It is quite natural for everyone to make mistakes but generally when we make a mistake, we try our best to rectify it, learn from it, or just pretend like it never happened. But sometimes, there are certain mistakes that are unforgettable, not because of the mistake itself but, because of all the additional monetary costs associated with it.
So, if you are interested in learning about the most expensive mistakes in history, keep on reading.
1. The Trade of Alaska
It is not always companies and people who make bad business moves–sometimes it’s governments that mess up too. The Russian Federation, back when it was an empire ruled by Tsar Alexander II, sold the land which is now known as Alaska to the United States of America for $7.2 million. Alaska wasn’t originally part of the US, which is why it is separate from the mainland. However, what is shocking is the fact that with its numerous oil fields that are being discovered even today, Alaska is worth more than a conservative estimated value of $130 million.
Pinterest | Now that is what we call a bad bargain
2. Time Warner Bought by AOL
Everyone from the ’90s probably remembers AOL before the tech giant’s downfall. In 2000, the tech company’s popularity was at an all-time high which caught the attention of many investors, one of which happened to be Time Warner. Although the the popularity of the internet and its usage continued to rise, with the 2008 stock market crash and subsequent recession, there was a merger between AOL and Time Warner. Despite the fact that AOL spent an eye-watering $192 billion on the merger, it didn’t work out in the end and the companies ended up parting ways.
Techmundo | Time Warner continues to thrive while AOL is little more than just another name in the history books
3. Apollo 13
With A-lister actors like Tom Hanks at the helm, “Apollo 13” was set to take over the box office but unfortunately, the space craft the film was based on and its crew did not fare so well. Jim Lovell, one of the original Apollo 13 astronauts, claimed the spacecraft was struck by bad luck but thankfully, all the astronauts of the spacecraft made it. The issue came in when a damaged oxygen tank was installed in the spacecraft, which resulted in a blast while the craft and its crew were traveling in space.
Apollo | That’s why everything must be checked thrice during sensitive and complicated missions
