Man pays $215,000 for lucky phone number

Mobile phone number 133-3333-3333 sold at Beijing auction

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updated 12:56 p.m. ET Nov. 6, 2004

BEIJING - A Beijing man has paid $215,000 for the ultimate in lucky cell phone numbers — 133-3333-3333.

The phone number was sold this week at an auction in the Chinese capital, newspapers reported Saturday.

Chinese tradition considers 3 a lucky number and groups of 3’s even luckier. Though the number 8 is the luckiest, all Chinese cell phone numbers begin with “13,” making it impossible to make a number with all 8’s.

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The reports by the Beijing Times and Beijing Morning Post didn’t identify the buyer. Phone calls to the number on Saturday weren’t answered.

Hotels, restaurants and other businesses in China regularly try to obtain phone numbers with groups of 8’s. Those that can’t wind up settling for groups of other numbers.