Get Your McMillions?

We all know what McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) can do to our waistlines, but did you know that it could fatten your bank account? Over the weekend, McDonald's set out to do just that, giving 15 random patrons a cool million-dollar prize.

Yes, there was gold in those golden arches, though the chances of winning were slim. With more than 15,000 locations participating in the giveaway, you had a respectable 0.1% chance of nailing one of the 15 randomly selected restaurants, but the odds of timing your entrance were practically infinitesimal.

It probably didn't help that this may go down as one of the quietest promotions in history. Ads touting the contest were few in number and surprisingly subdued among the smiling faces of the new "I'm Lovin' It" campaign. Why? Well, there was little honor in this prize fest.

The giveaways were actually part of a settlement stemming from the company's notorious Monopoly promotion three years ago. You'll recall, an unscrupulous employee of the marketing company hired by Mickey D's to carry out the contest snagged many of the winning pieces, beefing up the odds against the chain's burger-chomping patrons.

That's why McDonald's is better off just quietly sweeping this weekend's game under the rug and getting back to the business of getting folks to pay to eat there -- rather than the other way around. After all, it's doing just fine on that front. On Friday, the company posted a huge 13.9% gain in February comps.

Sure, that included an extra day for leap year, but it's an amazing showing for the company as it continues to reinvent itself. Under CEO Jim Cantalupo, the chain has thrived, posting same-store sales gains 10 straight months now. Taking a cue from Wendy's (NYSE: WEN), McDonald's has scored with its premium salads, while even those nasty McNuggets got a welcome makeover with healthier all-white chicken.

The stock, by the way, has nearly tripled over the past year. So, forget the 15 big winners over the weekend. More than a few shareholders have been "lovin' it" lately -- and with better odds to boot.

Did you try your luck by making an extra trip to your local McDonald's over the weekend? Do you think these contests and promotions are necessary, or do you think a chain's food should stand for itself? All this and more -- in the McDonald's discussion board. Only on Fool.com.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz didn't make it out to Mickey D's over the weekend. He also didn't buy any lottery tickets. He does not own shares in any companies mentioned in this story.