1

The man who sold everything he owned and bet it all on one spin

In 2004, a 32-year-old British man named Ashley Revell walked into the Plaza Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and placed every dollar he had in the world on a single spin of the roulette wheel.

In the months before, Revell had sold his house in Kent, his BMW, his Rolex watch, his golf clubs, his electronics, his furniture, and every piece of clothing he owned. The grand total of his liquidated possessions came to $135,300 . He pushed the entire stack of chips onto red as the ball was already spinning. It landed on Red 7.

Revell walked away with $270,600, exactly double what he had come in with. He tipped the croupier $600 on the way out. The whole thing was filmed by Sky One for a reality mini-series called Double or Nothing .

2

Beneath the casinos, an estimated 1,500 people live underground

Below the glittering hotels and neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip runs a network of concrete flood drainage tunnels stretching roughly 600 miles beneath the city. Built in the 1990s to manage flash flooding in the Nevada desert, these tunnels have become an unofficial home for hundreds of the city’s unhoused residents.

It is estimated that between 1,200 and 1,500 people live there . Some residents have constructed makeshift shelters from plywood and salvaged metal deep inside the tunnels, occasionally just yards below the casino floors above them.

The tunnels pose serious dangers: flooding risk during desert rainstorms, extreme heat, and high rates of substance abuse. A network of nonprofits, outreach teams, and government agencies coordinates aid by providing the residents with essentials and offering them long-term case management, like treatment and housing placement.

3

Las Vegas has a literal black book of people banned for life

Since 1960, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has maintained what it officially calls the List of Excluded Persons, better known as the Black Book. The original publication was a black-covered booklet held together with Scotch tape, listing eleven people deemed to have "notorious or unsavory reputations."

Most of the early entries were organized crime figures: Chicago outfit boss Sam Giancana; enforcer Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro, whose violent exploits inspired Joe Pesci’s character in the film Casino ; and nine other mob associates. Anyone whose name appears on the list is permanently banned from entering any licensed gaming establishment in the state of Nevada.

Violating the ban is a gross misdemeanor under Nevada law. As of 2026, there are 37 names on the list. No one has ever successfully appealed their removal.

4

Strange casino rules: no clocks, no windows, no soft dice

Las Vegas casinos are designed to keep gamblers at the tables as long as possible. Clocks are banned to distract players from the passing of time. Windows are eliminated so that they cannot tell whether it is noon or 3 a.m.

What’s more, Nevada law governs even the dice. The Nevada Gaming Control Board requires casino dice to be perfectly transparent so that no hidden weights can be concealed inside . Each die must be precision-manufactured to within 1/10,000th of an inch, with razor-sharp corners and edges showing no rounding whatsoever. They are inspected regularly and, in high-stakes games, replaced every eight hours of play to ensure consistent rolls.

5

The famous Las Vegas Strip is not actually in Las Vegas

The stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard South that the world knows as the Strip does not lie within the city limits of Las Vegas. This is the area that’s home to Caesars Palace, the Bellagio, MGM Grand, the Venetian, Mandalay Bay, and dozens of other iconic venues.

Technically, it falls within an unincorporated community called Paradise , which is governed by Clark County rather than the city of Las Vegas. Paradise was deliberately established in 1950, when casino owners moved to avoid Las Vegas city taxes and regulations while continuing to trade on the city’s name and benefit from its infrastructure.

The city of Las Vegas actually begins further north along the boulevard, near the Stratosphere. Paradise covers approximately 54 square miles and has a residential population of around 220,000 people, which means it’s one of the largest and most densely populated unincorporated communities in the United States.

6

The Luxor’s sky beam is the most powerful artificial light on earth

Rising straight up from the apex of the black pyramid-shaped Luxor Hotel and Casino, the Luxor Sky Beam has been one of the most recognizable sights in Las Vegas since the hotel opened in October 1993. It is, by any measure, the most powerful artificial light beam on the planet. The beam is produced by 39 individual xenon lamps, each with 7,000 watts and roughly the size of a washing machine, focused through computer-designed curved mirrors into a single concentrated column.

