“Lifetime supply” can sound like endless free stuff. For some winners, the reality was considerably stranger.
Lewis Austin — Bridgend, Wales: KFC for 50 Years
At 18, Lewis Austin won KFC’s 50th-anniversary promotion. He imagined eating free KFC whenever he wanted. Instead, his prize came as 12 annual vouchers, each worth a bonus bucket or 12-piece sharing bucket. He initially used them quickly with friends, but eventually admitted he sometimes didn’t bother claiming them.
Brady Carpenter — Ann Arbor, Michigan: Free Milk for Life
When Brady Carpenter was six, he asked Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh how much milk he needed to drink to become big enough to be a quarterback. After the exchange went viral, Fairlife gave Brady free milk for life. His family received personalized coupons and kept a separate garage refrigerator stocked with milk.
Rosemary Yeldham — Wanborough, England: 26 Liters of Ice Cream Every Year
At 74, Rosemary Yeldham discovered she had won a lifetime supply from Scottish ice-cream maker Mackie’s—26 liters every year. She and her husband ate ice cream almost every night, and she also passed vouchers to her grandchildren. The company even contacted her each winter to confirm she was still at the same address.
Frank Cazares — Palm Springs, California: Hundreds of Toilet Rolls
Frank Cazares won a lifetime supply of Charmin after becoming a finalist in a toilet-paper wedding-dress contest. The prize arrived in huge shipments—sometimes up to 400 rolls at once. He made furniture from the rolls, gave them away at Christmas and eventually had to rent a trailer when he moved.
Jamie Solimine — Canada: A Taco Every Day for 32 Years
Jamie Solimine’s bright orange hair, inspired by Taco Bell’s Doritos Locos Tacos, earned her a lifetime supply from the chain. Taco Bell calculated her “lifetime” as one taco per day for 32 years. She received an ID card to redeem the tacos and told Mental Floss she still wasn’t tired of them.