A Lifetime of Surprises: 13 Unusual Things People Scored Big On
Everyone can agree that getting a lifetime supply of anything is fantastic. In a recent online discussion, contest winners worldwide converged to reveal their winnings. From oil changes to cold, hard cash — and everything in between — you'll be shocked at what people have won over the years.
1. Donuts
The promise of free donuts speaks to the inner Homer Simpson in all of us.
“I won a ‘lifetime' supply of donuts (up to a dozen per day) at a local bakery, and it lasted two years until the original owner died and his jerk son took over the business and ended it for me,” says one person who misses his freshly baked treats.
2. Gasoline
With prices at the pump still sitting at elevated levels across the United States, I'm wholly envious of the man who reveals he is the beneficiary of a lifetime supply of gasoline from his local gas station. I would do terrible things to get my hands on unlimited gas.
3. Oil Changes
Speaking of car-related rewards, one man remembers winning lifetime oil changes through a local Toyota dealer. But, unfortunately, his good luck came to a halt just three years later when the dealer was sold to an owner who wouldn't honor the terms of the contest. Life's not fair, people.
4. Metal Lubricant
Although being gifted a lifetime supply of metal lubricant isn't the sexiest brag, it's something to be proud of. “My stepdad won a lifetime supply of WD-40 in the 1990s,” one son remembers. “They sent him four 16-ounce cans. Unfortunately, he died in 2019, and my mom still has two cans.” So I'll say what everyone thinks: Wow, that's a lot of WD-40.
5. Coffee
For caffeine addicts everywhere, the allure of free coffee for life sounds too good to be true. Nevertheless, multiple people have confessed to winning “coffee for life” contests in their hometowns, and most are still enjoying unlimited coffee today!
6. Cold, Hard Cash
Ah, to be a lottery winner! “I won the lottery about ten years ago,” confesses an anonymous woman. “Every year I send them proof I'm still alive, and they send me a check for $52,000 in the mail.” Suddenly, a lifetime supply of donuts doesn't seem as good.
7. Gym Membership
Going to the gym for free is a dream for countless people, especially with how expensive monthly memberships are. One person remembers winning a lifetime membership to their local gym. However, the lifetime membership didn't last, like a few entries on the list. When the gym switched owners, the free membership stopped immediately.
8. Toiletries
Are prison-grade freebies worth your time? I'll leave that to you to decide. “My parents won a lifetime supply of toiletries,” one woman says. “Soap, toilet tissue, and some other stuff. Once per quarter, you mail in a coupon, and they send you another pallet of the items. It's all institutional grade. Like what you'd expect prisoners to use.” This doesn't sound too enticing!
9. Concert Tickets
One music fan reveals they won a fundraising raffle from a local music venue during the pandemic, where they won free admission for life. This woman has seen countless live shows and says it's made her appreciate all different genres of music in the process.
10. Cat Food
What happens when you can't put your winnings to good use? “My dad won a lifetime supply of cat food, but they delivered it all at once, and our cats didn't like that flavor,” says one pet owner who seems very in tune with their cats' taste preferences. “We donated it all to a local animal shelter, which was super pleased!” I'm glad all that cat food didn't go to waste.
11. Disposable Razors
Winning a lifetime supply of razors isn't as exciting as free rock shows for life, but I'm sure the man who won the razors put them to good use! Imagine the money he saved in the process! On a related note, imagine how handsome he looked all the time!
12. Oreos
Scoring a near-neverending supply of arguably the tastiest cookies in the world is a good haul. “I won a lifetime supply of Oreos back in the day,” reveals one man. “It was just one pallet full of Oreos. Probably would last a normal person their whole life. It was like 1000 pounds of Oreos.” Suffice it to say this man was not a normal person, and the cookies did not last an entire lifetime.
13. Breath Mints
Winning a lifetime supply of breath mints is something to brag about! One woman casually mentioned winning a lifetime supply of Altoids in the mid-2000s. However, she didn't mention how minty-fresh her breath has been ever since.
As the ultimate everyman, Chris enjoys writing about, well, everything. Blessed with a knack for stringing together sentences in an easy-to-read and conversational tone, he'll just as likely cover the electric vehicle price wars as he would the latest happenings in the entertainment world. As a freelance writer for Wealth of Geeks, Chris focuses on trending topics across mainstream American culture, including travel, finance, and relationships. He also writes under the NBC-Universal banner, specializing in one of his childhood passions: WWE. As the principal WWE correspondent for USA Network's Insider website, Chris has interviewed dozens of WWE Superstars over the years, including particularly memorable conversations with Cody Rhodes, Paul Heyman, Liv Morgan, and Sami Zayn. When not covering the hottest brand in sports entertainment, he enjoys collaborating with other NBC-Universal properties, most recently Bravo TV, covering many of the best reality shows we all love to hate. An avid traveler, Chris enjoys sneaking away to Europe for months at a time, writing must-read content at small cafes in Croatia and Italy, often with an Aperol Spritz in hand. His life is hard.
