user4325: I see some bitcoin documentation sites reference dummy addresses like "1bitcoinEaterAddressDontSend32425663" or something made up like that. I'd assume it's just so people reading the docs won't try to "tip" the writer and send to a foobar address that was made up for the sake of example. 
That said, I find addresses under this schema that actually have quite a bit of bitcoins in them. Like hundreds of transactions+ and thousands of USD worth (circa 2016 for future readers). 
Here is an example (1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE): https://blockchain.info/address/1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE
Who are these people sending money here, what's the point? Can anyone shed some light, lol.

user2167: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Vanitygen
Theres no guarantee these addresses are made up ....
Of course, bitcoin eater addresses are around since the early days - but why not exploit it :)
Back then it came up as a joke, if you mined 100 btc a day wh not dump some for fun to an eater address to make the rest more valueable, then vanity addresses became mainstream ....

user5406: The point is that someone obviously made up the sentence and then adapted the last few places to make it adhere to the checksum test, i.e. it is a valid Bitcoin address. On the other hand, it's certain that it's not an address someone generated randomly (because vanity addresses of that length would take way too much effort to generate). 
Thus, it's a "safe way" to burn bitcoins.

user43168: 
I'd assume it's just so people reading the docs won't try to "tip" the writer and send to a foobar address that was made up for the sake of example

That is correct! 
Other than that, there is no other real point at all. These bitcoins are gone forever and no one will ever be able to get them. 
However there is some projects or new coins that does Proof-Of-Burning and by sending the bitcoin correctly to the bitcoin eater address you would get corresponding amount in the new cryptocurrency.

4325: <p>I see some bitcoin documentation sites reference dummy addresses like <strong>"1bitcoinEaterAddressDontSend32425663"</strong> or something made up like that. I'd assume it's just so people reading the docs won't try to "tip" the writer and send to a foobar address that was made up for the sake of example. </p>

<p>That said, I find addresses under this schema that actually have quite a <em>bit</em> of bitcoins in them. Like hundreds of transactions+ and thousands of USD worth (circa 2016 for future readers). </p>

<p>Here is an example (1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE): <a href="https://blockchain.info/address/1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE" rel="noreferrer">https://blockchain.info/address/1BitcoinEaterAddressDontSendf59kuE</a></p>

<p>Who are these people sending money here, what's the point? Can anyone shed some light, lol.</p>
 2167: <p><a href="https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Vanitygen" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Vanitygen</a></p>

<p>Theres no guarantee these addresses are made up ....</p>

<p>Of course, bitcoin eater addresses are around since the early days - but why not exploit it :)</p>

<p>Back then it came up as a joke, if you mined 100 btc a day wh not dump some for fun to an eater address to make the rest more valueable, then vanity addresses became mainstream ....</p>
 5406: <p>The point is that someone obviously made up the sentence and then adapted the last few places to make it adhere to the checksum test, i.e. it is a valid Bitcoin address. On the other hand, it's certain that it's not an address someone generated randomly (because vanity addresses of that length would take way too much effort to generate). </p>

<p>Thus, it's a "safe way" to burn bitcoins.</p>
 43168: <blockquote>
  <p>I'd assume it's just so people reading the docs won't try to "tip" the writer and send to a foobar address that was made up for the sake of example</p>
</blockquote>

<p>That is correct! </p>

<p>Other than that, there is no other real point at all. These bitcoins are gone forever and no one will ever be able to get them. </p>

<p>However there is some projects or new coins that does Proof-Of-Burning and by sending the bitcoin correctly to the bitcoin eater address you would get corresponding amount in the new cryptocurrency.</p>
