"Weird Al" Yankovic has crafted an amazing career out of making fun of other people. His inspired musical parodies are not only hugely popular, they are also often beloved by the very artists he is lampooning.  You can almost tell just how popular a track has become, by whether or not he takes it and transforms it into something laugh out loud funny.  He's been making us laugh to the beat of our favorite songs for more than 30 years, and his multiple musical awards, and a net worth of $16 million are a clear indication of just how good he is at what he does.  Most of us were taught not to make fun of those around us, but "Weird Al" Yankovic has built an amazing career doing just that.  With his latest track, "Tacky", a parody of Pharrell's "Happy", already burning up the charts and going viral, here's a look at how a "nerdy" kid from a small town in California, became one of the most consistently popular music arts of our time.

Weird Al – White and Nerdy Millionaire

Weird Al Yankovic, also known as Alfred Matthew Yankovic, was born in Downey, California on October 23, 1959.  His father always said to make a living doing whatever made him happy, so when he discovered a love of music when he was in elementary school, "Weird Al" knew what he wanted to do.  He began playing accordion when he was six, and took lessons at school for three years.  He was very smart for his age and started kindergarten when he was four, instead of five.  He then skipped the second grade as well.  He found solace in music, since he was often too small to participate in sports and too young to really make close friendships with his classmates.  He continued playing accordion and practicing on his own after his school lessons ended.  He became fascinated with playing rock music on his accordion and began performing the songs of Elton John.

Young Al Yankovic with Accordion

He began writing song parodies and original material for the accordion when he was in his late teens.  He got his first break when Dr. Demento came to speak at a school assembly when he was 16.  "Weird Al" gave the popular radio personality a tape of some of his parodies and original tunes.  Dr. Demento liked them enough to play one of them, "Belvedere Cruisin'", on his show.  The show of support from Dr. Demento, ushered him into a more high-profile world, though it would be a few more years before he would take proper advantage of it.

He played in coffee shops in his area, often leaving audiences – who were accustomed to swoony ballads played on guitars – completely bewildered by his accordion-accompanied parodies.  He entered California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo, where he majored in architecture.  However, he always had pursuing a career in music in the back of his mind.  He began working at the college radio station, while continuing to record tracks of his own.  One of his tracks, "My Bologna", a parody of The Knack's' "My Sharona", turned out to be a major turning point.  He gave a copy of the track to the lead singer of The Knack when they performed at his college. Turns out, the lead singer dug the parody, and subsequently introduced him to Rupert Perry at Capitol Records. The track was released as a single and "Weird Al" was offered a six-month recording contract.  Dr. Demento invited him back to his radio show to record a live version of his song, "Another One Rides the Bus", a parody version of "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen.  While "Weird Al" was standing in the hallway waiting to perform, another musician, drummer Jon "Bermuda" Schwartz, asked if he might want a drummer for his gig.  That conversation led to "Bermuda" Schwartz drumming on "Weird Al's" accordion during his radio spot.  "Another One Rides the Bus" turned into a hit, and suddenly the pair was being asked to perform on talk shows and comedy tours.  "Weird Al" formed an official band, signed with Scotti Brothers Records, and released his first album in 1982.

Weird Al with Run DMC

The album, called "Weird Al Yankovic", featured the track "Ricky".  The music video for the song became an MTV favorite.  He followed that up with the album, "Weird Al Yankovic in 3-D", two years later.  Featuring the now classic parody "Eat It" (to Michael Jackson's "Beat It"), the album made Yankovic a star.  "Eat It" reached #12 on the Hot 100 charts.  Since then, he has released hundreds of songs, and is known for almost perfectly matching the inflection and style of all of the artists he parodies.  Rather than actually making fun of the artists like many other parodists, he instead takes each artist's songs, and re-records them with his own band, usually changing the lyrics to some topic that is totally at odds with the public image of the original artist.  Often his lyrics roast something going on in current popular culture or they poke fun at our own attitudes.  It is this light-hearted quality that has made it possible for him to gain the rights to so many tracks.  Having your song parodied by "Weird Al" is viewed by many as a sign that you've "arrived" in the music world.  He always asks permission personally, and very few artists have ever said no. Here's a quick list of some of "Weird Al's" more popular tracks.

"Achy Breaky Song"

- Parody of Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart".

"Addicted to Spuds"

- Parody of Robert Palmers "Addicted to Love"

"Amish Paradise"

- Parody of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise"

"Do I Creep You Out"

- Parody of Taylor Hicks "Do I Make You Proud"

"Fat"

- Parody of Michael Jackson's "Bad"

"Homer and Marge"

- Parody of John Mellencamp's "Jack and Diane"

"I Love Rocky Road"

- Parody of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts' "I Love Rock 'n' Roll"

"I Think I'm a Clone Now"

- Parody of Tiffany's cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' "I Think We're Alone Now".

"Lasagna"

- Parody of Los Lobos' "La Bamba"

"Like a Surgeon"

- Parody of Madonna's "Like a Virgin"

"Spam"

- Parody of "Stand" by R.E.M.

"White and Nerdy"

- Parody of Chamillionaire's "Ridin'"

He is scheduled to release his 15th studio album in mid-July 2014.  The album, called "Mandatory Fun", features the aforementioned "Happy" parody – "Tacky".  There's a good chance the song will do pretty well.  Doing well is normal for "Weird Al".  He's sold more comedy albums than any other comedic artist ever – 12 million to be exact.  He's performed over 1,000 live shows over the years, and he's recorded over 150 parody tracks, separate from his many original recordings.  He's been nominated for a dizzying number of awards, and almost all of his albums have achieved Gold and/or Platinum status.  (Four Gold and six Platinum to be exact.)  He's been nominated for eleven Grammy Awards and has won three.  He's had two #1 albums.  He writes all his own lyrics and shows no signs of slowing down.  As long as there are pop songs and pop culture to be lampooned – "Weird Al" will be there to do it.  The nerdy kid with the accordion who was too small to play with everyone else, is now getting the last laugh in a big, big way.