Together, they generate an estimated 42.3 billion candlepower. On a clear night, airline pilots have reported seeing the beam from as far as 250 miles away. The total operating cost, confirmed by Luxor engineer John Lichtsteiner, is $51 per hour, of which $20 is electricity. That adds up to $480 a day only for lighting the signature beam each night —or $175,200 a year.

7

Las Vegas is home to the tallest observation tower in the US

Standing 1,149 feet above the Las Vegas valley, the Strat Tower, officially rebranded from the Stratosphere in 2020, is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the US and the second-tallest in the entire Western Hemisphere, surpassed only by the CN Tower in Toronto at 1,815 feet. It is also the tallest building in Nevada and the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River.

At the top, the Strat offers four outdoor thrill rides, including one that dangles riders 64 feet beyond the edge of the building on a mechanical arm, over 900 feet above the ground.

8

Slot machines account for around 60% of all casino revenue

Walk into any Las Vegas casino, and the first thing that surrounds you (and the loudest) is the rows of slot machines that line nearly every available wall and corridor. That layout is not a coincidence.

It is estimated that slot machines consistently generate approximately 60 to 65 percent of all casino gaming revenue in Nevada. There is roughly one operating slot machine for every eight residents of Las Vegas. Nevada law requires that video slot machines pay out a minimum average of 75 percent, though Strip machines in practice typically return 87 to 97 percent.

Casinos place the most visible, most tempting machines near entrances, elevators, and high-foot-traffic corridors , a placement strategy that has been studied and refined over decades. Despite the rise of poker rooms and sports betting in recent years, slot machines have remained the single largest source of gaming income in Las Vegas without interruption for more than half a century.

9

The gambling capital of the world does not sell lottery tickets

Nevada is one of only two states in the entire United States that have no state lottery, the other being Utah. You cannot legally walk into a convenience store and buy a $2 scratch-off ticket.

The reason is straightforward and has nothing to do with moral opposition. Nevada’s gaming industry has lobbied persistently and successfully against a state lottery since gambling was first legalized in 1931, on the grounds that a government-run lottery would directly compete with casino revenues.

10

FedEx was saved from bankruptcy by a Las Vegas blackjack table

In 1971, FedEx, then called Federal Express, was days away from collapse. Founder Frederick W. Smith had built the company on the revolutionary idea of overnight package delivery using a central hub-and-spoke air network, but the business was not working.

The company had roughly $5,000 left in its operating account. It was not enough. Facing what appeared to be the end, Smith flew to Las Vegas and sat down at a blackjack table. He gambled the company’s last $5,000 and turned it into $27,000, which was just enough to cover that week’s fuel costs and keep the planes in the air. The breathing room bought by that blackjack session gave Smith enough time to secure additional financing. Today, FedEx employs more than 500,000 people worldwide and is valued at over $60 billion.

1

Big Shanty to Kennesaw

Image: Joe Yates

Changing the name was probably a good idea, as "shanty" is not the most flattering description for this suburban city northwest of Atlanta in Cobb County, Georgia. The original name was given in the 1830s when the Western and Atlantic Railroad was built, and shanty towns were established to house the workers . In 1887, the city’s name was changed to Kennesaw.

2

Rough and Ready to Mountain View

Image: Waldemar

A community with an interesting name, for sure, Rough and Ready was originally named after the Rough and Ready Tavern (also known as the Bagley House ), a stagecoach stop on the route from Macon to northern Georgia.

The name changed in 1956 when the community was incorporated as a city. It was renamed Mountain View —a reference to the fact that, on a clear day, Stone Mountain can be seen 20 miles to the east.

