In 1993, Catherine Hettinger invented the fidget spinner, pitching the concept to major toy companies like Hasbro, who ultimately passed on the idea. Though she successfully secured a patent in 1997, she was forced to let it lapse in 2005 because she couldn't afford the seemingly minor $400 renewal fee.
Her financial constraint legally opened the floodgates for any manufacturer to produce the toy without restrictions. Years later, the fidget spinner craze exploded globally, racking up hundreds of millions in worldwide sales.
Because she no longer held the patent and wasn't manufacturing the product herself, Hettinger earned absolutely nothing from the viral toy that took over the world. A mere $400 stood between an ordinary inventor and a massive fortune, leaving many to wonder if this was a brutal twist of fate or just standard business.