How Much Did Clark Griswold Win in Vegas Vacation?

By Robert Palmer

When it comes to memorable movie scenes, few can top the iconic moment in the 1997 film “Vegas Vacation” where Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, hits it big at the casino. But just how much did he win?

Well, let’s start at the beginning. In “Vegas Vacation,” the Griswold family heads to Las Vegas for a wild and wacky vacation. Clark, always one for a gamble, becomes obsessed with winning big at the casino.

After a series of losses and mishaps, Clark finally hits the jackpot on a slot machine. The scene is pure comedy gold as he jumps up and down, screams in excitement and is showered in coins.

But how much did he actually win? According to the movie’s script, Clark won $25,000 on that fateful spin. Not bad for a day’s work!

Of course, this being a movie, there are some discrepancies when it comes to real-life casino winnings. For starters, hitting the jackpot on a slot machine usually involves winning an actual cash prize rather than being showered in coins.

Additionally, casinos typically withhold taxes on any winnings over $1,200. So if Clark really did win $25,000 at the casino, he would have had to pay taxes on his winnings before leaving with his prize money.

But let’s not get caught up in technicalities. The point of this scene was to show that even someone as hapless as Clark Griswold could strike it rich in Las Vegas.

Overall, “Vegas Vacation” remains a beloved classic comedy thanks in part to scenes like this one. While we may never hit it big like Clark did at the casino (or at least not without some serious luck), we can still enjoy watching his hilarious antics unfold on screen.

So next time you’re feeling lucky at the slots or blackjack table, just remember: you may not win $25,000 like Clark Griswold, but you can still have a great time trying.