Buzz
Pull out a receipt from your wallet or purse and think about the story behind it. Every bill, fine, or charge often has a tale attached to it, since parting with money isn’t something people do lightly. With that in mind, we’ve dug up some of the most fascinating stories behind the largest bills, penalties, and fines ever charged.
10. A Phone Bill Larger Than the Entire GDP of France
Prepare to be shocked: A French company was so negligent and careless that they issued a bill in the trillions without realizing it was a monumental error.
After recently leaving her job, Solenne San Jose decided to make some cutbacks—one of which was limiting her ability to contact others. So, when she called her phone provider to cancel her contract, she braced herself for the worst. What she didn’t expect was a bill for €11,721,000,000,000,000, which nearly gave her a heart attack. Thankfully, she didn’t suffer one, because if she had, she wouldn’t have been able to call an ambulance.
Despite the obviously absurd mistake, the company remained adamant about charging Solenne the mind-boggling amount. When she explained that the entire country of France couldn’t even afford the sum, the phone representative nonchalantly suggested she could ‘pay in installments.’ After a frustrating (and likely expletive-filled) 40-minute conversation, the company finally decided to cancel the bill.
9. The Largest Corporate Fine Ever Imposed
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill was a calamity of unimaginable scale—its devastating environmental and human toll is almost beyond comprehension. As a result, the company responsible faced the largest fine ever levied against a corporation.
Here’s the kicker: BP, the company responsible for the disaster, set aside a whole lot more money in anticipation of the lawsuits that were sure to come. The $4.5 billion fine they received is nothing compared to the $38.1 billion they’ve prepared for legal payouts.
Now, let that sink in. The largest penalty ever imposed on a corporation barely scratches the surface of what BP is prepared to spend. When you can hold back $40 billion to cover the costs of 'accidentally wrecking the planet' and still make a profit, you might as well hire Skeletor to manage your finances.
8. George Washington’s Library Fine Couldn’t Be Bigger
Washington clearly didn’t think returning books was as important as crossing the Delaware. Imagine the overdue fines by now!
Interestingly, the records from back then simply list Washington as ‘president,’ and apparently, due to his legendary status, no return date was ever marked. But let’s be real—library books don’t work that way. Even if you’re the goddamn president, you should probably return them.
Given that Washington borrowed the books centuries ago, his fine has now soared to $300,000. And let’s be honest, it's only going to keep climbing since, well, he’s a bit tied up these days.
7. The Most Expensive Drinks Bill Ever Led To A Serious Talk With Mum
We all know drinks in clubs are pricey, but Alex Hope took it to the extreme when he spent £125,000 ($200,000) on just one drink. Granted, it was a 30-liter bottle of champagne—but still, that’s a bit much.
In addition to his extravagant champagne purchase, Hope also splurged on £80,000 ($127,000) worth of various spirits and cocktails, seemingly trying to party so hard that James Brown would rise from the dead. His actions caught the attention of several media outlets, many of whom criticized him for looking like an idiot by spending such an obscene amount of money during a recession.
Out of all the people Alex likely irritated, it was probably his mother’s scolding that stung the most. Yep, Alex’s own mum laid into him for his reckless spending. Imagine that for a reprimand. Oh, and by the way, Alex’s bill included an $18,000 service charge, meaning he tipped more than what many people earn in a year. It’s no surprise his mum wasn’t thrilled.
6. The Speeder Who Outran the Cameras
Speeding tickets aren’t something to joke about. Just a slight increase in speed can be the difference between a fatal accident and a serious injury. Strangely enough, it’s the Swiss who have devised a system that truly makes speeders regret their actions.
In Switzerland, speeding fines are determined by both your annual income and how fast you were going, ensuring that speeders feel the full weight of their crime. For example, a man a few years ago was hit with a £650,000 ($1 million) fine, calculated based on an estimated speed of 300 kph (190 mph). The ‘estimated’ part came because he zoomed past the cameras so quickly they couldn’t even measure his speed. In fact, he nearly escaped without getting caught because of how fast he was driving.