Read more: How Weird Al Yankovic Went From Accordion Playing Nerd To Multi-Grammy Winning Multi-Millionaire Music Legend

Hollywood has to be one of the most difficult industries on the planet to break into. Sure there are more "technically" complicated industries out there like the law, or medicine or finance… but at least these have very specific career paths that absolutely anyone can follow. If you want to be a lawyer or a doctor, go to school, study your butt off and ace all the tests. I guarantee you will become a doctor or a lawyer. Hollywood on the other hand, is a total crap shoot. Even if you go to the best film school in the world and get straight A's, you could literally never make it beyond being a snooty coffee shop barista in Los Feliz. With all that in mind, imagine you've somehow overcome the insane odds to become one of the most successful directors and producers in Hollywood. Imagine, your success has earned you a massive personal fortune from your work on some of Hollywood's biggest comedy blockbusters. Now imagine you suddenly decide to give it all way and move into a trailer park. Sounds crazy? That is exactly what Ace Ventura director Tom Shadyac did. This is his incredible story…

Tom Shadyac

If the name Tom Shadyac doesn't ring any bells, allow me to give a bit of back story. Tom was born in Falls Church Virginia on December 11, 1958. He attended the University of Virginia where he was pre-law. In 1983, at the age of 24, Tom moved to Hollywood because he landed a job as a staff joke writer for Bob Hope. Throughout the 80s Tom slowly tried to make his way in Hollywood without achieving modest success as a writer and director of movies-of-the-week for Fox.

Tom is probably best known today for transforming a little known Canadian actor named Jim Carrey from mid-level "In Living Color" cast member, into the biggest movie star on the planet. After writing the screenplay for Ace Ventura, Tom somehow convinced Morgan Creed Productions to give him a shoe-string budget of $15 million dollars and a green light. Considering Jim Carrey's lackluster star power of the time, the honchos at the studio had very low expectations. The movie eventually went on to gross over $100 million worldwide and launched both Tom Shadyac and Jim Carrey into the stratosphere. Here are the quick highlights of Tom Shadyac's Hollywood resume:

Notable Movies Directed by Tom Shadyac:

• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) – Budget $15 million, worldwide box office gross: $107 million
• The Nutty Professor (1996) – Budget $54 million, worldwide gross: $273 million
• Liar Liar (1997) – Budget $45 million, worldwide gross: $302 million
• Patch Adams (1998) – Budget $90 million, worldwide gross: $202 million
• Bruce Almighty (2003) – Budget $81 million, worldwide gross: $485 million

Notable Movies Produced by Tom Shadyac:

• Nutty Professor II: The Klumps
• Bruce Almighty, Accepted
• I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
• Evan Almighty

Tom Shadyac and Jim Carrey

He also served as an Executive Producer on 76 episodes of the Sitcom "8 Simple Rules". To date, movies that Tom has been involved with either as a director or executive producer, have grossed over $2 billion dollars worldwide.

After the successes of first Ace Ventura and The Nutty Professor movies, Tom's salary jumped to $5 million for Liar Liar. Liar Liar turned out to be another huge hit. For 2003′s Bruce Almighty, he was able to negotiate owning a piece of the back-end gross revenues. That's where you make the real money in Hollywood. In Tom's own words:

"I made about $5 million on Liar Liar and I owned a piece of Bruce Almighty and it ended up grossing over a billion so I made over $30 million on that one."

$30 million off one paycheck. Not bad at all! By the way, it should be noted that when Tom says Bruce Almighty grossed "a billion" that includes all revenue streams such as home video sales and licensing. Hence the difference between our $485 million number a few lines up.

And as you would expect, Tom started to live a pretty amazing Hollywood life complete with a 17,000 square foot mansion, a private jet and a garage full of exotic cars. At one point he calculated that whenever he used the jet, it cost $44,000 an hour. But who cares about a couple hundred grand when you're making $30 million a year?!

Years later, Tom estimated that at the peak of his wealth and career, his personal net worth topped $50 million. That's after taxes. Assets minus liabilities. Money in the bank. And his career was still white hot! There was nothing stopping Tom from putting another $50 million away in the next 5-10 years. Or more!

Unfortunately, everything changed on a fateful day in 2007. Tom was riding his bike in rural Virginia when he got into a terrible accident that left him with a serious concussion. After being released from the hospital, he returned to LA to recuperate. Unfortunately, even after several months had gone by, Tom was still suffering debilitating migraines and an unbearable hyper-sensitivity to light and sound. To make matters worse, he found himself haunted by a never-ending ringing in his ears. The pain was so bad that he retreated into a reclusive world. Trapped in his mansion, he covered every window with blackout curtains and barely left the house. He actually began sleeping in the closet. Obviously working another movie was out of the question. The agony lasted for more than six months and during that time Tom's mental health started to take a very bad turn. Again, in his own words:

"I felt suicidal at points. It was a disaster. The worst thing you could do to someone is sentence them to solitary confinement and that is what this felt like."

It would be roughly three years before he could muster the strength do anything in Hollywood again. But before that could happen, Tom had a revelation. A revelation that was absolutely stunning. Tom Shadyac decided to give his entire fortune away to charity. He gave up the 17,000 square foot mansion in Pasadena and sold the bulk of his personal possessions. That included the cars and the private jet. He donated significant amounts of money to charity, especially those that protected homeless people, the environment and animals. He opened up a homeless shelter in Charlottesville, Virginia. He gave the city of Telluride, Colorado a grant which allowed it to set aside a large natural area at the town's entrance. He gave money to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis… the list goes on and on. Perhaps most shocking of all, he traded the 17,000 square foot mansion for a 1000 square foot double-wide in a Malibu trailer park. Clearly, Tom's entire worldview did a 180 degree shift. Again, in Tom's own words:

Tom's 1000 Sq Foot Mobile Home

"I believe I was my least successful when I 'had it all'… I didn't need a private jet. It costs $44,000 to fly for an hour and a half, someone doesn't even make that in a year… The more I give away the wealthier I feel. For everything I 'gave up', so much more was returned. The trappings of fame and fortune are exactly that – a trapping. It's called the spoils of success for a reason."

And perhaps his most insightful revelation:

"No one is ever looking to have a more robust IRA when they are on their deathbed. They are saying, 'I am so happy that I had the opportunity to love this family, to be a part of something' ."

