Don’t Bet on It

15 Things More Likely to Happen than Winning Mega Millions

There are many more likely events than winning the record lottery. A look at your asteroid-strike odds.

The Mega Millions jackpot has grown to $540 million, and people across America are dying to score the lucky ticket. According to lottery officials, the odds of winning the massive prize are about 1 in 176 million. Despite the excitement, those odds are not good. In fact, there are many other things—good and bad—that are much more likely to happen to a person than winning that money. From landing dream jobs to unfortunate demises, The Daily Beast lists much more likely occurrences.

Death by Vending Machine

Odds: 1 in 112 million

On average, two people in the U.S. are crushed to death underneath vending machines each year. Please snack responsibly.

Dying in an Airline-Related Terrorist Attack

Odds: 1 in 25 million

No one has died in an airplane-related terrorist attack since 9/11. The pat-downs of elderly people and toddlers are really paying off.

Having Identical Quadruplets

Odds: 1 in 15 million

Identical quadruplets would be adorable, but you wouldn’t be able to support them because you probably won’t win the lottery…

Becoming President

Odds: 1 in 10 million

Mitt Romney has seen these odds and he likes them.

Dying From Bee, Hornet, or Wasp Stings

Odds: 1 in 6.1 million

Who knew bees were so scary? Then again, bees may not be as much of an issue this year.

Dying From Being Left-Handed

Odds: 1 in 4.4 million

It’s a right-handed world. Apparently, a fair number of left-handed people die each year from using right-handed products incorrectly.

Becoming a Movie Star

Odds: 1 in 1,505,000

There’s more than one way to make money in this world, and movie stardom is a better bet than playing the lottery.

Dying in a Plane Crash

Odds: 1 in 1 million

If you are too scared to board a plane, why did you just buy a lottery ticket?

Death by Flesh-Eating Bacteria

Odds: 1 in 1 million

Not as rare as one would hope, but there are worse ways to die. Maybe.

Getting Struck by Lightning

Odds: 1 in 1 million.

A lightning strike is probably still preferable to flesh-eating bacteria.

Dying in a Bathtub

Odds: 1 in 840,000

These odds are not an excuse to stop bathing.

Dying in an On-the-Job Accident

Odds: 1 in 48,000

If this applies to you, you may want to take a risk and buy that lottery ticket.

Murder

Odds: 1 in 18,000

Hopefully it won’t be over a lottery ticket, but if it is, at least your murderer probably won’t win either!

Dying in an Asteroid Apocalypse

Odds: 1 in 12,500

The good news is that this will probably never happen. That is, until the year 2040, when it’s totally going to happen!

Dying in a Car Accident

Odds: 1 in 6,700

Good luck driving to the store to buy that lottery ticket.

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Andrew Carter

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