David Phillips
publication date: Friday, January 20, 2017 (part of Winter 2017)
category: Controversy
clue: 12,150 cups of pudding can make you famous around the world, and you can go anywhere to find out.
explanation: In 1999, Healthy Choice ran a promotion in which the proof-of-purchase of their products could be redeemed for frequent flier miles. Phillips calculated that the return was greater than the investment, and bought 12 thousand cups of pudding to receive 1.25 million miles, making news and getting his story turned into an Adam Sandler movie. more…
intended difficulty: medium
solved by: Russ Wilhelm, Steve West, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Justin Woods, Matthew Preston, and Jesse King
Similar Goos

Charles Delavan
Another Clinton email scandal: One typo by this IT staffer may have changed the course of world affairs. Go »
Abraham Zapruder
When this Dallas businessman brought his camera to watch a presidential motorcade, he unintentionally filmed one of the most important 26 seconds of footage in American history. Go »
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan didn't get to be President by hating Albanians... Wait, yes he did. Go »
Elián González
He literally became the poster boy for Cuban political refugees. Go »
Lee Harvey Oswald
It's too bad this sharpshooter with three first names didn't live to hear the Dead Kennedys. Go »