--- title: Operation Inventor John Spinello Raises Money for Real Life Operation description: John Spinello sold the game for only $500 canonical: https://time.com/3543285/operation-inventor-john-spinello/ author: Laura Stampler article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-10-28T13:17:56.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-01T09:01:54.668Z og:title: Inventor of 'Operation' Needs Money For An Operation og:description: John Spinello sold the game for only $500 og:url: https://time.com/3543285/operation-inventor-john-spinello/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7139e9885965760e/69876303e20a875780a82b32/screen-shot-2014-10-28-at-9-08-20-am.png?branch=production&width=821&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 821 og:image:height: 462 og:image:alt: Screen Shot 2014-10-28 at 9.08.20 AM og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Inventor of 'Operation' Needs Money For An Operation twitter:description: John Spinello sold the game for only $500 twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7139e9885965760e/69876303e20a875780a82b32/screen-shot-2014-10-28-at-9-08-20-am.png?branch=production&width=821&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 'Operation' Inventor, 77, Can't Afford Real Life Operation > Sponsored content. 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Terms and conditions apply. * Savings buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Savings Account. * No ATM fees from Ally Bank at Allpoint and Moneypass ATMs plus we reimburse for fees charged by other ATM owners nationwide up to $10 per statement cycle. * Early direct deposit offers eligible direct deposits up to two days sooner. * Spending buckets are a feature of Ally Bank's Spending Account. ## Video: Crowdrise [Watch (HLS stream): Crowdrise](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/GxyJSHq6.m3u8) (3:24)  _Published 2014-10-28. Crowdrise_ by [Laura Stampler](https://time.com/author/laura-stampler/) ## Laura Stampler Oct 28, 2014 1:17 PM UTC Crowdrise by [Laura Stampler](https://time.com/author/laura-stampler/) ## Laura Stampler Oct 28, 2014 1:17 PM UTC In an ironic twist of fate, the inventor of the famous board game [Operation](http://www.iloveoperation.com) is in need of money to pay for an operation. In 1964, John Spinello invented the classic children’s game, in which players attempt to perform “surgery” without tripping a buzzer, and sold it to a toy invention firm for just $500\. In spite of its great success, that’s the only money he ever received for the game. Now 77, Spinello can’t afford to pay $25,000 for an oral surgery. “John has had a good life, but has admitted to us that he is struggling to pay his bills and is in need of a medical procedure without sufficient insurance coverage,” his friends [Tim Walsh and Peggy Brown wrote in a crowd funding campaign.](https://www.crowdrise.com/helpfortheinventorofoperation) Walsh told [_The Huffington Post_](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/27/john-spinello%5Fn%5F6055174.html) that Spinello isn’t bitter about never receiving royalties for a game that has inspired everything from shower curtains to boxers to _Simpsons_ editions of the game, and has generated what he estimates to be $40 million. “John celebrates the game wherever he can, though his kids do give him a hard time in a good-natured way,” Walsh said. On top of the [crowd-funding ](https://www.crowdrise.com/helpfortheinventorofoperation)campaign, Spinello plans to auction off the original prototype in December to pay the bills. ## Transcript [00:00] Calling all lovers of Operation Cavity Sam and those [00:04] little metal tweezers with red wire. Hi, I'm Tim Walsh. And [00:08] I'm Peggy Brown. We're professional game inventors and [00:10] friends of John Spinello. You may not know John but you [00:13] certainly know the game that he created. Here's his story. [00:17] The origin of this game was at the University [00:19] [ UNKNOWN ]. When I was an industrial design student, [00:19] and we're given a, a [00:24] toy or game project. So I developed a [00:28] box for the plate that made noise, and then down the road I [00:33] came in touch with a toy developer, probably the biggest [00:33] one in the city of Chicago or in the universe. And I was [00:34] pretty excited to meet this gentleman, because he was a, [00:38] an icon in the toy industry. So [00:45] I walked into his office, and I put it on his desk. I said, well, [00:50] you have to take this probe and go through the maze. [00:55] And see if you can complete it. He rolled his eyes. He [00:59] really wasn't too excited about this. And he started to go [01:03] from here to here to here. So he started with and as soon [01:08] it went like that, big spark jumped out of the stylus and he [01:08] threw it up in the air. And he stood up and he [01:12] says, I love it, I love it. So at that [01:16] point, I figured well, I've got something that that he loves. [01:17] We talked an arrangement. And he offered me [01:24] 500 dollars for the concept, and [01:28] the promise of a job upon graduation. So, at this [01:32] time I was a little short of cash, and [01:36] I hadn't completed my last year of school. So, I readily [01:40] agreed to the deal. I didn't feel the pressure, because I had [01:42] a guaranteed job at a major toy design company. So, I [01:45] figured this is cool, and [01:49] I still didn't get the job. So, he reneged on that part of the [01:53] deal. Although I didn't get the 2 checks / eventually I had to [01:56] call. So I had whoopee $ 500 which helped me with my [01:59] tuition that semester at school. And the rest is kind of [02:06] history. Because of the deal John cut when he was 20 [02:09] years old. He's not entitled to royalties. For over 50 years [02:13] hundreds of millions of people all over the world have [02:17] played and enjoyed Operation. And John is very thankful [02:20] for that. He's not bitter at all. John tries to celebrate his [02:24] invention however he can. And let's face it, Operation is [02:26] one of those awesome iconic playthings that's become [02:28] woven into the very fabric of our culture. Now John is in his [02:32] golden years and things have gotten tough for him and his [02:34] family. Today we've launched our Crowdrise. com [02:37] campaign. For John and his family. It will brighten his [02:42] day and help him pay for some much needed medical care. [02:45] If you've ever had a laugh or two playing Operation, would [02:47] you consider sending a thank you to John for bringing [02:49] smiles to kids of all ages for half a century? In the very [02:53] least, we want you to share your stories of having fun [02:55] playing Operation. Thanks for stopping by. We have one [02:58] last request. In order for this campaign to work, we really [03:01] need help spreading the word. Would you consider telling [03:04] all your friends about this campaign by sharing the links [03:07] below, we'd appreciate that and John would to. 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