Listen Now: The Big Flop

Summary

Summary of "Listen Now: The Big Flop" Episode from Wondery's "The Big Flop" Podcast

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Big Flop
• Host: Misha Brown
• Description: Each week, comedians join Misha Brown to chronicle pop culture's biggest failures and explore the intriguing stories behind them.

Episode Details:

• Episode Title: Listen Now: The Big Flop
• Release Date: May 23, 2025

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Introduction to the McDonald's Monopoly Scandal

In this engaging episode of "The Big Flop," host Misha Brown delves into one of the most notorious scams in corporate history—the McDonald's Monopoly game scandal. Joined by comedians Ify Wadiwe and Beth Stelling, as well as Jerome Jacobson, the episode unpacks how a seemingly innocent promotional campaign was manipulated to siphon off millions of dollars.

The Genesis of McDonald's Monopoly

Misha Brown sets the stage by highlighting the collaboration between McDonald's and the iconic board game, Monopoly, initiated by Simon Marketing in 1987. This partnership aimed to boost sales by offering customers the chance to win substantial prizes through game piece collections attached to food items.

Key Quote:

"Houses were way cheaper. I mean, that looked like the McAllister home from Home Alone for 250,000. Today, that is what, 2 million?"
— Misha Brown [05:24]

Mechanics of the Promotion

The promotion involved attaching Monopoly game pieces to McDonald's products, with specific combinations or instant-win pieces granting prizes ranging from a free meal to grand prizes like homes and vacations. Advertisements from 1987 revealed enticing prizes, including a $250,000 home, which seemed like a steal at the time.

Key Quote:

"Win a dream vacation. Collect these for a $250,000 home."
— Beth Stelling [05:05]

The Unraveling of the Scam

The episode shifts focus to the fraudulent activities led by Jerome Jacobson, McDonald's former head of security. Jacobson exploited his position to manipulate the game's integrity, ensuring he or his accomplices would secure the high-value prizes. This breach allowed the scam to persist for over a decade, resulting in McDonald's losing more than $24 million.

Key Quote:

"We are on a sinking ship."
— Jerome Jacobson [01:58]

Personal Anecdotes and Impact

Guests share their personal experiences and frustrations with the Monopoly promotion. Many listeners recall the illusion of nearing a big win, only to find repetitive or inconsequential prizes, which inadvertently boosted McDonald's sales despite the scam.

Key Quotes:

"People were, like, truly just getting the fries and ripping it off and then throwing the fries in the trash."
— Misha Brown [03:35]

"I feel like people were just getting repeat after repeat. Such a disappointment to peel that off the wet cup and find out you just have another fricking Park Place."
— Jerome Jacobson [02:59]

Consequences and Resolution

The fraudulent scheme eventually came to light, leading to significant legal repercussions for those involved. Jacobson's actions not only cost McDonald's millions but also shook consumer trust in the brand's promotional endeavors.

Key Quote:

"The game was compromised. It was rigged. The scam worked for more than a decade with the crooks making off with more than 24 million dollars."
— Beth Stelling [01:39]

Conclusion: Lessons Learned

Misha Brown wraps up the episode by reflecting on the broader implications of the McDonald's Monopoly scandal. The story serves as a cautionary tale about corporate security, the vulnerability of promotional campaigns to fraud, and the lasting impact such scandals can have on consumer trust and brand reputation.

Final Thought:

"Unless of course you're the Robin Hood of scammers. Or I guess in this case, the Hamburglar of scammers. Let's get into it, besties."
— Misha Brown [01:30]

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Additional Information:

• Access: Full episodes of "The Big Flop" are available on YouTube and major podcast platforms.
• Exclusive Content: Subscribers can listen early and enjoy ad-free episodes on Wondery+.

This episode of "The Big Flop" offers a riveting exploration of how a beloved promotional game became the center of a major corporate fraud, blending humor with insightful analysis to engage listeners and provide a comprehensive understanding of the McDonald's Monopoly scandal.

Transcript

[Misha Brown]

The Hamburglar was just a mascot, but.

[Ify Wadiwe]

Jerome Jacobson was the real deal. A McDonald's security chief who almost pulled off the ultimate inside job. Hi, I'm Misha Brown, the host of Wondery's podcast, the Big Flop. Each week, comedians join me to chronicle pop culture's biggest failures and try to answer the age old who thought this.

[Misha Brown]

Was a good idea.

