10 Highly Profitable Concepts Sold For Next to Nothing

Regret is a universal emotion, though its impact varies. Picture inventing something you consider ordinary, selling it for a small sum, only to watch it transform into a groundbreaking success, earning millions for the buyer. Such individuals likely carry more remorse than most of us can imagine.

10. The Raven

Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' narrates the tale of a man visited by a mysterious bird, symbolizing his sorrow over a lost love. Initially turned down by a friend's publication, Poe eventually sold the poem to The American Review, where it appeared in their February 1845 edition. He was paid a mere $9 for this timeless work.

The poem quickly gained widespread recognition and fame. It was republished in numerous periodicals nationwide, catapulting Poe to celebrity status. Today, The Raven is celebrated as one of the most iconic poems ever written. Despite generating immense revenue through reprints, books, and film adaptations, Poe lived in poverty and passed away with little to his name. His total earnings from writing amounted to just $6,200, while a single copy of his first poetry collection fetched $662,500 in 2009.

9. Safety Pins

Walter Hunt, a New York City mechanic, was a prolific inventor with patents for a fountain pen, knife sharpener, rifle, streetcar bell, stove, ice plow, sewing machine, street-sweeping machine, and nail-making machine, among many others.

To settle a $15 debt owed to a friend, Hunt aimed to create something practical that could generate quick profits. While experimenting with a 20-centimeter (8 in) brass wire, inspiration struck. He conceived the safety pin—the first of its kind to feature spring action and a protective clasp to shield users' fingers.

Hunt submitted the patent on April 10, 1849, eventually selling it to W.R. Grace and Company for $400. He used the money to repay his friend and kept the remaining $385. W.R. Grace and Company earned millions from the safety pin, a fortune Hunt could have shared had he retained partial rights.

8. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Cover Art

The cover of The Beatles' eighth studio album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, was designed by renowned British pop artists Peter Blake and his wife Jann Haworth. The artwork is a collage featuring The Beatles alongside iconic historical figures in a staged band photo. Among the figures are Marilyn Monroe, Bob Dylan, Lenny Bruce, Albert Einstein, Marlon Brando, H.G. Wells, and, coincidentally, Edgar Allan Poe. Blake and Haworth each received £100 (around $280 USD) for their work but no ongoing royalties.

The album achieved legendary status, as did its cover. With approximately 32 million copies sold globally, it ranks among the best-selling albums ever. It secured Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Album Cover, and both the album and its artwork topped Rolling Stone’s “greatest” lists in their respective categories.

7. Jell-O

In 1895, Pearl and May Wait, struggling cough syrup makers from Leroy, New York, developed a formula to transform powdered gelatin into a delicious, marketable product by blending it with fruit syrups. The result, Jell-O, was 88 percent sugar and named by combining “jelly” with the popular “-O” suffix of the time. They acquired the long-dormant patent for powdered gelatin from Peter Cooper, inventor of America’s first steam locomotive, and launched their business.

While the Waits excelled in syrup production, they lacked marketing skills. After years of struggling to promote Jell-O, they sold the rights to their neighbor Frank Woodward for $450 in 1899. With Woodward’s business acumen and a brilliant advertising strategy, Jell-O’s annual sales soared to $250,000, hitting $1 million by 1906. By 2013, Jell-O sales had reached nearly $500 million.

6. The James Bond Theme Song

The iconic James Bond theme was initially composed by Monty Norman for the 1962 film Dr. No. Dissatisfied with the initial version, the producers brought in composer John Barry to revamp the track. Barry, a renowned recording artist with a distinctive instrumental style, infused the song with rock and jazz influences, giving it a faster, more dynamic rhythm. The result was a sharper, more memorable tune that has since become synonymous with the Bond franchise.

Barry received a one-time payment of £250 (around $700 USD) for his contribution, while Monty Norman, credited as the songwriter, has earned over $1 million in royalties. Numerous legal disputes have arisen over the song’s authorship, with Norman consistently prevailing. Despite Barry’s version being far more recognizable, he has not received any additional compensation since his modest payment 42 years ago.

5. Coca-Cola

In 1886, pharmacist John Pemberton developed the original formula for Coca-Cola. Initially marketed as a tonic for the brain and nerves, the beverage debuted at an Atlanta pharmacy’s soda fountain that May. Priced at $0.05 per glass, it generated only $50 in sales during its first year.