Tom did eventually return to working on movies, but his new worldview also had an impact on the projects he worked on. In early 2011, he executive produced a documentary called "Happy" that explores the concept of happiness as experienced in 14 different countries and cultures. I rented this on iTunes a while back and it is seriously amazing. Go out and watch it tonight, it's available on Amazon Prime right here.

Next, Tom stepped back into the director's chair for the 2011 documentary "I Am". This movie is a personal exploration of everything that happened in Tom's life since the bike accident. Tom travels the world to interview scientists, philosophers, religious leaders and environmentalists to ask two questions: #1) What's Wrong With the World? And #2) What Can We Do About it? Tom wrote, directed, produced and narrated "I Am". It is also available on Amazon Prime right here.

So there you have it. That's the story of how Tom Shadyac ended up ditching Hollywood, donating his $50 million fortune to charity and setting his life on a radical new path. Clearly Tom is a very inspirational and courageous person. Let me re-iterate how much I enjoyed "Happy". Definitely check it out. I'll definitely be watching "I Am" some night this week.

Hat tip to James Altucher's newsletter for some of the quotes that appeared in the above article.

Read more: This Hollywood Director Made $50 Million Dollars… Then Gave It All Away And Moved Into A Trailer Park… Incredible Story.

Princess Stéphanie of Monaco net worth: Princess Stéphanie of Monaco is the youngest child of Grace Kelly and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. She has a net worth of $100 million dollars. Born in Monaco on February 1, 1965, Stéphanie's full name is Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth. She is a member of the House of Grimaldi by birth and has been married twice to Daniel Ducruet and Adans Lopez Peres. She is currently divorced and is seventh in the line of succession. Stéphanie was in a critical car accident with her mother on September 13, 1982. She survived, however her mother died the following day. Stéphanie speaks Italian, French, Monegasque and English and studied at Dames de Saint-Maur as well as Dupanloup. She took an interest in dance, horse riding, gymnastics, fashion and singing. She currently has three children by the names of Louis Robert Paul Ducruet, Pauline Grace Magui Ducruet, and Camille Marie Kelly Gottlieb. She released two studio albums titled Besoin and Stéphanie.

Read more: Princess Stéphanie of Monaco Net Worth

Princess Madeleine of Sweden net worth: Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland and Gästrikland, is the second daughter to King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden. Princess Madeleine of Sweden has a net worth of $10 million dollars. Born in Drottningholm Palace, Drottningholm, Sweden on June 10, 1982, Madeleine is a member of the House of Bernadotte as well as the Church of Sweden. Her full name is Madeleine Therese Amelie Josephine, and she is currently married to Christopher O'Neill. She is currently fourth in line of succession. She studied at Vasterled Parish Pre-School as well as Stockholm University and the University of Stockholm. She received her Bachelor of Arts in modern history, Ethnology and art history. She is an avid equestrian and had a scholarship created in her name designated for youth who are pursuing an interest in horse riding. She is also a leading patron at Min Stora Dag and interned at UNICEF in 2006. She has one daughter with O'Neill by the name of Princess Leonore, Duchess of Gotland. Madeleine was ranked at number twelve on Forbes' list of "The 20 Hottest Young Royals."

Read more: Princess Madeleine of Sweden Net Worth

Princess Letizia net worth: Princess Letizia, who is now Queen Letizia and wife of King Felipe VI, has a net worth of $10 million dollars. Born in Oviedo, Asturias, Spain on September 15, 1972, Letizia is a member of the House of Bourbon by marriage and practices Roman Catholicism. Her full name is Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, and prior to her marriage to King Felipe VI, Letizia worked as a journalist as well as a news anchor. Felipe was enthroned on June 19, 2014, leading to Letizia to be queen consort. Letizia studied at La Gesta School in Oviedo as well as Complutense University of Madrid where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Journalism as well as her Master's in Audiovisual Journalism. She currently has two daughters with Felipe by the names of Leonor, Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofia.

Read more: Princess Letizia of Spain Net Worth

Princess Erika net worth: Princess Erika is a French singer and actress who has a net worth of $500 thousand dollars. Born in Paris, France on April 5, 1964, Erika has been active in the entertainment industry since 1982. She specializes in R&B and Ragga and began performing with her sisters in a band called Blackheart Daughters. She later joined the band Princess and the Royal Sound. She made several charitable efforts with her music including raising funds for the Moroccan earthquake victims in 2002. She has released five studio albums, and she has appeared in seven films.

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Princess Charlene of Monaco net worth: Princess Charlene of Monaco is the wife of Albert II, Prince of Monaco as well as a former South African Olympic swimmer who has a net worth of $150 million dollars. Born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia on January 25, 1978, Charlene is a member of the House of Grimaldi by marriage as well as a practicer of Roman Catholicism and formerly Protestantism. Her full name is Charlene Lynette, and she became Princess consort of Monaco on July 1, 2011. She is a three-time gold medal swimmer, and received on silver medal at the 1999 Olympic Games in Johannesburg. She is currently a Special Olympics ambassador. As the first lady of Monaco, Charlene's duties including fundraising for the Princess Grace Foundation as well as the annual Red Cross Ball.

Read more: Princess Charlene of Monaco Net Worth

Princess Caroline of Monaco net worth: Princess Caroline of Monaco is the daughter of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and Grace Kelly who has a net worth of $100 million dollars. Born in Prince's Palace, Monaco on January 23, 1957, Caroline is a member of the House of Grimaldi by birth and the House of Hanover by marriage. She practices Roman Catholicism, and her full name is Caroline Louise Marguerite Grimaldi. She is currently married to Ernst August, Prince of Hanover and attended St. Mary's School Ascot as well as Sorbonne University for philosophy, psychology, and biology. She currently speaks French, Spanish, German, Italian, and English. Caroline served as first lady of Monaco after her mother's death in 1982 until 2011 when her brother officially married. She was recognized as a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 2003. Her hobbies include equestrian sports, skiing, swimming, and fashion. She has been married three times and has four children by the names of Andrea Albert Pierre Casiraghi, Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi, Pierre Rainier Stefano Casiraghi, and Princess Alexandra Charlotte Ulrike Maryam Virginia of Hanover.