3

Terminus to Atlanta

Image: Gary Doughty

Atlanta, Georgia, was once known as Terminus because it served as the final station of a major state-sponsored railroad . However, as time passed, several other railroads converged in the city, the largest being the Western and Atlantic Railroad— from which the name "Atlanta" comes.

4

Idlewild Airport to John F. Kennedy Airport

Image: Afif Ramdhasuma

Although originally named New York International Airport , the 1948 facility was commonly known as Idlewild Airport . However, following the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963, it was officially renamed as it is today, in his honor.

5

New Amsterdam to New York

Image: Luca Bravo

There was a time when New York was called New Amsterdam. In the 17th century, the Dutch established a settlement at the southern tip of Manhattan Island , serving as the seat of the colonial government in New Netherland . It officially became a city in 1653.

However, when the English took control of New Amsterdam in 1664, they renamed it New York after the Duke of York.

6

Minnehanonck to Blackwell to Welfare to Roosevelt Island

Image: Mason C

The third New York-area entry on our list is an island in the middle of the East River , adjacent to Manhattan. It was originally called Minnehanonck by the Native Americans and later became known as Blackwell’s Island.

In 1921, it was renamed Welfare Island, and in 1973, it was renamed once more in honor of former U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

7

Hot Springs to Truth or Consequences Hot Springs

Image: Ethan Wright-Magoon

Believe it or not, this town accepted a challenge from the 1950s game show Truth or Consequences to change its name in exchange for hosting the program.

Since then, Hot Springs, New Mexico, has been known as Truth or Consequences Hot Springs.

8

Halfway to Half.com to Halfway

Image: everett mcintire

Another example of a town that changed its name in exchange for a reward is Halfway, Oregon. In the 1990s, as part of a marketing campaign , the town agreed to rename itself "Half.com" for an entire year in return for $110,000 and 20 computers for a local school —all to promote an internet start-up.

9

East and West Mauch Chunk to Jim Thorpe

Image: Donnie Rosie

The picturesque borough of Jim Thorpe in Pennsylvania was once known as East and West Mauch Chunk . However, after Native American sports legend Jim Thorpe passed away, the municipality negotiated a deal with his heirs to become the site of his tomb and rename the town in his honor , hoping to boost tourism.

10

North Tarrytown to Sleepy Hollow

Image: Richard Hedrick

North Tarrytown was the home of American writer Washington Irving , who drew inspiration from the town for his short story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow .

In 1996, the town officially changed its name to Sleepy Hollow , honoring both the writer and the story that brought it worldwide fame.

11

Barrow to Utqiagvik

Image: Alexis Mette

This Arctic Circle city was once known as Barrow , named for its proximity to Point Barrow , America's northernmost point. However, following a referendum approved by residents in 2016, the city's name was officially changed from Barrow to Utqiagvik to better reflect its native roots .

12

Bella Vista to West Pittsburg to Bay Point

Image: Robert Bye

The original name of this community, Bella Vista (meaning "Beautiful View" in Spanish), was changed to West Pittsburg. However, because it was often confused with the western unincorporated section of Pittsburgh, California , the name was revised again in 1993 to Bay Point, reviving a historical name used in the area.

1

George Washington - The whiskey-making Founding Father

Image: Daniel Vogel

After leading the nation, George Washington stepped into the world of spirits, whiskey spirits, that is! In 1797, his farm manager convinced him to open a distillery at Mount Vernon . Within two years, it became one of the largest in the country, producing nearly 11,000 gallons of whiskey annually.

Here’s a fun fact: Washington didn’t need a marketing team. His whiskey was sold in unmarked barrels to local merchants, and his operation was so successful that it became one of the top money-makers in the area. The best part? You can try it today at the reconstructed distillery!

2

Theodore Roosevelt - Adventurer-in-Chief

Image: Zetong Li

Not one to sit still, Theodore Roosevelt went on an exploration of the Amazon rainforest after leaving office. In 1913, he embarked on a seven-month journey to map an uncharted river . Guess what it’s called today? The Roosevelt River, of course!