[Ify Wadiwe]

At the time, the McDonald's collab with Monopoly was a genius idea.

[Misha Brown]

Come get a Big Mac and you.

[Ify Wadiwe]

Could go home with a million dollar prize piece. The only problem, when they picked their head of security, the one guy in charge of protecting those million dollar pieces. Let's just say McDonald's drew the wrong card. Comedians Ifywadiwe and Beth Stelling join me.

[Misha Brown]

To break down what really went down with the McDonald's monopoly scandal.

[Ify Wadiwe]

You're about to hear a preview of the Big Flop. Watch full episodes of the big flop on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

[Misha Brown]

Remember when a big beautiful family size house cost $250,000? Something like that today would be what, triple the price? Well, imagine you get that house for free, grandpa gets a million dollars and your best friend wins a brand new car. All thanks to the McDonald's Monopoly game. If that sounds too good to be true, that's because it is. Unless of course you're the Robin Hood of scammers. Or I guess in this case, the Hamburglar of scammers. Let's get into it, besties.

[Beth Stelling]

It's the Monopoly game only at McDonald's with over 50 million prizes and super sized excitement for years and years. The game was compromised. It was rigged. The scam worked for more than a decade with the crooks making off with more than 24 million doll.

[Jerome Jacobson]

We are on a sinking ship.

[Misha Brown]

From wondery and ill media. This is the Big Flop where we chronicle the greatest fails, blunders and flubs of all time. I'm your host, Misha Brown, social media superstar and super sized drama queen at your bestie, Misha. And on our show today, I'm so excited. We have an actor, a comedian and writer. It's dark Ifywatiwe.

[Ify Wadiwe]

Hey.

[Beth Stelling]

Hello.

[Unknown Comedian]

Hey, how's it going?

[Misha Brown]

So, so good. Woo. Woo. We are also joined by another comedian and podcast host of Sweethearts podcast. And we called your mom. It's Beth Stelling.

[Ify Wadiwe]

Hi.

[Jerome Jacobson]

Thank you for having me.

[Misha Brown]

So excited. So before we get into the whole story of McDonald's and the monopoly game, what do you remember yourself about the McDonald's Monopoly game?

[Jerome Jacobson]

It felt like they kept moving the finish line. I mean, I'm over here getting repeat after repeat. Such a disappointment to peel that off the wet cup and. Or the fries and find out you just have another fricking park place.

[Unknown Comedian]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I was all in. I probably just really made McDonald's sales numbers jump whenever it came around, because I. Because the way they did it is you'd always get two. You always get two. So you were always hunting down one and giving you that two made you think you were closer than you always were, even though everyone had the same two.

[Misha Brown]

It's so true.

[Jerome Jacobson]

I feel like people were, like, truly just getting the fries and ripping it off and then throwing the fries in the trash.

[Misha Brown]

Like, not another one. Well, today we are talking about how one man managed to cost McDonald's a whole lot more than Monopoly money by taking one of its most popular promotions of all time. And, yes, this story does end with someone going directly to jail. So the board game Monopoly was invented in the beginning of the 20th century, and by the 1980s, it's become an American institution, just like another M name. We all know and love McDonald's. I'm loving it. So the idea to combine these two iconic brands comes from a company called Simon Marketing in 1987. And Simon Marketing also came up with Happy Meals. So, I mean, they know a thing or two about. About selling hamburgers. You know what I mean? Now, the way the Monopoly game works is when you buy something at McDonald's, there are monopoly game pieces attached to your drink or your fries package or your burger box. You can also find the pieces in ads in magazines and newspapers, which I did not remember that. The pieces are covered by little flaps that you peel off. And if you find the right combination of Monopoly pieces or the instant win pieces, you win a prize. So let's take a look at an ad for the monopoly game from 1987.

[Beth Stelling]

Win a dream vacation. Collect these for a $250,000 home.

[Misha Brown]

What?

[Jerome Jacobson]

A home? I don't remember that.

[Unknown Comedian]

Yeah, I didn't know that you were winning houses. That's.

[Jerome Jacobson]

That was in 87.

[Unknown Comedian]

So, yeah, that's true. Houses were way cheaper.

[Misha Brown]

Way cheaper. I mean, that looked like the McAllister home from Home Alone for 250,000. Today, that is what, 2 million?

[Jerome Jacobson]

We will drop this house on top of out.

[Misha Brown]

Watch full episodes of the big flop.

[Ify Wadiwe]

On YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcast.