15 Ridiculous Gambles That Actually Paid Off

Vegas clearly has some pretty outrageous gambling stories, and the history books have shown us some pretty risky battles that helped shape the modern world, but we had absolutely no idea that scientists were such compulsive gamblers. Gotta keep things interesting somehow, eh fellas? It makes sense though. Whether people are competing in sports, business, or nanotechnology, those big ol’ egos are alive and well. Heck, at any old college party, you’ll hear “Betcha I can get that girl’s number,” or, “Betcha I can get this ping pong ball in that red cup!” Wherever there’s the slightest notion of competition, a wager is sure to be waged. 

The age-old term “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” feels like peer pressure from life itself. Just hearing it makes us question what we’re even doing with our sheltered little lives. Some people not only heed that call, they raise the stakes to life-altering, sometimes Earth-altering, new heights. Luckily for them (and us), these 15 ridiculous gambles actually paid off.