The Odds of Dating a Supermodel

Sept. 30, 2003 — -- I can't believe I was ever afraid of being struck by lightning. I've got a better chance of dating a supermodel.

Look at it this way: In a typical year, fewer than 100 Americans are hit by lightning and killed. That gives me a 2.32 million-to-1 chance of being one of these victims.

I'd have a better shot at catching dinner with a catwalk superstar like Heidi Klum, at least according to Gregory Baer in his soon-to-be-released book, Life: The Odds (Gotham).

It's really quite simple: Assume all men are created equal, that they're all heterosexual and that even the married ones would forgo their vows for an evening with Heidi.

That means there are 110 million eligible bachelors in America and roughly 25 supermodels. Let's also assume the ladies are heterosexual and available. And just to be conservative, let's say a supermodel only dates five different men in a year.

That would give the average American Joe an 880,000-to-1 shot at landing the ultimate dream date.

Of course, life isn't fair, and if you're a rock singer, professional athlete or movie star, you've got a much better chance of being seen with a magazine cover girl.

Still, Daniela Pestova and Claudia Schiffer have dated photographers, café owners and less-than-renowned artists.

Alright, maybe my chances of dating a supermodel still stink, but it sure puts the risk of being hit by lightning into perspective.

And if you're a woman, you've got even less to worry about — a whopping 84 percent of lightning victims are men.

Why? Perhaps God likes women more, or perhaps women are just smarter when it comes to practicing common sense like stepping in from the rain, staying away from tall trees and bodies of water, advice your mother (a woman) probably gave you.

And as long as you're practicing some common sense, you've really got nothing to worry about.

Good News for Gold Diggers and Tax DodgersIf you're a nonstop worrywart, the laws of probability may be your salvation.