Riddles have a special way of sparking our curiosity, teasing our brains, and delivering little bursts of joy when we crack them. One of the most viral and mind-bending riddles in recent years is the “a man steals 100 from a shop” puzzle.
At first glance, it seems straightforward—until the twist hits. This post explores that riddle and 32 more, each offering a creative and clever challenge, all connected to money, theft, logic, or business-style trickery.
Whether you love lateral thinking or just enjoy a good puzzle, these riddles are here to keep your brain buzzing.
The Riddles
1. Riddle:
A man steals $100 from a shop’s register. He then buys $70 worth of goods and the shopkeeper gives him $30 in change. How much did the shop lose?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: The man stole $100 and gave it back in exchange for $70 worth of goods and $30 in change. The total value lost is the full $100.
2. Riddle:
A thief steals a $50 bill from your wallet. Later, he buys a $20 item from your store and you give him $30 in change. What’s your total loss?
- Answer: $50
- Explanation: You got $20 of your own money back in goods, but lost $30 in change. That totals the $50 he originally stole.
3. Riddle:
A man walks into a shop, grabs $100 from the register and leaves. How much profit did he make?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: He made off with $100 without giving anything in return—pure profit for the thief, full loss for the shop.
4. Riddle:
A shopkeeper gives a customer $20 change, then realizes the customer paid with a fake $100. What’s the actual loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: The shopkeeper loses both the $20 in change and the value of the goods (assume $80), totaling a $100 loss.
5. Riddle:
A man pays for a $90 item with a $100 bill. The cashier gives him $10 in change. Later, they find out the bill was fake. What’s the loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: The shop loses the $90 item and $10 cash, totaling $100 lost.
6. Riddle:
A man picks up a $100 bill off the floor in a shop and uses it to buy $60 worth of items. The owner realizes it’s his bill. What’s his loss?
- Answer: $60
- Explanation: The $100 bill was already the owner’s. He exchanged it for $60 worth of goods, so his loss is only the goods.
7. Riddle:
A shopkeeper sells a stolen $100 item for $100. How much does he lose?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: He made no profit—he just passed the stolen item on for the same value. He loses the original cost of the item if he paid for it.
8. Riddle:
A thief breaks in, steals $200, but drops $100 on his way out. What’s the net loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: Though he took $200, only $100 actually made it out of the store.
9. Riddle:
You give someone $100 to buy items for you. He returns with $90 worth and keeps $10. What did you lose?
- Answer: $10
- Explanation: You received $90 in value. The $10 he kept is your actual loss.
10. Riddle:
A woman buys $100 in goods using a fake bill. She gets no change. What’s the shop’s loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: The shop loses the goods because the bill wasn’t real money.
11. Riddle:
A man steals a $100 bill and buys a $99 item. How much is the loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: The stolen money was used to pay, so the store lost $99 in goods and $1 in change—totaling $100.
12. Riddle:
A scammer tricks you into giving him $100. He sends back $30 later. What’s your total loss?
- Answer: $70
- Explanation: You got $30 back, but your net loss remains $70.
13. Riddle:
You sell a $100 item but the payment bounces. What’s your loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: The item is gone, and you never received real money.
14. Riddle:
You exchange a $100 bill with a stranger. Later, you learn it was counterfeit. What’s your loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: You gave away a real bill and got a fake one in return.
15. Riddle:
A man offers to pay you $100 later for $50 worth of goods now. He never pays. What’s the loss?
- Answer: $50
- Explanation: You gave away $50 in goods with no return.
16. Riddle:
A $100 gift card is stolen. The thief spends $40 and gives it to someone else. What’s your loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: You lose the full balance, regardless of who spends it.
17. Riddle:
A thief uses a $100 fake bill to buy $10 goods and gets $90 back. What’s the shop’s total loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: $90 in cash and $10 in goods are gone.
18. Riddle:
A man returns a stolen $100 but took $70 worth of goods. What’s your loss?
- Answer: $70
- Explanation: The money returned doesn’t cover the stolen goods.
19. Riddle:
You accidentally hand a thief $100 in change for no purchase. What did you lose?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: Pure cash loss, no goods exchanged.
20. Riddle:
A guy pretends to pay with a $100 bill but distracts the cashier and takes back the bill and the goods. What’s the loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: You lost the goods and kept nothing.
21. Riddle:
A man gives a fake $100 for a real $100 bill. What’s your loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: You traded real for fake.
22. Riddle:
A man buys something for $30 with a fake $100 bill. You give him $70 back. What’s the loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: $30 in goods and $70 in change lost.
23. Riddle:
You sell an item for $100, get paid in a fake bill, and can’t recover the item. What’s your loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: Lost the item, got fake money.
24. Riddle:
You cash a $100 check for someone, but it bounces. What’s the loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: You gave $100 and got nothing.
25. Riddle:
A thief returns stolen goods but not the $100 change. What’s lost?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: You got goods back but not your cash.
26. Riddle:
You lend $100. The borrower pays $90 back. What’s your loss?
- Answer: $10
- Explanation: You only got part of it back.
27. Riddle:
A man steals and immediately returns $100. Is there a loss?
- Answer: $0
- Explanation: Full recovery means no loss.
28. Riddle:
A scammer tricks a cashier into giving $100 without buying anything. What’s the loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: No goods exchanged, just cash loss.
29. Riddle:
Someone returns a $100 item and gets cash back, but it was never purchased. What’s the loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: You refunded something never sold.
30. Riddle:
A man switches a real $100 bill with a fake while you’re distracted. What’s the loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: You end up with a worthless bill.
31. Riddle:
You give $100 change for a check that later bounces. What’s the loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: The check was no good.
32. Riddle:
A man borrows $100 and disappears. What’s your loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: Loan is gone without repayment.
33. Riddle:
A thief steals $100, spends $100 in your store, then returns the goods. What’s your net loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: He took your money and your goods, returned the goods, but the money is still gone.
Conclusion
Riddles like the a man steals 100 from a shop riddle answer challenge our assumptions and make us think in fresh ways. They highlight how numbers and logic can be twisted in fun, unexpected directions. Which riddle made you stop and think the most?
Share your thoughts or favorite riddle in the comments—and if you’ve got a clever puzzle of your own, we’d love to hear it!