Where did the million come from?

[devnull]

Sorry if this has been covered before...

Im guessing Johnny Carson?

[William Smith]

Being a magician and all, Randi pulled it out of his hat/from behind his ears/out of thin air. ;)



Some say Penn Jillette. Others say multiple donors.

[Cuddles]

I'm fairly sure the JREF has said that it was from a single anonymous donor, and have denied that it was Penn Jillette. Other than that, no-one other than the JREF and the donor know, what with it being anonymous and all.

[EvilSmurf]

Since they have issued a flat denial that it was Penn my guesses are Johnny Carson and Arthur C. Clarke. Although, only JREF and the donor know for sure.

[Thabiguy]

The donor is anonymous and all you can do is speculate. This post (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?postid=3301778#post3301778) by RemieV pretty much rules out the hypothesis that the donor is Carson (who died in 2005).

[arthwollipot]

And ditto for Arthur C Clarke, since the donor agreed to winding up the challenge quite recently - after Clarke's death, from memory. I could be wrong on that though...

[Susan Gerbic]

Randi has said that it was from a man who lives on the East coast. I think he made it sound more like the NY or NJ area. The man is still alive, because Randi talked to him recently when they decided to change the challenge.

You forget there are a lot of unknown people out there who have a million to back up their beliefs. The person may be "just some guy."

Randi said, the guy wrote him a check and said "now that ought to make them take it seriously" or some words to this effect. Randi ran down and made sure the check was good, from the way he tells the story he did not ask for the money, and the guy turned and walked away. Randi was worried that the man was the type that carried around phony checks for a million dollars and handed them out. I think Randi said that on the bottom of the check it was printed, "Not Valid for more than One Million Dollars"

Where do I get my checks to say that. Heck, who writes checks anymore?

Susan

[The Professor]

How much money has the JREF taken in as a result of lectures about the challenge in the last 13 years. I was told it was more than 4 Million. Is that true?

[Rasmus]

Where do I get my checks to say that. Heck, who writes checks anymore?


I would if I had cool checks like that...

[Czarcasm]

How much money has the JREF taken in as a result of lectures about the challenge in the last 13 years. I was told it was more than 4 Million. Is that true?Told by who, exactly? I would really hate to have you accused of spreading baseless rumors.

[Soapy Sam]

Money laundering, drug smuggling and homoeopathy.

[William Smith]

Money laundering, drug smuggling and homoeopathy.

...extortion, pimping and PMDs.

[Horatius]

How much money has the JREF taken in as a result of lectures about the challenge in the last 13 years. I was told it was more than 4 Million. Is that true?



They are a non-profit organization, and as such must publish their financial records. Register at http://www.guidestar.org/ and you can find the answer yourself.

[Kuko 4000]

How much money has the JREF taken in as a result of lectures about the challenge in the last 13 years. I was told it was more than 4 Million. Is that true?


I really, REALLY, hope that's true, the more the better.

[Doubt]

How much money has the JREF taken in as a result of lectures about the challenge in the last 13 years. I was told it was more than 4 Million. Is that true?

As already pointed out by others, the money the JREF takes in is a matter of public record. If you really want to know you can find out.

Also, somewhere on the JREF website is a list of standard lectures Randi does. I don't recall any of them being specifically "about the challenge". There is more to the JREF than the challenge.

Use your googlefu if you really want to know about this. Or look around the web site. If you have not already looked around the web page, I might also recommend you review the challenge rules. So far it looks like you don't know or understand them.

[Bob Klase]

Told by who, exactly? I would really hate to have you accused of spreading baseless rumors.

Would it change your opinion if you learned that The Professor already has a nasty habit of spreading baseless rumors?

[uruk]

I assume the lecture money is for Randi's personal pocket. There are people who do the lecture circuit as a living.
I don't know if Randi draws a salary from JREF.

[The Professor]

Yes it is a matter of public record if you can find them. Randi draws a salary of about $175,000 a year. He probably brings in twice that while lecturing for the JREF. So just doing basic math it would not seem out of line that in 13 years at almost $400,000 per year total, that 4 million would not be out of the question. I don't have the exact numbers but I'm sure someone else does. So BOB, what is baseless about this? What are you hiding?

The DragonCon advertisement said that the JREF would be providing a Million Dollar Challenge (in its pamphlet). The place was packed :)

[arthwollipot]

Heck, who writes checks anymore?No-one. Remember, that was twenty years ago.

[Gr8wight]

Yes it is a matter of public record if you can find them. Randi draws a salary of about $175,000 a year. He probably brings in twice that while lecturing for the JREF. So just doing basic math it would not seem out of line that in 13 years at almost $400,000 per year total, that 4 million would not be out of the question. I don't have the exact numbers but I'm sure someone else does. So BOB, what is baseless about this? What are you hiding?

The DragonCon advertisement said that the JREF would be providing a Million Dollar Challenge (in its pamphlet). The place was packed :)

So, do you have a problem with Randi drawing a salary? Do you do what you do for free?

[Jeff Wagg]

Yes it is a matter of public record if you can find them. Randi draws a salary of about $175,000 a year. He probably brings in twice that while lecturing for the JREF. So just doing basic math it would not seem out of line that in 13 years at almost $400,000 per year total, that 4 million would not be out of the question. I don't have the exact numbers but I'm sure someone else does. So BOB, what is baseless about this? What are you hiding?

The DragonCon advertisement said that the JREF would be providing a Million Dollar Challenge (in its pamphlet). The place was packed :)

Randi makes no money for lecturing for the JREF. The JREF does get a fee on many, but not all lectures. Neither the JREF or Randi were paid for Dragon*Con, in fact I went at my own expense.

