Massucci's Take: McDonald's Monopoly winner gets a sweet $1 million
Filed under: Company News, Technology, Columns, Economy, People, Media, McDonald's
Anyone who has ever gone on a Big Mac binge in hopes of winning the $1 million prize in the McDonald's Monopoly game may be feeling a little more hopeful. Brandi Futch, of White House, Tenn., collected both Boardwalk and Park Place (the two pieces needed to win) after she ordered a McChicken sandwich, fries and a sweet tea. The big prize came on that sweet cup of tea.Futch, 23, who couldn't be immediately reached by DailyFinance, works in customer service for the Grand Ole Opry and will receive $50,000 a year for the next 20 years. It may not be enough to retire on, especially after taxes, but it's enough to take care of most of her needs.
"I'm still in shock," Futch was quoted saying in a McDonald's (MCD) press release. "I haven't decided what I'll do with the money I've won, but I know that a new house and car are on my list." Even with her $1 million prize, Futch said she plans to keep playing the game.
While I believe McDonald's Monopoly has grown a little too complicated over the years, news that someone has won will certainly help ignite interest in the game. Lauren Velasquez, a customer at a New York City McDonald's, who is four years younger than the Monopoly winner, says hearing about Futch's victory makes her more likely to play the fast-food giant's game next year. "I totally thought that never happened," she says.
"I thought it was a scam for McDonald's to make you buy more food and get fat," says Velasquez's friend Jocelyn Milligan, also 19, of Brooklyn. The two don't eat at McDonald's often, they say, but they like the idea of winning if they're going to buy the food anyway.
McDonald's Monopoly is a decades-long tradition (it wasn't played in 2002, though), says Douglas Freeland, a director of marketing who has run the program for several years. Although people of all ages play, Freeland says the game specifically targets folks between the ages of 18 and 29.
Ever since I collected Frosted Flakes box tops to get a Tony the Tiger cereal bowl in the mail at age seven, I've been a sucker for marketing campaigns like McDonald's Monopoly. Although I'd rather save the calories and buy a lottery ticket, few things match the unexpected thrill of sitting down to eat and finding out you have won $1 million.
While McDonald's doesn't have a monopoly on giving away big prizes, it does have a big winner and now another face to put forward to help promote McDonald's Monopoly in the future. Futch will be collecting her million from McDonald's into her early 40s and, I'd imagine, singing its praises a million times over the next 20 years.
Anthony Massucci is a senior writer and columnist for DailyFinance. You may follow him on Twitter at hianthony.



























Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
11-12-2009 @ 8:11AM
edgewater917 said...
u r a d bag
11-12-2009 @ 6:25AM
nancy said...
If Mc Donalds can give away millons, why am i giving them
my change at check out ?????
Reply
11-12-2009 @ 6:38AM
Bob said...
To help build and run Ronald McDonald houses for families of children with serous illnesses, fund scholarships, fund Ronald McDonald Care Mobile which sends medical help to children around the world who cannot get it otherwise... need I go on?
11-12-2009 @ 9:35AM
Blanche said...
Well, I am so glad to see that somebody actually won the big prize that was not affiliated with the marketing company that bilked people out of winning the prize for so many years. This win seems to be legit. Someone should do a background investigation of her to see if she is related to someone from the marketing firm that runs this program, though.
11-12-2009 @ 10:43AM
Bobbb said...
Where do you think they go the million bucks, DA?
11-12-2009 @ 11:07AM
Kira said...
Hmmm.. never thought of that Nancy
11-12-2009 @ 6:50AM
sue said...
My God people! Stick to the subject. No one wants to hear about your weight lose, where you found love, etc. As far as the girl winning, I'm happy for her. I get a sweet tea everyday from McDonalds, and I played the game, but never such a sweet deal! Congratulations! And AOL I thought you were supposed to stop people who posted these ad's and links for something else besides the topic!
Reply
11-12-2009 @ 7:38AM
Beverly said...
You are 100% true Sue. Where are the ones that are suppose to be chatching these things?
11-13-2009 @ 9:40AM
htc said...
Bev, it's not so much "who" is supposed to be catching these things as "what". These scammers use tricks to get their messages past the software programs that are supposed to weed them out-notice the changes in the spacing of the website addresses. There wouldn't be enough auditors in the world to catch all the people seeking free advertising on the comments boards without the screening programs doing 90% of the work.