The expedition was grueling: he caught malaria, suffered a leg injury, and nearly died. Though he made it back home, his health never fully recovered. Roosevelt’s post-presidency was all about adventure and risks!

3

Thomas Jefferson - The University Founder

Image: Ryan Ledbetter

Thomas Jefferson didn’t just help write the Declaration of Independence; he also founded the University of Virginia . A firm believer in education, he wanted to create a university that emphasized academic freedom and rigorous learning. So, in 1819, ten years after leaving office, he established the University of Virginia, which opened in 1825.

Jefferson personally designed the campus, including its iconic Rotunda, and hand-picked the first professors. He once called the university one of his greatest accomplishments, right up there with drafting the Declaration of Independence.

4

John Quincy Adams - From President to Congressman

Image: Ian Hutchinson

John Quincy Adams didn’t believe in retirement, you know? He didn’t go back for a second term, but instead of stepping away from public service, he returned to Congress, serving in the House of Representatives for nine terms until his death in 1848.

His dedication earned him the nickname "Father of the House." Even in his final moments, he was working: he collapsed on the House floor after casting a vote and died two days later. Well, once a public servant, always a public servant.

5

William Howard Taft - From President to Supreme Court Justice

Image: Adam Michael Szuscik

Most former presidents take a step back from government, but William Howard Taft went in the opposite direction. After serving as the 27th president, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in 1921.

He later admitted that being on the Supreme Court was his true calling, famously stating, "I don’t remember that I ever was president." Taft remains the only person in history to have served in both roles! Talk about an upgrade!

6

Calvin Coolidge - Presidential columnist

Image: AbsolutVision

Some former presidents write memoirs, but Calvin Coolidge took it a step further. From 1930 to 1931, he wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper column titled Thinking Things Over with Calvin Coolidge .

His articles covered a range of topics, from politics to everyday life. As it turns out, running a country gives you plenty to write about!

7

Jimmy Carter - The humanitarian president

Image: Library of Congress

If there’s one president who redefined life after the White House, that is Jimmy Carter. In 1982, he founded the Carter Center , a nonprofit organization focused on democracy, health, and human rights.

He has also spent decades working with Habitat for Humanity, personally helping to build homes for those in need. In 2002, Carter’s humanitarian work earned him the Nobel Peace Prize, making him the only former president to receive the honor for efforts made after leaving office. He once said his post-presidency was "more gratifying" than his time in politics. Only logical, right?

8

Ronald Reagan - A Knight of the Realm

Image: Annie Spratt

Yes, that’s a literal title. Ronald Reagan didn’t take up a new career after leaving office, but he did receive an unexpected knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. In 1989, just months after stepping down as president, he was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath.

While it’s a prestigious honor, American citizens aren’t allowed to use the title "Sir," so there was no "Sir Ronald" in the works. Reagan wasn’t the only president to receive this honor; Dwight Eisenhower and George H.W. Bush were also knighted.

9

Bill Clinton - Grammy-winning storyteller

Image: Annie Spratt

Bill Clinton has always been a gifted speaker, so it’s no surprise that he won not one, but two Grammy Awards, though they weren’t for playing his famous saxophone. He won Best Spoken Word Album in 2004 and 2005, narrating both a children’s book and his autobiography.

Clinton joins a small but prestigious club of American presidents who have won Grammys, including Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter. His ability to captivate audiences didn’t end with politics; he simply found a new stage.

10

George W. Bush - From the White House to the Art Studio

Image: Yannis Papanastasopoulos

After serving two terms as president, George W. Bush discovered a surprising new passion: painting. How about that? In 2012, he began taking art lessons , and by 2013, his paintings were revealed to the public following an email hack.

Bush embraced his new hobby and has since published several collections, including Portraits of Courage , which features paintings of US military veterans. His artwork has been exhibited in galleries, proving that a president can become an artist, too. While politics was his career, painting has become his personal form of expression.