Read more: Princess Caroline Net Worth

There's a lot of chatter in the news right now about the immigration crisis that is reaching a boiling point in border states like Texas, Arizona and California. Thousands of children from Central American countries have flocked to the United States seeking better lives. And thanks to a loophole signed into law by President Bush, it's against Federal law to immediately deport children who come from a country that doesn't directly border the United States. It's a complicated issue and I'm not trying to stir the pot one way, or the other.

What I will say is, can you blame these kids? America is the greatest country in the world. If I was a child sitting in Guatemala, I would do whatever it takes to come to America and stay here forever. I mean, name another country where someone who has absolutely no talent or discernible skills, can rise to become one of the most famous people on the planet? Name another country where someone whose entire resume simply states "was born", can land a TV show, clothing line, perfume, endless endorsements, Kanye West and much more, all for just showing up? Name another country where someone, whose most notable contribution to society so far is a sex tape with Ray J, can earn $85 million in one year… from an iPhone game? There is only one country where all this and more is possible. USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!

Kim Kardashian iPhone App

In case you haven't deciphered my subtle references, we are of course talking about Kim Kardashian. As it turns out, back in 2006 when Kim sold her soul to the devil to become the biggest star on earth, that deal also included an iPhone app! Here's the deal: On June 25 Kim, along with a company called Glu Mobile Inc, released a game called "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" to Apple's iOS APP store. The description of the game is simple:

"Join KIM KARDASHIAN on a red carpet adventure in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood! Create your own aspiring celebrity and rise to fame and fortune!"

The game takes players inside Hollywood, behind the red carpet, on a quest to become an A-list celebrity. Players start out on the E-list and try to work their way up Hollywood's ladder to become an A-list celebrity. Players can move up the ladder by following advice from Kim, who acts as a virtual guide. Here's are some examples of Kim's sage advice:

"Dating famous people will get you more fans."

"Changing your look and buying nice clothes can get you noticed by the media."

Like many mobile games, "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" is free to download. The game makes money mainly through in-app "energy" purchases. For example, as you navigate your way through things like photoshoots and paid public appearances, your aspiring virtual celebrity consumes energy. Energy comes in the form of lightning bolts. These lightning bolts cost money. Real human money. Like you just worked an hour at Panera Bread in order to buy energy for your imaginary virtual celebrity. That kind of money.

I know what you're thinking. Who on earth would be stupid enough to spend real money on virtual energy in a Kim Kardashian game? Well, apparently there's a lot of stupid people out there because, against all common sense, in the three weeks the game has been live, "Kim Kardashian: Hollywood" has quickly become one of the highest-rated and most-downloaded apps on iTunes. One of the bloggers for the female-focused gossip blog Jezebel.com recently admitted that she woke up recently and realized that she had just spent $494.04 on in-app purchases. On the plus side, at least she successfully went from E-list to A-list with 50 million imaginary fans. Wow. No words. As of this writing, it is the #2 most downloaded free game on iTunes. It is reportedly one of the top 5 highest grossing games on the app store right now.

It gets worse. A mobile-industry analyst named Douglas Creutz announced yesterday that he expects revenues for Kim Kardashian: Hollywood to top $200 million in the first year. Kim's cut of those revenues? 45% of net profits. The game cost just $10 million to create and market. That means if current projections stay on pace, Kim could earn $85.5 million off this game in 2014. Come on! What is the world coming to??? That would be more than Kim's entire current $65 million net worth.

The stock price of Glu Mobile has already seen a huge impact from the success of their latest game. Last September the company, which trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker GLUU, was trading around $2 a share. At that level the company had a market cap of $175 million. Since Kim's game was released, the stock has skyrocketed. As of this writing, GLUU is trading at an all time high of $6.6 and the company has a market cap $540 million dollars.

The counter argument to all of this is the fact that many games turn out to be flashes in the pan. But who knows anymore? I feel like all logic and common sense left the building years ago. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm running low on energy and need to buy some lightning bolts.

Read more: Kim Kardashian Is On Pace To Make $85 Million This Year…From An iPhone App. Sorry To Ruin Your Day.

Imagine you've called in sick from work and are watching a marathon of your favorite daytime game show. After the third straight hour of starring at the screen, something very strange suddenly clicks in your brain. Did you just notice a pattern in the game board's electronic formula? That can't be possible… can it? You then proceed to spend the next three straight hours testing your realization only to conclude that YES, you have indeed somehow figured out the show's secret electronic winning formula. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, this is precisely what happened in 1984 to an ice cream truck driver from Ohio named Michael Larson. After watching endless hours of "Press Your Luck" Michael figured out how to memorize the game board's electronic patterns and therefore virtually guarantee a win. If an actual contestant figured out this secret, he or she could use the formula to win a small fortune off the show's parent company CBS. And that's exactly what Michael Larson did.

Micahel Larson Press Your Luck

For those of you who may not remember the game sow "Press Your Luck", you probably recognize the signature catch phrase contestants would shout while playing their turn: "Come on big money! No whammies! No whammy, no whammy…. STOP!" Contestants answered trivia questions in order to earn "spins" on an 18 square electronic game board that contained hidden prizes. The electronic game board was a like a cross between "Wheel of Fortune" and a carnival Whack-a-Mole booth. During a spin, contestants had to press their button at just the right time to land on a square that contained a prize. If their timing was off, they landed on a little red cartoon monster called a "Whammy" which would wipe out all their winnings. As long as you didn't land on a whammy, you kept racking up cash and prizes and whoever won the most stuff before the game was over, got to take it all home. This is what the game board looked like, notice the whammies in the upper right corner?

