records. The young man, whose name is being withheld for obvious reasons, was in Las Vegas on March 21, 2003 visiting family and to watch college basketball’s March Madness tournament. Megabucks machines require a maximum qualifying wager to chase the top progressive prize. When three Megabucks symbols landed, the Excalibur hotel became the site of the largest slot machine payout in history.

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Florida Man Spends Days Searching for Owner of Lost $30,000 He Found

Just when you think there’s nothing good about humanity, a story hits the news that proves you wrong. Take, for example, the story of Luis Salazar (pictured above) from Riviera Beach, Fla. Walking into the restroom of a Wawa convenience store, Salazar spotted a fanny pack hanging on the handrail inside a stall. He promptly went out into the store, asking if anyone had forgotten the fanny pack. His next thought was to open it and look for an ID. Instead, he was shocked to find that it was packed full of cash — $30,000 to be exact. He spent the next several days trying to locate the person who owned it. Eventually, the fanny pack’s owner contacted the Riviera Beach Police Department to report it missing. They used Wawa security camera footage to identify Salazar. They told him the owner was waiting at the police station, and Salazar went river over. When he handed the owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, the fanny pack, he cried and hugged Salazar. When Salazar was asked why he returned the money instead of keeping it, his response was, “It’s not my money to take. I wasn’t raised that way.” It turns out that there really are people with honesty and integrity in this world.

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Eric Clapton: The Greatest Celebrity Watch Collector of All Time

You've probably noticed a significant uptick in media reporting in recent times about who's wearing what watch, but it's not a new trend. British singer/songwriter Eric Clapton began accumulating rare Rolexes and vintage Patek Philippes well before it was fashionable to do so, demonstrating both impeccable taste and impressive foresight. He has acted as a serious connoisseur rather than just a celebrity enthusiast, often acquiring and later selling highly coveted timepieces, including prototypes and rare custom models. He slowly began liquidating his collection in the early 2000s, selling off timepieces privately and at auction. A Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 Platinum is widely considered to have been the holy grail of his collection. It's one of only two platinum examples of this reference ever made, with the other remaining in the Patek Philippe Museum. He sold this watch for approximately $3.5 million in 2012. Two more will go under the gavel at Phillips New York this summer. The first is a neo-vintage Patek Philippe, which is expected to fetch $1.4 million at the upcoming auction. The sale also includes a Patek Philippe Nautilus “Jumbo” that was sold to Clapton in 2018. It was discontinued in 2021, making it especially coveted among collectors. As such, it’s expected to sell for around $140,000.

 

Neo-vintage Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe Nautilus “Jumbo”

 

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Young People Want Their News to be More Fun

In the news industry, there’s no shortage of data that says the same thing: young adults and older adults get their news in different ways. While older adults — age 55 and up — are mostly locked in on traditional news sources, young people increasingly turn to influencers and artificial intelligence. As newsrooms grapple with how to lure younger audiences to their platforms, a new report says young people want their news to be more entertaining. While younger news consumers generally think the media does a good job of keeping them informed, it’s less successful at making them feel better about the world. Besides social media, young people are also more likely to turn to search engines and chatbots as they hunt for news. Not surprisingly, the survey also found that they're more interested in news about celebrities, music, movies, sports and other entertainment, while those 55 and older have more interest in political news, business issues or the economy. The study revealed that the most important journalism for some people is what helps them live their lives, even if it falls outside conventional news sources.

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