It’s incredible how many creative, clever, and innovative inventions have become indispensable parts of our lives over the last half-century. It’s hard to imagine a day without our smart devices, advanced medical equipment, and 3-D printers.
But this isn’t about those game-changing inventions. This is about the seemingly zany, silly, and even dumb ideas that turned out to be incredibly lucrative, making their inventors millionaires!
Many of the products we’ll explore are still popular today or have at least reached pop culture icon status during their million-dollar journey. You might even have a few of these tucked away in your home. Let’s dive into the top ten dumb inventions that made a lot of money!
10. Pet Rock
When you think of dumb ideas that struck gold, the Pet Rock often comes to mind. In 1975, advertising executive Gary Dahl had a quirky, yet brilliant idea.
The Pet Rock has become almost synonymous with “dumb” inventions that made it big. Dahl marketed these pets like any traditional pet, complete with cardboard boxes, straw bedding, and even breathing holes to ensure the Pet Rock’s comfort. Each Pet Rock came with a manual filled with jokes and puns, teaching owners how to easily train their rock to “sit” or “stay.”
At $3.95 each, the Pet Rock sold nearly five million units in its first year alone! This is a classic example of a seemingly silly invention that made its creator a millionaire.
9. The Million Dollar Homepage
Here’s a modern tech example. Alex Tew, a 21-year-old student, created the Million Dollar Homepage in 2005 with a truly original concept.
Tew wanted to create a webpage consisting of one million pixels, where each pixel could be linked to another website. Businesses could advertise by paying Tew $1 per pixel. Though many links are no longer active, the website still exists today.
This idea might have seemed a bit out-there, but it made student Alex Tew a very happy millionaire.
8. Billy Bob Teeth
Billy Bob Teeth were invented in 1993 by Jonah White and Rich Bailey. According to their website, Billybobproducts.com, this gag gift has generated about $40 million in sales.
Billy Bob Teeth are false teeth with exaggerated discoloration, missing teeth, holes, and other features designed to mimic the appearance of someone from the backwoods.
These teeth, priced at around ten dollars each, are still sold today. They might make the wearer look a little silly, but Jonah White and Rich Bailey are laughing all the way to the bank. These classic gag gifts have made two millionaires.
7. Big Mouth Billy Bass
Another “Billy” on our list is equally amusing, albeit louder. Joe Pellettieri invented the Big Mouth Billy Bass in the early 1990s, and it hit the market in 1999. This singing fish became extremely popular in the early 2000s.
The Big Mouth Billy Bass features a plastic bass mounted on a frame. When someone passes by (or when it senses motion), the fish sings and dances. It has performed many songs, including “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” and “Take Me to the River.”
While undoubtedly a novelty item, the silliness, familiar songs, and motion-sensing technology appealed to both young and old. Big Mouth Billy Bass became a cultural icon.
The Big Mouth Billy Bass product made over $100 million in a single year. These products were a staple in many homes throughout the 2000s and remain well-known today. It’s another example of a “dumb” idea that created a millionaire.
6. Antenna Balls
You’ve probably seen cars sporting adornments on their antennas—smiley faces, sports logos, baseballs, and more. Maybe you even had one yourself! It wasn’t always this way. In the 1960s, Union Gas started it all by placing an orange ball with the “76” logo on their antennas.
The idea grew from there, and major corporations like Disney, Jack in the Box, and Walmart jumped on the bandwagon. Antenna balls have since become a substantial industry, with countless varieties available. What began as a seemingly “dumb” idea has made many companies and individuals a lot of money!
5. Silly Bandz
If you’ve been near an elementary school in the last decade or so, you’re likely familiar with Silly Bandz. These small rubber bands come in different shapes, originally simple animals, but now in many forms.
Like Beanie Babies, Pokemon cards, and fidget spinners, Silly Bandz became a massive hit with children, which dramatically boosted sales. Robert Croak invented Silly Bandz in 2006 with his company, Brainchild Products. They took off quickly and continue to sell today.
Silly Bandz are affordable and fun for kids, who collect, share, and wear them as bracelets. It may have seemed like a silly idea at the time, but Robert Croak became a millionaire from this “dumb” invention.
4. Plastic Wishbones
This one’s for the vegetarians! This product allows vegetarians to participate in the Thanksgiving wishbone tradition.
Plastic Wishbones are exactly what they sound like—plastic imitations of turkey wishbones. Ken Ahroni invented this to allow more people to experience this fun tradition. Ahroni came up with the idea in 1999 and launched it with his company, LuckyBreak, in 2004.
Selling for $3.99 each, Plastic Wishbones have earned Ahroni millions. His company reports more than $2 million in annual sales. It seems Ahroni really caught a lucky break.
3. Doggles
Many inventions solve real-world problems. This invention doesn’t quite fit that mold. Does a dog need goggles? Maybe not, but they sure look cute in them!
People are always willing to spend money on their pets. Roni Di Lullo noticed her dog squinting in the sunlight and created Doggles to fit a dog’s head. Developed in 1997, this idea has earned Di Lullo millions.
This product isn’t necessary, but it certainly has sold far and wide. Available in various sizes and styles, Doggles are still selling on their website (Doggles.com). This is another example of a silly, unorthodox, and maybe “dumb” idea that made its inventor a millionaire.
2. Wacky Wall Walker
This invention isn’t so much dumb as it is…wacky! In 1983, inventor Ken Hakuta (nicknamed “Dr. Fad”) created this toy. Hakuta used a squishy elastic material to form a shape resembling an octopus. When thrown against a wall, the Wacky Wall Walker appears to “walk” down it.
Initially, sales were slow, but a short article in The Washington Post drew attention to the toy, and Wacky Wall Walkers “walked” off the shelves! Still on sale for about $6 (on Amazon and other retailers), this toy made Hakuta upward of $80 million. Turns out, this invention wasn’t so dumb!
1. Snuggie
You’ve likely heard of the Snuggie. This product went viral, becoming a must-have item both online and in stores. If you haven’t, picture a blanket with sleeves. That’s a Snuggie.
Gary Clegg created a similar product called the Slanket in 1997, but it had limited success. Allstar Marketing Group then brought the Snuggie to market as a competitor.
The Snuggie has generated more than $500 million for Allstar Marketing Group and its founder, Scott Boilen, including over $40 million in the first three months alone! This may have seemed like a simple idea, but it sold millions, making it a massive success.
Which of these inventions surprised you the most? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
