Today’s entry resulted from my daydreaming. I was thinking about treasure hunting, so I decided to make a list of people who found themselves in the right place at the right time. Whether the result of hard work and persistence ,or simple luck, these people definitely “hit the jackpot.” Lotto winners were not included because their stories are pretty boring (i.e. Buy ticket, win money, choose payment plan, get depressed, reveal low-class upbringing, go bankrupt). Anyway, I hope you find this list more entertaining.
1. Rufino Tamayo’s painting “Tres Personajes”
Value: approx. $1 million
In 2003, Elizabeth Gibson picked a large painting out of the trash outside her NY apartment. It turns out that the painting is an abstract work of Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo that was famously stolen 20 years earlier. The painting is expected to go for upwards of $1 million at auction. Gibson will receive a $15,000 reward from the seller as well as a finder’s fee from the auction house. She doesn't get the whole million, but she's not doing too bad for a dumpster dive.
2. Man buys Lotus Esprit for $1 on EBay
Value: $50,000
While on-air, British Shock-Jock radio DJ Tim told Jodie Marsh that he would leave his wife and kids for her. Unfortunately for Shaw, his wife was listening to his show at the time. She was also named as an owner on the car’s title. The soon-to-be Ms. Shaw immediately listed Tim’s Lotus Esprit with a “Buy It Now” option at $1 stating that the buyer had to pick up the car in the next 2-3 hours “before her husband got home.” The car sold within 5 minutes to a lucky buyer. http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1436341.html
3. Staffordshire Hoard
Value: over 1 million Great British Pounds
In 2009 55-yr old Terry Herbert found the largest treasure hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold in history when he was using his metal detector. 1,500 items from the 7th and 8th centuries worth in excess of 1 million GPB. Not bad for an amateur treasure hunter.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffordshire_Hoard
4. Bugatti Type 57S barn find
Value: £3 Million
A 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Stalante was found in the locked barn of a Newcastle, England manor house. Just 17 examples of this car were ever produced. Most of them are displayed in automotive museums. The car sold at auction in 2009 for just under £3million.
5. Mark McGuire’s 70th HR Ball
Value: $3,005,000
Philip Ozersky caught McGuire’s 70th HR ball and sold the collectable to Todd McFarlane (who is famous for creating the comic book character Spawn). McFarlane paid $3,005,000 for the ball, which is now worth much less because of steroid allegations.
http://www.teako170.com/70th.html
6. Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe barn find
Value: $4 million
Only 6 specimens of this iconic race car were ever built. This car, serial CSX2287 was sold to George Brand for $1,000 in 1971. The car’s whereabouts were unknown after this transaction. In 2000, Donna O’Hare, George Brand’s daughter committed suicide by lighting herself on fire. She died without a will. The coupe was found in a storage garage. It is presently valued at $4,000,000. Not bad for a car that was bought for a grand.
http://www.slotcarillustrated.com/portal/forums/showthread.php?t=825 
7. Lost Jackson Pollock Painting
Value: unverifiable, owner declined a $9 million offer to sell
Teri Horton, a 73 year old retired truck driver purchased a painting for $5 at a thrift shop. While provenance is uncertain, the painting is potentially a Jackson Pollock (the paint matches as does a partial finger print). If provenance is determined, the painting could fetch upwards of $100 million at auction. A documentary, Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock?, details Horton’s story.
8. Shipwreck of Nuestra Senora de Atocha
Value: $450+ million
In 1985, after a 16.5 year search, treasure hunter Mel Fisher discovered the wreck of a Spanish galleon that sank in 1622 aka “The Atocha Motherlode.” The find included over 40 tons of gold and silver, 100,000 Spanish coins (“pieces of eight”), Colombian emeralds, 1000 silver bars and other precious artifacts. The wealthiest part of the ship is still undiscovered. Fisher got to keep 80% of the treasure. 
9. Black Swan Project
Value: $500 million
The Black Swan Project is the name of a shipwreck discovered by Odyssey Marine Exploration. The on-going recovery efforts are expected to haul up an estimated $500 million worth of silver and gold coins. The shipwreck is rumored to be the Merchant Royal, which sank off the coast of England in 1641.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Swan_Project 
10. KV62 aka King Tut’s Tomb
Value: Priceless
In 1922 Howard Carter discovered the almost completely intact tomb of the Egyptian King Tutankhamun in the Valley of Kings. The tomb is by far the most complete of any of the burial chambers discovered in the Valley of Kings. The historical and archeological significance of the artifacts found within the tomb makes the discovery priceless, but to give you an idea of the opulence of the burial chamber, consider the fact Tut’s innermost coffin weighed 243 lbs, which at today’s gold prices converts to just over $4 million dollars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KV62
For the real day dreamers amongst us, I will soon post a list of treasures yet to be found :D I know you can't wait.
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