One of the most famous and largest cash sweepstakes giveaways in the world was the McDonald’s Monopoly Sweepstakes, which awarded prizes worth up to $1 million at its height. Introduced in 1987, the game combined McDonald’s products with Monopoly-themed game pieces that could be collected to win cash, cars, and other prizes. By the 1990s and early 2000s, the sweepstakes had grown into a massive promotion, attracting millions of participants across the globe.

The most coveted prize was the $1 million cash reward, which required players to collect rare game pieces corresponding to the highest-value properties on the Monopoly board. The thrill of winning big kept customers coming back, hoping for that one lucky pull on their fries or drink cup that could change their lives forever. With a long list of prizes and the simplicity of participation, the McDonald’s Monopoly Sweepstakes became one of the most iconic marketing campaigns in history.

However, the sweepstakes was marred by one of the biggest scandals in promotional history. In 2001, it was revealed that a group of individuals, including an employee of the marketing company that ran the sweepstakes, had rigged the game to steal over $24 million in prizes. This fraud, now known as the McDonald’s Monopoly Scandal, saw the arrest and conviction of several individuals who manipulated the distribution of winning game pieces to their own network of friends and family. The rigging scandal was exposed by the FBI, who conducted a sting operation and brought the fraudsters to justice.

Despite the scandal, the McDonald’s Monopoly Sweepstakes continued to be a significant event, drawing millions of participants annually. The company revamped its prize distribution system to ensure fairness, implementing tighter controls and stronger oversight to prevent future incidents of fraud. Even after the scandal, the sweepstakes remained popular, with McDonald’s offering impressive prizes such as cash, cars, vacations, and even real estate over the years.

The McDonald’s Monopoly Sweepstakes is a prime example of how a large-scale marketing campaign can capture the public’s imagination and become a cultural phenomenon. While the cash prizes were a huge draw, the excitement of playing and collecting game pieces added an element of fun and anticipation to each McDonald’s visit.

Though other sweepstakes have since emerged with massive prize pools, such as lotteries and online contests, the McDonald’s Monopoly Sweepstakes remains one of the most memorable and significant in terms of cash giveaways. Its history, including both its incredible prizes and the infamous scandal, makes it a landmark in the world of promotional marketing. It shows the power of sweepstakes to create excitement, brand loyalty, and, occasionally, controversy on a global scale.