Ten Accidental Discoveries That Generated Great Wealth

Everyone who's been successful knows that more often than not the success comes down to a combination of hard work and luck. But ultimately it's the people who increase their chances of success through perseverance who are successful. Of course there are some people who owe their success more to luck than anything else.

The popsicle, super glue, teflon, post-it notes and the microwave oven are some of the things that were discovered with a bit of luck.

Here are 10 accidental discoveries that generated great wealth.

By the same token here are some inventions that flopped:

Brilliant inventors' ideas that flopped

Edison's cement piano and Da Vinci's giant crossbow are inventions that never quite took off.

A human slingshot? 

Also: 

• More failed inventions
• Trash turned to farm tools
• Soccer ball generator