This is one of the most serious example i have com across though its related with stock trading. In "The New Markets Wizards" by Jack Swager, Noted Money Manager Monroe Trout describes in his own words how much he lost. " January 9 1991 was the day when Secretary of States James Baker met with the Iraqi ambassador in an effort to avert the Gulf War. Addressing the Press conference after the meeting, Baker began his statement with the word 'REGRETTABLY'. And a wave of selling hit the stock and bond markets. I lost about $9,500,000 most of it in about 10 seconds"