How Much Did the Store Actually Lose?

At first, this riddle seems unbelievably easy.

Most people think they know the answer instantly.

But after a few more seconds, confusion starts to kick in.

Some say the store lost $200.
Others argue it’s $170.
And plenty of people are convinced the answer is $130.

That’s why this simple brain teaser has caused endless debates online. The trick is that many people accidentally count the same money more than once without realizing it.

So before reading further, try to solve it carefully yourself.

🧠 The Riddle:

A man steals a $100 bill from a store register.

Later, he comes back to the same store and buys $70 worth of merchandise using that stolen $100 bill.

The cashier then gives him $30 in change.

Sounds simple… but it confuses thousands of people.

The reason is that the wording makes the brain overthink what’s actually missing in the end.

Here’s the easiest way to understand it:

Imagine the thief simply walked in and took:
• $70 worth of products
• $30 in cash

That totals exactly $100.

The original stolen $100 bill eventually returned to the register when he used it to make the purchase.

So that money is no longer missing.

Once people notice that detail, the answer suddenly becomes obvious.

Usually, that’s also the moment they either laugh at themselves…

…or get frustrated they didn’t spot it earlier.

Riddles like this are fun because they test logical thinking more than math skills.

No calculator is needed.
No complicated formulas either.

You just have to track what the store actually lost in the final outcome.

✅ Final Answer: The store lost exactly $100.

Did you get it right on your first attempt?