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Fenn's Gold: The Decade-Long Hunt Ends
19 Sep
Summary
- A 10-year treasure hunt inspired by Forrest Fenn's memoir concluded in 2020.
- Jonathan Stuef, a medical student, found the hidden treasure.
- The hunt spurred academic study and led to the sale of artifacts.
The 24-line poem in Forrest Fenn's 2010 memoir, "The Thrill of the Chase," ignited a decade-long treasure hunt involving an estimated 350,000 seekers. Fenn, an art dealer, hid a chest of gold and jewelry in 2010, inspired by a past cancer diagnosis and a desire to inspire hope post-recession.
In June 2020, Jonathan "Jack" Stuef, a 32-year-old medical student from Michigan, finally located the treasure. His obsession began in 2018 after discovering the poem on Twitter, leading him to dedicate significant time daily to deciphering the clues.
Fenn publicly confirmed the treasure's discovery before his death in September 2020. Stuef's identity was revealed in December 2020 following a court ruling related to a lawsuit.
The hunt garnered academic attention, with studies estimating millions of adults participated. The pursuit also carried risks, including at least four reported deaths and an arrest for grave digging in Yellowstone.
In September 2022, Heritage Auctions sold the recovered chest's contents for $1,307,946 to Tesouro Sagrado Holdings, LLC. The highest-priced item was a 549-gram gold nugget sold for $55,200.
