The bizarre story of the world's most expensive phone number
Almost 20 years ago, an anonymous buyer disbursed an eye-popping 10 million Qatar Riyal to secure the most expensive telephone number sold at auction.
The hammer came down in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on 23 May 2006, during a charity auction hosted by Qtel (the country's main telecommunication provider, today rebranded Ooredoo QSC).
This story may ring a bell to Guinness World Records fans, as the pricey purchase first appeared in the 2006 edition of our book.
In a chapter fittingly named 'Spending Power,' the annual GWR edition announced that an anonymous bidder had made history in telecommunications after buying the telephone number "666-6666".
Almost two decades later, the record still stands unbeaten.
The skyscrapers of Doha's West Bay include the famous Doha Tower (also known as Burj Doha)
Vinod Thadhani / Pixabay
At the time, the telephone number's outlandish cost equalled $2.75 million US dollars (£1.46 million).
With an average yearly inflation rate of 2.4%, today that sum equals a purchasing power of about $1,205,811.01. That is to say, an increase of $455,811.01 over 20 years.
But the seven-digit number was far from an impulse purchase.
At the time, Adel Al Mutawa, Qtel's Executive Director of Group Communications, declared: “Qtel has a long track record of innovative campaigns for the local community, and we are very proud to have the mobile number auction commemorated this way.”
As announced by the chairman of the Qatari telecommunication giant, the proceeds of the charity auction went to the local community.
Philanthropy aside, although breaking the bank for a phone number might sound bonkers, VIP digits are a surprisingly profitable business.
These highly sought-after digital trophies come in all kinds of carefully-chosen, repetitive patterns, blending wealth, flamboyance and cultural beliefs. A proper numerologist's dream, they are fancy, easy to memorize and, depending on where you are in the world, they might even attract fame and fortune.
The Pearl Island: an artificial island in Doha, Qatar
Ekrem / Pixabay
This is a hell of a price for a phone number, no doubt about that.
By now, some readers might be amused (or even concerned) by the bizarre repetition of the number 'six' in the record-breaking purchase.
Traditionally linked to Christianity and adopted in modern times by pop culture and horror aficionados, 666 carries a heavy cultural baggage as the 'number of the devil'.
So, will the devil answer when you dial 666-6666?
The short answer is: no.
Although the wealthy winner of 666-6666 remains anonymous, if you're picturing them wearing Prada or as an Iron Maiden fan, you might be disappointed.
But the internet loves to speculate and, in English-speaking countries and Western culture, 6-6-6 is famously ominous and associated with the Beast of Revelation.
According to the English translation of the New Testament, 666 (or χξϛ) marks the three demonic creatures appearing in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 13, verses 15–18. In other words, the 'Mark of the Beast' points to none other than the Antichrist.
Although many scholars and theologians agree that it may refer to Roman Emperor Nero, who initiated the Christian persecutions, using them as scapegoats after the Great Fire of Rome (July 64 AD), the reputation of the so-called Number of the Beast remains unchanged.
It continues to fascinate historians and feed the creativity of artists, musicians and writers: it inspired plenty of media, from Iron Maiden's 1982 studio album The Number of the Beast to a plethora of horror movies.
If you are interested in record-worthy pop culture staples or horror blockbusters, check out the news and entertainment section.
All variations of "666" may have a sinister reputation in Western cultures, but that is not the case everywhere.
Far from being a messenger of destruction, six is a lucky number in many cultures, Arabic included, and it often evokes concepts of harmony and completeness.
Similarly, the previous most expensive number ever sold at auction was also deemed a bringer of luck.
The telephone number “8888-8888” was purchased during an auction in Chengdu, China, on 19 August 2003.
The curvy digits roll right off the tongue and racked up a striking 2.33 million Yuan (respectively, $280,723 and £177,209 at the time) three years before Doha seized the record.
Mika Baumeister / Unsplash
Eight (八, pinyin: bā) is the luckiest number in Chinese culture.
It symbolizes prosperity and success as its pronunciation sounds similar to the verb 发 (pronounced fā), which means “to attract or create wealth” or “to create a fortune”.
The more eights appear somewhere – be it a license plate, a phone number or a date – the more prosperity it shall attract.
It’s no surprise, then, that phone numbers overflowing with eights are extremely coveted among Chinese business owners. Apparently, as they say, you truly can’t spell fate without eight.
Although the story of the most expensive telephone number sold at auction might seem senseless, 'vanity numbers' can become a status symbol, much like a bespoke car plate, or a wildly expensive lucky charm.
Would you splurge on a record-breaking phone number if you had a few million to spare?