Facing financial hardship due to illness and a morphine addiction, Pemberton sold his stake in the drink to investors for $1,484, largely as an interest-free loan to be repaid from future earnings. These investors later transferred their shares to Asa Candler, a savvy businessman.

Candler acquired full ownership of Coca-Cola and the newly established company for $2,300. Pemberton passed away from stomach cancer just months after selling his shares in 1888. Candler eventually sold his shares in 1919 for $25 million, equivalent to $341 million today.

4. The Red Vineyard

Vincent van Gogh painted The Red Vineyard in November 1888, depicting harvesters laboring under the radiant glow of the sun. This artwork holds the unique distinction of being the only piece Van Gogh sold during his lifetime. Fellow artist Anna Boch purchased it for 400 francs (around $1600 USD today) at a Belgian art exhibition in 1890.

Like Poe, Van Gogh’s life was marked by tragedy, and his genius was only recognized posthumously. His paintings, now among the most prized in art history, often fetch over $50 million. His most expensive work, Portrait of Dr. Gachet, set a record-breaking $82.5 million in 1990 ($150 million today).

Boch sold The Red Vineyard for 10,000 francs in 1906—25 times her original purchase price. The painting now resides in Moscow’s Pushkin Museum. If it were ever auctioned, it could potentially surpass Van Gogh’s previous price records.

3. The Call Of The Wild

Drawing from his experiences as a Klondike prospector, Jack London wrote The Call of the Wild, a tale of a dog stolen from his California home and forced to pull sleds in the Yukon during the gold rush. First serialized in four issues of The Saturday Evening Post in January 1903, London earned $750 for non-exclusive rights. Later that year, he sold full rights to Macmillan Publishers for $2,000 to publish it as a book. Released on July 1, 1903, priced at $1.50, it sold 10,000 copies on its debut day.

The novel swiftly became a classic, cementing its place in American culture and establishing London as a literary icon. By 1914, 500,000 copies had been sold in the US, reaching six million by 1964. It also sold millions internationally and was translated into 48 languages. The book has never gone out of print. However, having sold his royalty rights, London and his descendants never received additional earnings. Despite this, he harbored no regrets, as Macmillan’s promotional efforts were crucial to his success.

2. Venom (Spider-Man)

In 1982, Randy Schueller, a Spider-Man fan from Illinois, created a story arc for a Marvel Comics contest. As part of his submission, he designed a new, all-black costume for Spider-Man, featuring a distinctive chest emblem—a bold departure from the classic red-and-blue suit used for two decades. Schueller submitted his idea and eagerly awaited a response.

Months later, Schueller received a letter from Marvel’s editor-in-chief Jim Shooter, who admired the concept and offered to purchase it for $220. Schueller accepted the deal. While his story was never published, the costume design was used. It debuted in a May 1984 issue as an alien symbiote that bonded with its host, forming the black suit. The design became an instant fan favorite, leading to Spider-Man wearing the alien costume for four years. Eventually, the symbiote found a new host in journalist Eddie Brock, transforming him into the infamous villain Venom.

Venom, a terrifying and iconic character, is arguably the most renowned comic book antagonist created in the last 35 years. He has headlined his own comic series, appeared on countless merchandise, and been featured in video games, TV shows, and films, including the 2007 hit Spider-Man 3, which earned nearly $900 million globally.

1. The Terminator

In the early 1980s, James Cameron was a struggling filmmaker, penniless and homeless, often sleeping in his car or on friends’ couches. His only film credit was the low-budget horror flop Piranha II: The Spawning, which brought him neither financial success nor industry recognition. During this period, he wrote a promising screenplay titled The Terminator, which he pitched to various Hollywood studios.

While producers were interested in buying the script, none would let the untested Cameron direct it—except Gale Anne Hurd at New World Pictures. She agreed to let him direct on the condition that he sell her the full rights for just $1. Reluctantly, Cameron accepted. Though he lost ownership of The Terminator, the film’s success established his credibility, paving the way for him to direct blockbusters like Aliens, Terminator 2, Titanic, and Avatar, ultimately making him the highest-grossing director in history.