11-12-2009 @ 2:06PM
TJ said...
It never fails. Some miserable devil will always post some negative comment about someone's appearance. No happy soul ever goes around spreading misery--it's the last thing you think about when you are joyful. You may not know it, but your comments are an insight into the state of your being, and they speak volumes about just how unhappy a person can truly be.
11-12-2009 @ 7:09AM
Mark said...
Good for her! That's a big girl there - short bus full fledged BIG. Maybe she can start eating healthier now.
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11-12-2009 @ 10:30AM
pegz said...
Mark,
Jealous, much?
Congrats to this lady. I get a Diet Dr. Pepper a few times a week at McDonald's but I can't stomach fast food. Ewwwie it just tastes like rancid grease to me. But it would have been so cool to eat something and make money off it out of calories, heartburn, and cholestrol. heh.
I always wondered if that Monopoly game was a scam -I guess it's not. My son won a few meals and that was about it.
Once again, congrats! and ignore all the jealous and rude comments! Have fun all the way to the bank!
11-12-2009 @ 1:10PM
colcam said...
After well over fifty years of photography I can say-- with assurance-- that the camera more than "adds ten pounds" to everyone, and in casual dress and unprepared and taken from a "news angle" the weight gain is horrendous in appearance. That's the reason models are wire coat hangers now-- a wooden coat hanger would look too heavy-- and why actors look like they should be force fed when you meet them in person.
.
11-12-2009 @ 7:14AM
wzrdofroo said...
funny thing is.. I was working with her dad. the day after she won the million dollars.. he got laid off.. of course so did 55 other people... it was a big joke that day that he was the only one that didn't have to worry about money.
Reply
11-12-2009 @ 7:37AM
dinsain1 said...
Anyone realise she's a fatty, like me I wanted to win and I too gained 20lbs. All these winners are fatties. but congrats to her, she can go get lipo now. Yes I am salty that she won, I am gonna go eat two big macs now.
Reply
11-12-2009 @ 7:40AM
Rob said...
I've been playing the McD's Monopoly since it was first interduced back in the 70's. So far all I've won is a small fries.
Reply
11-12-2009 @ 7:44AM
Pamela S said...
THIS IS FOR GET RICH EVERY OCTOBER "MCDONALDS" They are the only ones....
Please note I am very happy for the young lady winning the !1mil....Nevertheless, she can only see in increments of $50, per year.
As I went onto McDondld Facebook PAGE. THERE WERE ONLY 176 PEOPLE OUT OF MILLIONS.
MY ONLY AND LAST ENTRY...SAYS 'McDonalds Sucks".
They won't let you tell what really goes on, on their Facebok Page..
My daughter lives in Orlando, She sent me two pieces from the lucky, happy town of OTown. I living in Ohio couldn't use them. How come sleazy, corrupt McDonalds?????
I DON'T WANT TO SEE IT (MCD'S MONOPOLY GAME), COMING BACK IN AMERICA, EVER AGAIN.
I SUPPOSE THAT THEY MD'S LAUGH AT PEOPLE LIKE US IN NOWHERE, BUT STILL SOMEWHERE , OHIO.
THE LAST LAUGH IS MINE....."I WILL NEVER PLAY" YOUR SLEAZY, CORRUPT, ALSO PLANNED WHERE THEY KNOW THE PIECES ARE GOING.THE PIECES ARE GOING TO, CRAPPY GAME, EVER, EVER AGAIN.
PAMELA S.
I STILL LIVE SOMEWHERE IN AMERICA
Reply
11-12-2009 @ 7:54AM
Chris said...
Really Pamela???? Seriously???? LMAO
Reply
11-12-2009 @ 7:55AM
David said...
What is a "sweet cup of tea"? You mean a cup of sweet tea? The way they word these things is terrible.
Reply
11-12-2009 @ 11:17AM
Gail said...
Years ago, McDonald's would put the game tickets on all the food items and I remember winning a small food items quite often. This gave you the opportunity to collect more pieces too. Now, you only get the pieces on large food items that I avoid for myself and children and they give you less then four weeks to collect the pieces. Unless you eat large items everyday you can not collect the pieces that you need in time to win. McDonald's will use her as an example but I am sure it was shocking to even them, given the circumstances that you need to win. It would be in their best interest to go back to the old way and give people the opportunity to win small items, it would make their customers a lot happier.