Jimmy Fallon asked people to share their 'dumb bets' and the responses are absolutely hilarious

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Who hasn’t been led astray by dumb bet? The promise of five bucks to name every state capitol, or a whopping $50 to eat something bizarre or grotesque … why, it’s a classic form of mindless (but mostly harmless) entertainment. And sometimes the entire plot of a movie.
When the chance of winning money is involved, that little voice inside our head that says “hey, since when can you do parkour?” can become nothing more than a whisper. Think Truth or Dare, but with a tiny capitalist twist. Plus, there’s the thrill of defying the odds. Get lucky, prove your friend wrong. What could be better?
Personally, I still tend to play it safe. I’ll make some quick cash testing my obscure sci-fi knowledge, but that’s about it. But clearly, some people take it up a notch. Jimmy Fallon recently asked his “Tonight Show” audience to share some of of their wagers with #MyDumbBet on Twitter. Here are 20 of the silliest, most satisfying responses. Bet you can’t get through them all without shaking your head.1.
My friend bet me $50 he could finish his beer without touching it. He then paid the bartender $5 to pour it in his mouth. #MyDumbBet
— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) March 14, 2022
A $45 dollar profit! Not bad.
2.
my friend bet me $50 that I wouldn’t jump off the garage roof and land on my feet. I landed on my feet… in the trashcan #MyDumbBet
— Marina ╰(*´︶`*)╯💙 (@kanothenano) March 14, 2022
Sometimes even when you win, you lose.
3.
in HS - friend bet me to hop out the window at school, run across the lot, and sneak back in - I did it!
— zach urquhart (@zurquhart) March 15, 2022
I bet him to do it...he got out and ran, but as he returned, the teacher came to the window and stopped him dead in his tracks - his face was PRICELESS #mydumbbet
4.
When we were kids I bet my brother he couldn’t sit in the babies safety swing at the park. Technically he won the bet but it took over an hour to free him and we had to call Mum and Dad #MyDumbBet
— Sonya (@Sohnzie) March 14, 2022
5.
When I was a kid, my grandmother bet me 100 bucks to eat a whole raw onion. I ate it. She didn't pay. #MyDumbBet
— Dr. S e f e r 🩺 🇦🇱🇽🇰 (@SeferMemaj) March 14, 2022
Wow. That's cold, grandma.
6.
Last year in a snowy winter, I bet my friend if he touch the pole with his tongue 😛 then i will give him $20. He told me to give him a demo and I ended up with my tongue stuck in the pole for 30min.🤣
— BeatBot NFT creator (@BeatBot_NFTs) March 15, 2022
7.
I bet my kid $5 to tie his own shoes. He told me he would except no less than $100 for that. 🤣👌 #mydumbbet pic.twitter.com/oyh2CJlvlx
— Just Sarah 🏀💍🦌 (@Soccer_3_Mom) March 14, 2022
This kid knows the value of a dollar.
8.
On the first day of my new high school, a classmate was reading the roll sheet and bet me $10 that I couldn't spell a student's first name since it's "so odd". The name was Shayna. I spelled it right and he asked how. I smiled and said, "That's me". Easiest $10 ever. #MyDumbBet
— sup?ImaBeaver (@overbaughs) March 14, 2022
That's spelled P-A-Y-M-E-N-O-W.
9.
In high school, my friend Nancy and I couldn't get to the ice cream shop fast enough after school, so I bet her we could beat the train that was coming down the tracks in my 1978 Ford named "Bucky." Yeah. We made it in the nick of time. Dumb, invincible teenagers.#MyDumbBet
— Laura Oakes (@LauraWCCO) March 14, 2022
My anxiety shot through the roof after reading this one.
10.
I bet my friend $20 that a large trash bag could be used as a parachute. After breaking his ankles from jumping off the house, I’d say that I lost. Not as bad as him though. #MyDumbBet
— Mark McMillan.. (@Markey227) March 14, 2022
11.
It’s actually a cute one for me, a dumb one for my friend… I asked my friend if her gf would propose to her first, and she said her gf would never propose. I bet my friend she would… fully knowing that her gf was about to propose. Easiest $100 I ever won. #MyDumbBet
— Bia👑 (@BiaKing93) March 14, 2022
An easy win and a sweet moment!
12.
My cocky highschool friend was 3 weeks into martial arts lessons and was boasting his reflexes. He challenged me to red hands. He said "bet you $20 you can't slap my hands". SLAP. Then he got mad and said "double or nothin!"...SLAP. #MyDumbBet
— bigmonu (@bigmonu) March 15, 2022
13.
#MyDumbBet I bet friends I can jump higher than the building. I then hop, and tell the building,"your turn."
— Grantt Ward Gaming (@GranttWard) March 14, 2022
This guy knew how to use language to his advantage.
14.
In high school I bet my coworker I could "open" the ice cream store in 15 min (usually took an hour). Going great until I poured 6 gallons of liquid froyo into the machine. Heard splattering. I forgot to put the fronts of the machines on. Took an hour to mop it up. #MyDumbBet
— seamirac1979 (@seamirac1979) March 14, 2022
Fro-oh no!
15.
I bet my dad 100 bucks he couldn't eat a slice of pizza with chopsticks in 30 seconds. He then somehow managed to fit the entire slice in his mouth in one big bite. #MyDumbBet
— Yash Jagnani (@TheJokerDead1) March 14, 2022
Dad's not messing around.
16.
I bet my friend he couldn't slap my teacher on his head
— Wendie the OverSabi😏😏 (@Wendie_anya) March 14, 2022
He proceeded to the board and gave him a hot slap...
He told Mr. Charles that there was a mosquito on his head.🤣🤣🤣
17.
I was riding on the church bus going to Sunday School and a girl put her glasses on the floor and bet that I wouldn’t step on them. I put my foot over them, not intending to step on them but we hit a bump and I crushed them. #MyDumbBet
— Jay Offer (@joeoffer2) March 14, 2022
That's the thing about dumb bets ... you never know when you're being set up for failure.
18.
I bet my nephew $50 he couldn’t stop saying the word “like” for one hour. Without hesitating he said, “This is gonna be like the easiest 50 bucks…Doh!” #MyDumbBet
— Rob (@rschmidt42) March 14, 2022
Ugh, I would, like, lose so hard at this too.
19.
#MyDumbBet I bet my college friend that she couldn't catch more 10 peanuts in her mouth from across the room... She caught them all, but also found out she had an allergy...
— Samantha Davidson (@Sallyjo25) March 14, 2022
20.
I bet my friend I could get a date with Chris Evans! 😭🤣
— Danielle Nicole (@DNicola22s) March 15, 2022
Still trying so I didn't lose right? #mydumbbet
Never give up!
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12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.