Your numbers are WAY off. Where are you getting your figures? Care to back them up?

As I said on the stage, Dragon*Con printed that we were doing a challenge without notifying us. As it was impossible to get someone to accept the challenge, we did a demonstration of a challenge instead.

[Doubt]

Yes it is a matter of public record if you can find them.

Have you tried to find them. Hint: this is not the first time the subject has come up on this message board. Rather than insinuating that things are hidden, try to find the info. Really, if you here to do something other than play games, do your homework. You know, try to find real info rather than make stuff up.

[Horatius]

Have you tried to find them. Hint: this is not the first time the subject has come up on this message board. Rather than insinuating that things are hidden, try to find the info. Really, if you here to do something other than play games, do your homework. You know, try to find real info rather than make stuff up.



Heck, I already gave him the link he needs to find out. If he still hasn't found out, well.....

[Doubt]

Heck, I already gave him the link he needs to find out. If he still hasn't found out, well.....

Deliberate ignorance is hard work.

[William Smith]

Deliberate ignorance is hard work.

Nominated.

[Gravy]

Yes it is a matter of public record if you can find them. You'll find a link to the JREF's 2006 financials by searching this forum.

ETA: Correction: you probably won't, but I did.

[rjh01]

And for those too lazy to find the links here they are

The $1m statement http://www.randi.org/challenge/goldmansachs.pdf

The $1m challenge including the above link http://www.randi.org/joom/challenge-info.html

[devnull]

I found this at www.findadeath.com:

"In his will, Johnny bequeathed 1 million to the Carson Center for Chimps in his home state of Nebraska, and also gave money to a man that debunks people claiming to be psychics, and Planned Parenthood."

While Johnny died in 2005, Im sure the $1M challenge would have been keen on being involved in earlier on.

[arthwollipot]

"Also gave money to" does not make him the mysterious Donor.

[devnull]

No, but it speaks volumes to Carson's respect for James and the JREF.

[UnrepentantSinner]

No, but it speaks volumes to Carson's respect for James and the JREF.

How many times did Carson have Randi on The Tonight show and how many times has Leno had him on? I'm assuming I know the numbers and they speaks volumes. :)

[devnull]

Now this is weird!

I was surfing around, reading up on Kenneth Williams and others, and came across a piece on "Rerun" (I never saw the show, but hey hey hey!). So I follow the bouncing link to:

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/rerunberry1.html

to read about some stupid legal stuff he's involved in, and look at point 2 :)

Im sure its not meant to be there, but how is that for a weird coincidence?

[The Professor]

More importantly, will they fill the pot back up if the money has disappeared?

[paximperium]

More importantly, will they fill the pot back up if the money has disappeared?

Thanks for insinuating fraud. It is insight into the kind of person you are.
We look forward to the results on your upcoming preliminary test.

[The Professor]

Randi makes no money for lecturing for the JREF. The JREF does get a fee on many, but not all lectures. Neither the JREF or Randi were paid for Dragon*Con, in fact I went at my own expense.

Your numbers are WAY off. Where are you getting your figures? Care to back them up?

As I said on the stage, Dragon*Con printed that we were doing a challenge without notifying us. As it was impossible to get someone to accept the challenge, we did a demonstration of a challenge instead.

I got my info off of the JREF site. Anyone can.
Are you saying Randi's salary is NOT around $175,000 (I'm not saying he doesn't deserve a big salary at all. He should get more in my opinion)

I spoke with Linda at DragonCon a few days ago over the phone and she STILL thought that you'd demonstrated the Million Dollar Challenge!...????
What's up with that?

Jeff says
As I said on the stage, Dragon*Con printed that we were doing a challenge without notifying us. As it was impossible to get someone to accept the challenge, we did a demonstration of a challenge instead.

And I say
YOU DIDN'T CALL ME!!!!!!!
:cool::cool:

[chillzero]

You didn't need to get your info from the site - Jeff Wagg specifically answered you completely in your challenge thread. There is more than $2m in the account, and even if there weren't, they'd supply the deficit.

So, no need to continue disseminating this piece of .... misunderstanding.

[CFLarsen]

Why is it so hard to come forward with:

1. Straightforward accusations

2. Clear evidence of the accusations

?

[paximperium]

Why is it so hard to come forward with:

1. Straightforward accusations

2. Clear evidence of the accusations

?

But insinuations are so much more sneakier and has less ramifications than plain libel.

[jimtron]

Originally Posted by The Professor http://forums.randi.org/helloworld2/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://forums.randi.org/showthread.php?p=4044217#post4044217)
Yes it is a matter of public record if you can find them. Randi draws a salary of about $175,000 a year. He probably brings in twice that while lecturing for the JREF. So just doing basic math it would not seem out of line that in 13 years at almost $400,000 per year total, that 4 million would not be out of the question.

Jeff Wagg said: Your numbers are WAY off. Where are you getting your figures?

Dave, could you tell us the source for your figures?

[MattC]

More importantly, will they fill the pot back up if the money has disappeared?

They are forced to by contractual obligation as signed with the person attempting to win the million - the contract stipulates that they owe you a million somehow, how they give you that million within ten days isn't a concern.

~ Matt

[Worm]

I got my info off of the JREF site. Anyone can.
Are you saying Randi's salary is NOT around $175,000 (I'm not saying he doesn't deserve a big salary at all. He should get more in my opinion)


That's not what Jeff said. It's not even close to what he said.

Randi makes no money for lecturing for the JREF.

This point was done to death a while ago, in another thread, it's owrth reading if you can find it - no doubt someone can find a link, I can't for the life of me remember what thread it was.