Have you ever come across a seemingly simple math puzzle that makes you second-guess yourself? The viral $100 theft question is one such brain teaser that has left many people scratching their heads. At first glance, the situation seems straightforward—but when you break it down, the true loss isn’t as obvious as it seems.

Let’s carefully analyze the scenario step by step and uncover the actual financial loss suffered by the store.

Understanding the Scenario: The $100 Theft

A man walks into a store and steals a $100 bill from the cash register. Later, he returns to the same store and buys $70 worth of goods, using the same stolen $100 bill to pay for his purchase. The store gives him $30 in change.

Now, the question is: How much did the store actually lose?

Most people rush to answer, but let’s break it down carefully before jumping to conclusions.

Video: A Man Steals $100 Bill Riddle Explained

Step 1: The Initial Theft – A $100 Loss

When the man steals $100 from the register, the store immediately suffers a loss of $100 in cash. At this moment, the financial impact is clear:

• The register is short by $100.
• The store has lost money, but no goods have been taken yet.

At this stage, the store is at a negative $100 balance due to the stolen cash.

Step 2: The Purchase – Recovering the Stolen Cash

Later, the thief buys $70 worth of merchandise and pays with the stolen $100 bill.

From the store’s perspective:

• They receive back the stolen $100 bill, meaning their register is no longer missing money.
• However, they lose $70 worth of inventory since the goods have now left the store.
• The thief also gets $30 in change, which comes out of the store’s cash register.

Step 3: Calculating the Total Loss

Now, let’s calculate the store’s actual financial loss by considering both the stolen money and the goods sold:

• The store lost $70 worth of goods.
• The store gave the thief $30 in cash.
• Even though they “recovered” the stolen $100 bill when the thief used it to make a purchase, they still ended up losing both inventory and cash.

The total loss is: 70+30=10070 + 30 = 10070+30=100

Final Answer: The Store Lost $100

So, after all the calculations, the store’s total loss amounts to $100—not more, not less. The confusion often arises because people focus too much on the cash stolen instead of considering the value of goods exchanged and the change given.

Why This Puzzle Confuses So Many People

The trick behind this riddle is misdirection. It presents multiple money exchanges that distract people from the actual loss:

1. The initial theft of $100 leads many to assume the store has already lost that money permanently.
2. The thief “returning” the money by buying goods makes it seem like the store regains the stolen amount, but in reality, they’re still at a net loss.
3. The change given back is where people often get lost, thinking the store somehow lost more or less than the actual amount.

At the end of the day, the total loss is straightforward: $70 worth of goods + $30 in cash = $100 total loss.

The Real-World Lesson: Theft Always Costs More Than Just Money

While this puzzle is a fun mathematical exercise, it also reflects a real-world problem: businesses don’t just lose money when they get robbed—they also lose valuable inventory, time, and security.

When a store is a victim of theft:

• They lose both cash and products, as seen in this example.
• They may have to increase security, which costs additional money.
• Insurance claims and business losses can add up over time.

For small businesses, theft like this can add up quickly and hurt their bottom line, making prevention and security crucial.

Conclusion: A Simple Answer to a Complex Question

The $100 theft puzzle may seem complicated at first, but when broken down logically, the answer is clear:

The store loses a total of $100—$70 in goods and $30 in change.