Voltaire, the famed French philosopher and writer, amassed considerable wealth by exploiting a flaw in the French lottery system of the early 18th century. Alongside mathematician Charles Marie de La Condamine and a group of collaborators, they seized a lucrative opportunity presented by the French national lottery, which was designed to promote bond purchases. In […]
In 1728, the philosopher Voltaire…
In 1728, the philosopher Voltaire got rich by outsmarting the lottery. The prize money was larger than the cost of all the tickets combined, so Voltaire and his friend formed a syndicate, bought all the tickets, and won several times.
Later in his life, Voltaire developed the habit of living near borders so he…
Later in his life, Voltaire developed the habit of living near borders so he could more easily escape the authorities if his writings angered them