Press Your Luck Game Board

Michael Larson was hooked on Press Your Luck from the moment it premiered on CBS in September 1983. He quickly became a little morbidly obsessed with trying to find a way to beat the game. Michael would record every episode with his VCR then use the pause button to analyze the game board, frame by frame looking for a weakness to exploit. After weeks of painstaking analysis Larson was actually able to find a pattern in the game board's movements. Specifically, he realized that the #4 and #8 squares never contained a whammy and that their prizes continuously increased in value. Landing on either of those squares also rewarded the contestant with an extra spin. The second big realization was that the board's bouncing prize selector did not follow a random algorithm, it actually alternated between five easy to memorize patterns that determined where the contestant would land when the stop button was pushed. Put in simple terms, Michael knew exactly how to time the game board's shifting patterns so whenever he pushed the button, he would always land on either #4 or #8, the only two squares that never contained whammies.

After practicing his strategy for six months, in May 1984 Michael Larson traveled by bus from Ohio to Los Angeles to audition for Press Your Luck. During an pre-audition interview, Michael spun a sympathetic tale. He explained that as an unemployed ice cream truck driver he couldn't afford to buy a present for his daughter's upcoming sixth birthday. He hoped that by winning on Press Your Luck he would be able to give the daughter the best birthday of her life. Irresistible right? After doing a practice round to show he understood the basic concepts of the game, producers informed Michael that he would officially be a contestant on an upcoming episode of Press Your Luck.

On Saturday May 19th 1984, Michael took the center seat on Press Your Luck's stage in between a Baptist minister named Ed and dental assistant named Janie. As always, the first round of the game consisted of simple trivia questions in order to win spins. Compared to his fellow contestants, Michael pretty much bombed the trivia round. He fumbled on several questions and ended up with only three spins. By comparison, fellow contestant Ed won 10 spins. As the player with the fewest spins, Michael got to Press His Luck with the game board first.

Pause for a second and think about what Michael must have been feeling at this moment. He had just spent six straight months almost entirely dedicated to practicing his secret formula on home recordings of Press Your Luck. He survived a sweltering five day Greyhound bus ride from Ohio to Los Angeles and somehow managed to squeak through the audition process. After all this work he was finally about to put his theory to work on a live round of Press Your Luck. So what happened on Michael's first spin? He landed on a whammy. To this day, no one knows for sure if this was an accident or merely a ploy to throw people off his true intention but judging by Michael's jovial reaction, it was probably intentional. Not surprisingly, Michael landed on winning squares with his next two spins before he had to pass off to the other contestants. At the end of round one, Michael was still in last place with $2500, compared to Ed with $4080 and Janie with $4608.

The second round began with a some slightly easier trivia questions to allow players to earn lots of spins. Michael performed much better this time around and ended up with seven total spins. Since he was still in last place, Michael got to spin first. Armed with seven spins, Michael made his move. By concentrating with deadly accuracy the #4 and #8 squares, Michael proceeded to go on an astonishing tear. His prize total quickly climbed from $2500 to $10,000 to $15,000 to $30,000 and up. Keep in mind that prior to Michael Larson, the average Press Your Luck grand prize winner walked away with around $10,000 total. Even $30,000 would have been an extraordinarily large prize for any game show at the time. But Michael did not stop there. After 13 spins his total prize had risen to $32,351. After 21 straight winning spins his total rose to $47,601. At this point the show's control booth was filled with anxious CBS executives. Could this nightmare scenario really be happening? How stupid could they be to have two squares that never contained a whammy? Could they even legally stop the game at this point or did they have to ride it out? Here is actual footage of Michael during the peak of his streak:

Meanwhile, with each new spin the show's host Peter Tomarken was beyond flabbergasted. Not realizing that Michael was using a strategy, Tomarken begged him to stop pressing his luck. Tomarken wasn't begging for the sake of the increasingly anxious CBS executives who were sweating bullets in the control booth, he honestly was just worried that Michael eventually had to land on a whammy and wipe out all his earnings. But Michael pressed on for 40 consecutive winning spins to rack up a mind boggling $102,851 in cash and prices. But it didn't stop there…

After crossing the $100,000 mark, Michael finally decided to stop pressing his luck and pass his four remaining spins to fellow contestant Ed. On Ed's first spin he landed on a whammy and wiped out his $4080. Ed came back to win $10,000 before whammying a final time to end his game altogether. That left Janie who still had $4608 and four spins remaining. Like Ed, she landed on a whammy with her first spin. She then went on a quick streak and upped her winnings to $9835. At this point Janie passed her remaining three spins to a stunned Michael. Michael clearly was not expecting to have to spin again. But again he hunkered down, applied the strategy and ended up increasing his winnings to $110,237 before the game finally ended. That's equal to roughly $250,000 when adjusted for inflation.

The Aftermath
About halfway through his winning streak CBS executives realized what was happening and promptly contacted their legal department. The head of CBS daytime programming, Michael Brockman, would later tell an reporter: "Something was very wrong. Here was this guy from nowhere, and he was hitting the bonus box every time. It was bedlam, I can tell you. And we couldn't stop this guy. He kept going around the board and hitting that box." Immediately after the taping, Brockman and CBS lawyers reviewed the tapes and quickly noticed two very alarming facts. First, they realized that Michael somehow managed to exclusively land on the #4 or #8 squares which always contained a prize. Second, they noticed Michael's celebration after each spin came a little too quickly, like he knew what was coming. With these findings CBS was convinced Michael cheated and initially refused to pay him the $110,237. Unfortunately, when they consulted their own rule book, they could not find any clause that could be used to disqualify a contestant for what Michael had done. Was it technically even cheating? One thing they were able to do was ban Michael from ever appearing on another CBS game show for the rest of his life. They also moved quickly to try an fix the flaws that allowed someone to memorize their patterns and avoid whammies. The infamous Michael Larson episode aired in two parts in June 1984 before embarrassed CBS executives banned the program from airing. The episode wasn't shown again for 19 years until finally in March 2003 the Game Show Network was given permission to air segments as part of a two hour documentary about Michael's life and the infamous incident.

