Guadalupana wrote:

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I wish i had something to trade for something else.

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I'm sure you can come up with "something"

Julie wrote:

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They talked about the guys few months back in the news............amazing no ? But if you think about it, what was so special about this paper clip @ the very begining ? The guy is for sure smart and the pple that started the snow ball in Ebay a bit s...p

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Nothing special about the red paper clip. It was just a paper clip that was red, that's all (you didn't go to the site did you?)

The guy was very open about what he was trying to do. People sympathized with him and played along (and some used him as promotion tool)
This is his first blog post

"July 12, 2005: This might not surprise you, but below is a picture of a paperclip. It is red. This red paperclip is currently sitting on my desk next to my computer. I want to trade this paperclip with you for something bigger or better, maybe a pen, a spoon, or perhaps a boot. If you promise to make the trade I will come and visit you, wherever you are, to trade. So, if you have something bigger or better than a red paperclip to trade, email me with the details at oneredpaperclip@gmail.com Hope to trade with you soon! Kyle PS I'm going to make a continuous chain of 'up trades' until I get a house. Or an Island. Or a house on an island. You get the idea."

So he trade the paper clip for a pen
The pen for a door knob
The door knob for Coleman camping stove
The stove for a generator
The generator for an "instant party" (see website)
The "instant party" for a snowmobile
The snowmobile for a cube van
The cube van for a recording contract
The recording contract for a year of free rent
A year of free rent for an "Afternoon with Alice Cooper"
An afternoon with Alice Cooper for a KIZZ collectable snow globe
The snow globe for a speaking role in a Hollywood movie
And the roll in a movie for a house

Voila! (or however you say "Lucky bastard" in French)