Weird Reasons Why Americans Have Borrowed Money

You Needed Money for What?

Consumer debt in the United States hit a record high of $14.1 trillion last year, according to Experian, led by rises in almost every category, from student loans to credit cards. And while plenty of people are in the red simply because they're trying to make ends meet, that's not always the case. Personal loan comparison site Loanry surveyed more than 5,000 brokers and bankers to find out the strangest reasons they've been asked for a loan. Here are 20 of the biggest head-scratchers.

To Buy a Tiger

Hey, why should Joe Exotic have all the fun? You may even get your own Netflix show out of it.

man smelling money — Prostock-Studio/istockphoto

To Have a Chance to Hold and Smell $10,000

Anyone who grew up watching Scrooge McDuck swim in piles of gold coins understands this on a visceral level. We'll allow it.

To Become a Taxidermist

To be fair, if your kids love stuffed animals, this might save you some cash in the long run.

To Build a Nuclear Fallout Shelter

Right now, nuclear warfare is honestly the least of our worries, but you do you.

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Cool Bars With Arcades — gcammino/istockphoto

To Buy a Vintage Arcade Machine

Hey, all those quarters add up. Consider it an investment.

To Get Plastic Surgery to Look Like Kris Jenner

Really? Of all the Kardashians you could have chosen, this is the one?

To Eat at Every Applebee's in the Country

We'll raise our Dollarita in salute. That's ... a whole lot of mozzarella sticks.

To Follow David Hasselhoff on his European Tour

He might be a washed-up TV star in America, but Germany still treats David Hasselhoff like the absolute rock legend that he truly is.

social security card and drivers license — duckycards/istockphoto

To Disappear

After all, thousands of dollars can buy a lot of trench coats and glasses with noses and fuzzy eyebrows.

mother with newborn baby after birth — FatCamera/istockphoto

To Pay a Celebrity to Witness the Birth of Their Child

No word on who the lucky celebrity was, but we'd totally shell out for Keanu Reeves. Most excellent!

"Game Of Thrones" Season 8 Premiere After Party — Dimitrios Kambouris/Staff/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images North America

To Recreate the Red Wedding from 'Game of Thrones'

Because nothing says "happily ever after" like basing your own nuptials on a horrifically bloody massacre.

date on a private jet — Povozniuk/istockphoto

To Fly Dates Around on a Private Jet

Honestly, you can just buy us dinner and maybe hold the door once in a while. It's a lot cheaper.

To Install a Personal Water Slide

To be fair, no one really wants to splash down in a pool of COVID stew right now.

To Fund a Bachelor Party in Sin City

A bachelor party in Vegas? Super creative.

Charles Manson mugshot — Hulton Archive/Stringer/Archive Photos/Getty Images

To Buy True Crime Memorabilia

Apparently there is a real, thriving market for this stuff. You, too, could own a letter from the Unabomber or a lock of Charles Manson's hair. Shudder.