In the end, Michael was eventually paid his money but unfortunately, his luck in life pretty much peaked that day in May 1984. Roughly half the money went directly to taxes, some was kept in savings, another chunk was invested in real estate and the rest was poured into a series of get rich quick schemes. The real estate investments turned out to be a ponzi scheme and after the other get rich schemes also failed, Michael was forced to get a job as an assistant manager at Wal-Mart. Michael again became obsessed with finding another way to get back on top. He stopped trusting his bank and eventually began hiding his remaining prize money plus life savings, roughly $50,000, in garbage bags around the house. One night after attending a Christmas party with his girlfriend, Michael returned home to find that his entire fortune had been stolen. Livid, he accused his girlfriend of taking the money. They screamed at each other until she finally walked out forever. Michael made a handful of television appearances to discuss his infamous day on Press Your Luck but otherwise slipped back into obscurity. As a final attempt to make a quick fortune, Michael got swept up in an illegal pyramid scheme called Pleasure Time Incorporated that stole $3 million from 20,000 investors who thought they were buying shares in a Native American lottery company. With a warrant out for his arrest and agents from the FBI, SEC and IRS hot on his tail, Michael was forced to live the remaining years of his life on the run. Michael died on the run in 1999 from throat cancer in Florida. A sad ending to a clever man with a dream who beat the system but didn't know how to walk away. Just like most gamblers.

Read more: In 1984 A Man Memorized A Game Show's Secret Formula And Won A Fortune

On June 10th 1994, a group of friends and family gathered at a lawyer's office in Santa Monica, California to read the last will and testament of 79 year old Thelma Pearl Howard. Thelma died quietly in a nursing home a few weeks earlier, just 16 days shy of her 80th birthday. From the outside, Thelma Howard lived a very modest life. Her most notable achievement was working as Walt Disney's personal housekeeper for more than thirty years. She cooked all of Walt's meals and helped raise his two young daughters. For this service she was paid a modest annual salary, perhaps slightly more than the average housekeeper because her boss was so wealthy and famous. So, you can imagine the utter shock when Thelma's lawyer announced that she had in fact controlled a multi-million dollar stock portfolio and was leaving half of her impressive net worth to charity. How exactly did a lowly housekeeper end up dying with millions of dollars in the bank? The story is truly heartwarming and inspirational.

Walt Disney's Millionaire Housekeeper

Thelma Pearl Howard was born in June of 1915 to a family of very poor farmers in Southwick, Idaho. Thelma was the second of five children. Her childhood was filled with pain starting at the age of six when her mother tragically died during child birth. Two more siblings died unexpectedly before she reached the age of 18. Thelma briefly moved to Spokane, Washington to attend college but was forced to drop out before completing a full year of classes because she couldn't afford the tuition anymore. After Spokane, Thelma moved to Los Angeles where she held down three jobs to make ends meet. She poured drinks at a soda fountain, cleaned houses and worked part time as a secretary.

In 1951, at the age of 36, Thelma landed a dream job when she was hired as a live-in housekeeper at Walt Disney's sprawling estate in Holmby Hills, California. One can only imagine the culture shock Thelma must have felt coming from such humble beginnings then moving into an 8 bedroom 17 bathroom, 3.6 acre mansion that was listed in October 2012 for $90 million. The Disney mansion's pool house was bigger than her family's entire home back in Idaho. Needless to say, Thelma never dreamed of living in a house that featured a putting green, tennis court, swimming pool, library, gym and much more.

Walt Disney's Mansion

Up until Thelma, Walt Disney could not find a housekeeper that clicked with his family. The previous housekeeper was a fine cook but did not get along with his two young daughters. In fact, tensions were so high that the previous housekeeper actually banned the children from ever setting foot in the kitchen. She also forced the girls to stay in their rooms while she cleaned the house. Thelma was the exact opposite. She adored the two young girls and loved having their company while she prepared amazing three course dinners every night. While Thelma cooked, Diane and Sharon Disney would sit at the kitchen counter and marvel at the meals that were magically being whipped together. In addition to three course feasts, Thelma knew to keep the fridge stocked with Walt's favorite snack, hot dogs, which he apparently scarfed down every night before dinner. In contrast to their previous housekeeper, Thelma was warm and loving and eventually became part of the Disney family. Walt even went so far as to describe Thelma as "the real life Mary Poppins".

Throughout the thirty years that Thelma worked for the Disney family, she was paid a little more than the average housekeeper's salary. She was also given free room and board which made her paycheck go a long way, but would never make her "rich". On the other hand, working for Walt Disney presented Thelma with a very unique perk. Every Christmas and birthday, Walt gave Thelma shares of Disney stock as a bonus. As the Disney empire expanded, the number of shares she received grew. Because Thelma respected Walt so much, she never sold a single share in her entire lifetime and even used some of her own money to buy more on the side.

Real Life Mary Poppins

Over the years, Thelma's stock portfolio slowly ballooned. A few shares became a hundred. A hundred became a thousand. A thousand became ten thousand and so on. When Thelma first began receiving the shares, owning Disney stock wasn't particularly exciting. Then, between 1945 and 1965, the company exploded into the cultural phenomenon the world knows and loves today. Disneyland opened in July 1955 and was an immediate success. Then Disney studios went on a creative tear churning out a series of classic films like "Lady and the Tramp" (1955), "Sleeping Beauty" (1959), "One Hundred and One Dalmatians" (1961) and "Mary Poppins" (1964). Mary Poppins earned $30 million at the box office, more than any other movie in 1964, and with re-releases would go on to earn the inflation adjusted equivalent of $375 million. As the company grew, so did its stock price. Thanks to those annual gifts and a number of stock splits, by the time Thelma died in 1994 she had amassed an astonishing 193,000 shares of Disney which at the time were worth $9.5 million!

Thelma retired in 1981 and spent the next decade living a quiet life in a humble two bedroom bungalow until her failing health forced her to move into an equally modest nursing home. After she died, a small group of friends and family were called to hear the reading of her will. Those who were present could not believe their ears when the lawyer explained that not only did Thelma die a multi-millionaire, but she earmarked half of her fortune to establish a charitable foundation. Thelma left the other half to her adult son who was developmentally disabled and living in a full time care facility in Long Beach. Over the next 20 years, the Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation donated millions of dollars to dozens of charities. Her foundation is especially active in supporting charities that focus on disadvantaged children and arts education. Having had a difficult childhood herself, Thelma thought it was especially important that she do her part to help other at risk kids.

