560/701
BlackBerry dominated in 2010, but plummeted by 2013 against rivals.

BlackBerry dominated the smartphone market with a 43% share in 2010. By 2013, intense competition from Apple and Android reduced its market share to just 5.9%.

559/701
“Rolex” chosen for simplicity, pronounceable worldwide, without inherent meaning.

The brand name “Rolex” is actually an invented word with no inherent meaning, chosen by the founder because it’s easy to pronounce in any language.

558/701
Sleeping at work in Japan signals dedication and hard work.

In Japan, “inemuri,” or sleeping on the job, is culturally accepted as a sign of hard work and commitment.

557/701
2013 Sony Walkman sold in water bottles.

In 2013, Sony showcased the waterproof feature of its W270 Series Walkman by selling it in water bottles, resulting in a 380% sales increase in New Zealand.

556/701
Chris Clark’s $20 “pizza.com” domain fetches $2.6 million.

In 1994, a man named Chris Clark bought “pizza.com” for $20, and in 2008, he sold it for $2.6 million. That amount converts to $3.7 million today.

555/701
Granddaughter’s ultimatum convinced Richard Harris to become Dumbledore in Harry Potter.

Richard Harris agreed to play Dumbledore in “Harry Potter” after his granddaughter threatened to never speak to him again if he declined.

554/701
Pigeons in cowboy hats in Vegas 2019, culprit never found.

In 2019, hundreds of Las Vegas pigeons were seen with tiny cowboy hats on their heads, but the person who did this was never caught.

553/701
World’s tallest statue, Statue of Unity, stands in Gujarat, India.

This is the world’s tallest statue. Situated in Gujarat, India, the Statue of Unity is 597 feet tall and depicts Indian independence activist Vallabhbhai Patel. Construction of the statue started in 2013, and it took around $422 million to build it.

552/701
Novel predicts Titanic’s sinking 14 years before, with eerie accuracy.

Fourteen years before the Titanic sank, a book titled Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan told a story about another ship called Titan. This ship also hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic Ocean and sank in the same month, not far from Newfoundland, just like the Titanic.

551/701
In 2011, Chicago school raised $1,000 stopping Bieber song

In 2011, a high school in Chicago employed Justin Bieber’s “Baby” as a creative fundraising strategy. By playing the track in hallways between classes, they encouraged students to donate money to halt the music, amassing $1,000 in just three days​.