5. The Most Devastating Hospital Bill Ever
Healthcare costs in the U.S. are incredibly steep. On one hand, it drives people into financial ruin. On the other, it gave us *Breaking Bad*. So after hearing all the horror stories, how much do you think the largest hospital bill ever came to? One million? Two million? Try $9 million.
The case of Tameka Campbell is nothing short of tragic. After five years of palliative care, Tameka passed away in the hospital. But two years later, her estate received a $9 million bill from the hospital. They failed to send an itemized breakdown, however, which led to a bitter legal dispute. Tameka’s mother refused to pay, adamant that the hospital was responsible for the astronomical costs.
Holly Bennett, Tameka’s mother, later argued that the $9 million bill was simply a scare tactic, aimed at preventing her from suing the hospital. This situation seems to either be about a hospital trying to intimidate a grieving mother to avoid paying for their mistake, or a mother being pushed to the brink of bankruptcy. Either way, at least she made it onto Mytour!
4. One Of The Most Expensive Shopping Bills Was Victoria Beckham’s Impulsive Purchase
Victoria Beckham is likely one of the wealthiest women alive, not just due to her money, but also because she’s married to one of the world’s nicest men. Having more wealth than most of us could ever dream of has led Beckham to develop an unconventional view of money. While the rest of us might consider spending $100 on a new outfit or a few Pogs a bit much, Beckham casually drops a million like it’s nothing.
On one of her infamous shopping sprees, which was apparently spontaneous and utterly bonkers, Beckham splurged on 12 pairs of sunglasses and five sofas. Five sofas—who needs five sofas?
But that wasn’t all. Beckham also splurged on two suits, several dresses, and a $400,000 wristwatch for her husband. When asked about her shopping spree, she simply said, “It’s as if all those wonderful stores are calling to me, saying, ‘Come buy me! Come buy me!’” That’s the luxury of being super-rich, it seems: You can indulge your fantasies—and your wallet—without a second thought.
3. The Incredible Story Behind The Longest Receipt Ever
When compared to other bills on this list, a $18,871.93 receipt doesn’t seem that impressive. But the story behind it is nothing short of amazing.
When the wonderfully named Hercules, the owner of the equally awesome “Hercules Fancy Grocery,” learned he was about to lose his lease and his business, some generous people decided to step in and help. Their method of assistance? They went into his store and bought absolutely everything he had—every single item.
It took Hercules a solid six hours to manually ring up each item, and the result was a receipt that stretched an astonishing 17 meters (57 feet). The group that bought everything cleverly placed the record-breaking receipt in a glass box and put it on sale for a hefty $18,871.93.
We know some of the things on this list are pretty tough to digest, so let’s leave you with this heartwarming video of an elderly man realizing his business has just been saved.
2. One Of The Biggest Tips Ever Was 30% Of The Total Bill
Tipping is one of the most divisive topics on the internet—seriously, don’t bring it up. Trust us. But that being said, we think it’s safe to say that a 30% tip is undeniably generous.
So imagine the shock of a waiter at the upscale Marcel’s restaurant when he cleared up after serving a group of high rollers and found a $10,000 tip left on the table from their extravagant $32,000 meal. We’ve all heard stories about the rich stiffing hardworking waiters or leaving a pittance on a sky-high bill. So we figured we’d highlight that not all wealthy individuals forget the little guy—though, let’s be real, most of them do.
1. A Record-Breaking NFL Fine Was The Sixth Time This Guy Almost Killed Someone
This year, NFL player Ndamukong Suh landed a jaw-dropping $100,000 fine for delivering an illegal low block on an opposing player. (We’re not experts in ‘football speak,’ but we’re guessing that’s a pretty big no-no.)
The football world was left in shock when the news broke, stunned by the size of Suh’s fine—until they remembered that the fine probably had more to do with Suh’s long track record of nearly snapping players in half on the field.
Suh’s fines have come from slamming players to the turf by their face masks, stomping on their arms, and even delivering a cleat to the groin of another player. At this point, it seems like these fines aren’t so much punishment as they are a bribe to get Suh to stop attempting to murder his opponents.