And there's one final mystery. If Thelma's original shares were never sold and are still being held in trust today, they would have tripled from 193,000 shares to 579,000 thanks to a 3-1 split that occurred in June 1998. If this scenario is true, at Disney's most recent closing price of $64 Thelma's 579,000 shares would be worth a staggering $37 million today! Not bad for a poor housekeeper from Idaho.

Read more: How Walt Disney's Housekeeper Secretly Died A Multi-Millionaire

On Sunday, the German national team proved to the entire world that they are the best soccer (football) team on the planet. And if you watched the post-game ceremony, the German players also proved that they have the hottest wives and girlfriends on the planet. Seriously. Wow. As if those two prizes weren't enough, their home country also rewarded each player with a $400,000 bonus for bringing glory home to Germany. Gold, girls and more gold. Not a bad little triple crown. But, amazingly, one player apparently decided that he had already been blessed enough in life. In a truly commendable act of charity and kindness, earlier today German midfielder Mesut Ozil confirmed reports that he had given back one of his prizes. And I'll give you a hint, it wasn't his girlfriend.

Mesut Özil Holds the World Cup

Mesut Özil was born on October 15, 1988 in Gelsenkirchen, West Germany. He grew up playing for a variety of club teams in his home town before spending five years at the German club team Rot-Weiss Essen. In 2005, a the age of 17, Mesut moved over to a team called Schalke 04. He chose his age as his number. When an older player was suspended, Mesut had an opportunity to step up. And that's exactly what he did. He soon made the starting squad and was offered an annual salary of $2 million if he signed on long term. Incredibly, the 17 year old turned down the offer, claiming that $2 million wasn't nearly enough. Not surprisingly, this defiance caused a riff with management and in 2008 Mesut moved on to a club called Werder Bremen. When he moved, Weder Bremen paid Schalke a $7 million transfer fee.

Within a few years, Mesut had transformed into the team's most crucial play maker. In 2010, he was selected to represent Germany in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. He started every game and was nominated for the tournament's coveted Golden Ball award alongside just 10 other players. After his World Cup performance, Mesut moved up to Real Madrid where he stayed from 2010 to 2013. He moved over to Arsenal in 2013 an has been there ever since.

At the recently completed 2014 World Cup, Mesut Özil was a key member of the champion German squad. He scored a decisive goal against Algeria and had created more goal-scoring opportunities throughout the tournament than any other German player. As we previously mentioned, for tjheir efforts in helping Germany win the 2014 World Cup, Mesut and his teammates were each rewarded with a $400,000 bonus. So what did Mesut do with the money?

It turns out that Mesut is a pretty amazing guy. Before the tournament even started, he quietly offered to pay for 11 very sick Brazilian kids to have life saving surgery. After winning the Cup, Mesut quietly upped his generous offer from 11 kids to 23 kids. Mesut was perfectly happy making these donations without seeking headlines or attention, but when rumors started to spread, he made the following announcement on his official Facebook page:

"Prior to the #WorldCup I supported the surgery of eleven sick children in Brazil. Since the victory of the World Cup is not only due to eleven players but to our whole team, I will now raise the number to 23."

In case you were wondering, there are 23 active players on a soccer roster. The donations will effectively use up his entire victory bonus. What an amazing guy. Serious respect. And if you're concerned about Mesut's finances, I wouldn't lose too much sleep. This year at Arsenal, the 25 year old will earn a salary of $12.5 million dollars. So I think he'll be ok. And if that's not enough, keep in mind that he also gets to sleep next to this every night:

Mandy Capristo – Mesut's girlfriend

Read more: German Soccer Star Mesut Ozil Just Did Something Truly Amazing With His World Cup Bonus

Anthony Quinn net worth: Anthony Quinn was a Mexican American actor, painter, writer, and director with a net worth of $20 million dollars. Born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico on April 21, 1915, Quinn was best known for his roles in La Strada, The Guns of Navarone, Lawrence of Arabia, Zorba the Greek, Guns for San Sebastian, The Message, Lion of the Desert, Viva Zapata!, and Lust for Life. He became active in the entertainment industry in 1936 began boxing professionally at a young age to earn money. He went on to study art at Frank Lloyd Wright's studio, Taliesin. He made his acting debut in 1936 in the films Parole and Milky Way. He later performed on Broadway in A Streetcar Named Desire and became a United States Citizen in 1947. Quinn was married to actress Katherine DeMille and had five children by the names of Christopher, Christina, Catalina, Duncan, and Valentina. The were married from 1937 until 1965 when it became public that he was having an affair with Jolanda Addolori. They eventually married in 1966 and had three children by the names of Francesco Quinn, Danny, and Lorenzo Quinn. Quinn later had another affair, resulting in children, with his secretary, Katherine Benvin, by the names of Antonia and Ryan Nicholas. Addolori and Quinn divorced in 1997. Quinn and Benvin stayed together until his death in 2001, however he also had children with Friedal Dunbar by the names of Sean and Anthony Alexander. He died in Boston, Massachusetts at age 86 from pneumonia due to respiratory cancer.

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Anthony McPartlin net worth: Anthony McPartlin is an English actor, television presenter, singer, and rapper who has a net worth of $45 million dollars. Born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England on November 18, 1975, McPartlin is best known for his TV comedy duo, Ant & Dec. He has been active in the entertainment industry since 1987 and has also appeared on Byker Grove, SMTV Live, Friends Like These, Pop Idol, I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, Britain's Got Talent, PokerFace, Push the Button, and more. He stands at five feet and eight inches and is currently married to Lisa Armstrong. He has received several awards throughout his career as a television presenter including The Special Recognition Award, Best Entertainment Presenter, Best Entertainment Programme, Best Reality TV Programme, The Landmark Award, and six more awards for his comedy acts.

