In today’s digital era, where content spreads like wildfire, it’s no wonder that a seemingly simple math puzzle has captured the internet’s attention. The $100 riddle, which asks users to calculate how much money a store loses when a thief takes a $100 bill and then makes a purchase, has sparked widespread discussion and debate among puzzle lovers.

This brain teaser, originally posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) by the account Out of Context Human Race, outlines a straightforward scenario: A thief steals a $100 bill from the store’s cash register. He then buys $70 worth of goods using that same bill and receives $30 in change. The question posed is, «What is the total amount the store lost?»

As the puzzle went viral, countless responses poured in. Some people confidently answered that the store’s loss was $100, while others argued the actual loss amounted to $130, considering both the stolen $100 bill and the $30 in change. There were even a few who speculated that the store’s overall loss might vary depending on the profit margins from the sale itself.