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.
Keith Srakocic / AP Photo
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.
