Riddles have a way of turning simple words into puzzles that twist your brain in the best way. The popular “bought a cow for 800 sold for 1000 riddle” is one of those clever lines that seems straightforward—until you stop and realize it’s a playful trick of logic.
In this post, we’ll explore that famous riddle, along with 32 more that play with money, logic, common sense, and wit. If you enjoy puzzles that make you think twice and laugh at how you got fooled, you’re in the right place.
All Riddle
1. Riddle:
I bought a cow for $800 and sold it for $1000. Then I bought it back for $1100 and sold it again for $1300. How much profit did I make?
- Answer: $400
- Explanation: The first transaction gave a $200 profit ($1000 – $800). The second also gave $200 profit ($1300 – $1100). Add both profits together: $200 + $200 = $400.
2. Riddle:
A man buys a horse for $60. He sells it for $70. Then he buys it back for $80 and sells it again for $90. How much profit did he make?
- Answer: $20
- Explanation: First sale = $10 profit. Second sale = $10 profit. Total profit = $20.
3. Riddle:
I have $5. My mom gives me $10. My dad gives me $30. How much money do I have?
- Answer: $45
- Explanation: Add it all together: $5 + $10 + $30 = $45.
4. Riddle:
What’s always in your wallet but still not money?
- Answer: ID
- Explanation: Many carry ID or cards in their wallets—valuable, but not cash.
5. Riddle:
If I give you $2, your brother $2, and keep $2, how much do I have?
- Answer: $6
- Explanation: It’s a trick question—focus is on how much I have, which is still $6 in total before giving.
6. Riddle:
A man buys a dog for $10. Sells it for $20. Buys it back for $30. Then sells it for $40. What’s the profit?
- Answer: $20
- Explanation: First profit = $10. Second profit = $10. Total = $20.
7. Riddle:
A woman had $100. She spent half of it. Then she gave $25 to her friend. How much does she have left?
- Answer: $25
- Explanation: Spent $50 (half), gave away $25, so 100 – 50 – 25 = $25 left.
8. Riddle:
What has value but can’t be spent?
- Answer: Time
- Explanation: Time is priceless and valuable—but not money.
9. Riddle:
You bought something for $1 and sold it for $2. You did this 10 times. What’s your profit?
- Answer: $10
- Explanation: Each trade earns $1 profit. Ten trades = $10 profit.
10. Riddle:
If two’s company and three’s a crowd, what are four and five?
- Answer: Nine
- Explanation: A pun—literal math rather than logic.
11. Riddle:
What comes once in a dollar, twice in a hundred, but not in a thousand?
- Answer: The letter “D”
- Explanation: It’s a riddle about letters in words, not value.
12. Riddle:
You spend $3 on a $1 item and get $1 back. What did you really spend?
- Answer: $2
- Explanation: You spent $3, but got $1 returned, so net spending = $2.
13. Riddle:
I’m full of cents but make no sense. What am I?
- Answer: Piggy bank
- Explanation: Holds money (cents) but can’t think (no sense).
14. Riddle:
A man had $50. He spent $20 on food, $15 on a gift. How much is left?
- Answer: $15
- Explanation: $50 – $20 – $15 = $15.
15. Riddle:
What goes up in value the more it’s broken?
- Answer: Record
- Explanation: Breaking records means success—not physical destruction.
16. Riddle:
What has a price but can’t be bought?
- Answer: Life
- Explanation: Life is priceless and can’t be purchased.
17. Riddle:
What’s worth more than gold but weighs nothing?
- Answer: Knowledge
- Explanation: Knowledge is invaluable, yet weightless.
18. Riddle:
A thief steals $100 from a register. He buys $70 worth of goods and gets $30 back. What’s the loss?
- Answer: $100
- Explanation: Total loss = value of goods ($70) + cash returned ($30) = $100.
19. Riddle:
What’s something banks always have but rarely share?
- Answer: Vault
- Explanation: Banks have vaults, but they’re locked and private.
20. Riddle:
You have $10 and need $20. How much more do you need?
- Answer: $10
- Explanation: $20 – $10 = $10 needed.
21. Riddle:
What does a penny saved equal?
- Answer: A penny earned
- Explanation: Classic phrase meaning saving is as good as earning.
22. Riddle:
What has a bank but no money?
- Answer: River
- Explanation: “Bank” refers to land along a river, not a financial institution.
23. Riddle:
I’m made of paper but can move the world. What am I?
- Answer: Money
- Explanation: Paper money influences economies and people’s actions.
24. Riddle:
What does every rich person want, and every poor person has?
- Answer: Nothing
- Explanation: Rich want “nothing” more, and poor often have “nothing.”
25. Riddle:
What grows when you spend it?
- Answer: Debt
- Explanation: Spending more than you have increases your debt.
26. Riddle:
What can you borrow but not keep?
- Answer: Time
- Explanation: You can borrow time (delay) but never own it permanently.
27. Riddle:
What gets smaller the more you spend?
- Answer: Budget
- Explanation: The more you spend, the less money you have in your budget.
28. Riddle:
What kind of coin isn’t money?
- Answer: Coincidence
- Explanation: A play on the word “coin”—it’s not currency.
29. Riddle:
What never spends money but always holds it?
- Answer: Wallet
- Explanation: A wallet contains money but doesn’t use it.
30. Riddle:
I add value but have no cost. What am I?
- Answer: Compliment
- Explanation: Kind words add value to someone’s day but are free.
31. Riddle:
You pay $100, then get 50% off. What’s the final price?
- Answer: $50
- Explanation: Half of $100 is $50.
32. Riddle:
What costs nothing to make but can be worth everything?
- Answer: Idea
- Explanation: Great ideas are free but can change the world.
33. Riddle:
What disappears every time you count it?
- Answer: Money
- Explanation: It seems to vanish as you count and spend—highlighting how fast money goes.
Conclusion
The “bought a cow for 800 sold for 1000 riddle” is just one of many playful puzzles that show how numbers, logic, and language can combine to challenge our thinking. Whether it’s profit tricks, wordplay, or clever logic loops, riddles bring a spark of fun and curiosity to our everyday minds.
Got a favorite riddle or a twist of your own? Share it in the comments—we’d love to hear what puzzles you’ve cracked or created. Don’t forget to pass this along to fellow riddle-lovers and let the brain games continue!