Vegas Vacation, the fourth installment in the National Lampoon’s Vacation film series, follows the Griswold family’s hilarious misadventures in Las Vegas. One of the most memorable scenes from the movie is when Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, loses a significant amount of money while gambling.
But how much did he actually lose? Let’s take a closer look.
The Setup
In Vegas Vacation, Clark and his family win a trip to Las Vegas after Ellen Griswold, played by Beverly D’Angelo, wins a game show. While in Sin City, Clark becomes obsessed with beating Marty, an obnoxious gambler played by Wallace Shawn. He starts off playing blackjack but quickly loses all his money.
The Big Loss
Determined to win back his losses and beat Marty, Clark turns to roulette. He places all his remaining money on number 00 and watches as the ball lands on.. 00!
He’s ecstatic until he realizes that he accidentally placed the bet on 00 instead of 0, which would have paid out 35-1 instead of 17-1. Clark ends up losing $22,600.
Breaking It Down
While $22,600 is certainly a lot of money to lose in one night, it’s important to remember that this was just a movie. In reality, most people don’t gamble away their life savings in one sitting. Plus, Clark was able to redeem himself later in the movie by winning big at Keno.
- Lesson Learned: Gambling can be fun but it’s important to know your limits and never bet more than you can afford to lose.
- Fun Fact: Chevy Chase actually ad-libbed the line “That’s okay, I don’t need it. I don’t have to have it. I certainly don’t have to have it today” after losing the roulette bet.
In Conclusion
While we may never know exactly how much Clark Griswold lost in Vegas Vacation, we can still enjoy the movie and its hilarious depiction of Las Vegas culture. Just remember, when it comes to gambling, always bet responsibly and know when to fold ’em.