Welcome to Significant Digits, a daily digest of the telling numbers tucked inside the news.
4.4 percent increase
Jump in U.S. and Canadian sales at Burger King in the first quarter of this year compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company credits that increase in part due to the addition of hot dogs to its menu. (BK makes a pretty crummy hot dog if you ask me, and this is coming from a person who is evaluating hot dogs in terms of relative quality.) [Miami Herald]
No. 253
Cornerback Kalan Reed was selected as the 253rd and final pick of the 2016 NFL draft, earning the future Tennessee Titan the dubious title of “Mr. Irrelevant.” Still, he’s among good company: Ryan Succop of the Titans was also Mr. Irrelevant, but has gone on to have a solid kicking career since he was drafted in 2009. [Yahoo Sports]
2017
Malia Obama has decided on what she’s doing for college: She will take a gap year, then enter Harvard University as a freshman in the Fall of 2017. [Reuters]
$17,570
The University of New Hampshire is trotting out the “mistakes were made” response to outrage over a $17,570 dining hall table. The custom table — outfitted with LED lights that would help staff demonstrate healthy cooking techniques — seats only 16, making it technically more expensive than a $1,000 per plate fundraiser. I don’t think I own a single thing worth more than $17,570. The Associated Press says $17,570 is “nearly as much” as tuition for in-state students at UNH. [WPDE]
$4.26 million
Amount spent by Facebook last year on security for CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg. Zuck is the world’s eighth richest person, and the company spent $12.5 million from 2013 through 2015 keeping him secure. [Bloomberg]
$26 million
Sen. Chuck Schumer, the heir apparent on the Democratic side of the Senate to succeed leader Harry Reid, is a fundraising juggernaut. Despite having an easy race this coming election, Schumer’s raised more than $26 million, money that can be transferred to party committees later in the cycle should the need arise. [The Washington Post]
If you haven’t already, you really need to sign up for the Significant Digits newsletter — you can be the first to learn about the numbers behind the news! How great does that sound? You should totally do it.
And if you see a significant digit in the wild, send it to @WaltHickey.