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Jessica Hart net worth: Jessica Hart is a British writer who has a net worth of $10 million dollars. To date, she has penned more than 55 romance novels for the company Mills & Boon, for which she has won a US-based RITA Award (for Christmas Eve Marriage in 2005), and the British RoNA Award (for Contracted: Corporate Wife in 2006). Hart was born in Ghana, Africa, where she also spent much of her childhood. In college, she attended the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland, where her mother still maintains a permanent residence. Hart is considered to be particularly well-traveled, having gone to Australia, India, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Algeria, Afghanistan, among others. These diverse locations also serve as the backdrops of many of her books. Today, Hart keeps a main residence in York, England, while continuing to travel. Her partner John, lives in Wiltshire, where she also divides her time. A holder of a doctorate degree, which was obtained in 2004, Hart's first book was published in 1991. While many of her books can be considered single pieces, she is also well known for many of her romantic series pieces, including Outback Brides, the City Bride Series, and Princess Swap. Hart has also collaborated with a number of other writers on various projects.

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Maxwell Caulfield net worth: Maxwell Caulfield is a British actor who has a net worth of $10 million dollars. Maxwell Caulfield was born in Glasgow in November of 1959, and continues to work as a film, TV, and film actor in the United States. He is most well known for his roles in Grease 2, The Colbys, Dynasty, Gettysburg, The Real Blonde, and Emmerdale – a production in the UK. Caulfield also has more than 70 credits, many of which are from stage acting. Caulfield made his first appearance in the 1967 film, Accident, when he was only 7 years old. He was credited with the stage name "Maxwell Findlater," so as to protect his privacy. However, he did not continue his stint as a child actor, but was reportedly kicked out of the home by his stepfather when he was just 15 years old. He then took the name Caulfield from book character in Catcher in the Rye. During this time, he also worked as an exotic dancer in a London theatre so that he could gain work on stage. This also led to a green card, which allowed him to continue working within the country. Caulfield is married to fellow actor Juliet Mills, to whom he was wed in 1980 at the age of 21. Her third husband, Caulfield is 18 years her junior.

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Alan Parker net worth: Alan Parker is an English director, producer, and screenwriter who has a net worth of $20 million dollars. Born in Islington, London, England on February 14, 1944, Parker is best known for directing musicals and films such as Bugsy Malone, Fame, Pink Floyd– The Wall, The Commitments, Evita, Midnight Express, Mississippi Burning, Come See the Paradise, Angela's Ashes, Shoot the Moon, Angel Heart, and The Life of David Gale. He attended Dame Alice Owen's School and has received nineteen BAFTA awards, ten Academy Awards, and ten Golden Globes. He earned the BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award in 2013 via the British Film Academy. He began working in television advertising instead of enrolling in college. He worked for producers David Puttnam and Alan Marshall whom eventually influenced Parker to write the script for Melody and would later produce several of his films. Parker's first film, No Hard Feelings, came to be in 1973. He released Bugsy Malone in 1975, which feature only child actors and poked fun at early American gangster culture. He is an original member of the Directors Guild of Great Britain and was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1995 for his film efforts. He was later knighted at the 2002 New Year Honours in Australia and given an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from the University of Sunderland.

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Alan Dale net worth: Alan Dale is a New Zealand actor who has a net worth of $8 million dollars. Born in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand on May 4, 1947, Dale is best known for his appearances in The Young Doctors, Neighbours, The O.C., Ugly Betty, Lost, 24, NCIS, ER, The West Wing, The X-Files, Entourage, Once Upon a Time, Star Trek Nemesis, Hollywood Homicide, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and more. He is currently married to former Miss Australia, Tracey Pearson, and has four children by the names of Simon, Matthew, Daniel, and Nick. He has been active in the entertainment industry since 1979 and began performing at thirteen years old. He was 27 years old when he became a professional actor after auditioning for a local radio station broadcast. He started reigniting his career by taking acting at 52 years old and eventually earned his longest-running TV role on The O.C. as Caleb Nichol. Dale and his family currently live in Manhattan Beach in Los Angeles, California. He has appeared in approximately sixteen films and 54 television productions throughout his career.

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Alfred Hitchcock net worth: Alfred Hitchcock was an English director and producer with a net worth of $10 million dollars. Born in Leytonstone, Essex, England on August 13, 1899, Hitchcock was also known as "Hitch" or "The Master of Suspense." He attended Salesian College in London as well as St. Ignatius' College. He started working in the film industry in 1921 when he started working in film production in London under Paramount Pictures. He later began working as title designer for Gainsborough Pictures, which led to his rise to being a director. Hitchcock specialized in suspense and gallows humor, which were signature to his name in Hollywood. The rise of his career was doing the 1940s as he produced dynamic and culturally diverse films including Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Paradine Case, Shadow of a Doubt, Suspicion, Saboteur, Lifeboat, The Keys of the Kingdom, Spellbound, Notorious, and Under Capricorn. His peak occurred in the 1950s with the release of films such as Stage Fright, Strangers on a Train, I Confess, Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, The Man Who Knew Too Much (remake), The Wrong Man, Vertigo, and North by Northwest. In 1960 he released his most widely regarded film, Psycho. It was recognized as the most profitable black and white film in history as well as Hitchcock's most profitable in his career. Hitchcock later released The Birds, which featured Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, and Suzanne Pleshette. On April 29, 1980 Hitchcock died in Bel air of renal failure. He was married to Alma Reville and had one daughter by the name of Patricia. Hitchcock followed Roman Catholicism, and his Mass was held at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Beverly Hills, California. He was recognized for using repeat actors and actresses for his films including Clare Greet, Leo G. Carroll, Hannah Jones, Donald Calthrop, Cary Grant, Edmund Gwenn, Phyllis Konstam, John Longden James Stewart, Ingrid Bergman, Charles Halton, Patricia Hitchcock, Ian Hunter, Grace Kelly, Basil Radford, and John Williams.

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Austin Nichols net worth: Austin Nichols is an American actor who has a net worth of $4 million dollars. Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan on April 24, 1980, Austin Nichols is best known for his appearances on One Tree Hill and John from Cincinnati. Some of his notable film roles include The Day After Tomorrow and Wimbledon. He stands at six feet and three inches tall and began working in the entertainment industry in 1999. He is currently in a relationship with Chloe Bennet. Prior to acting, Nichols expressed an interest in competitive water skiing. He attended McCallum High School and after graduation moved to Los Angeles, California. He studied at the University of Southern California where he received his Bachelor's degree in English. He earned his acting start after crashing a Sundance Film Festival party. Nichols has had approximately eighteen film roles and 21 television roles.

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