When Forrest Fenn was diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of 58, he wanted to leave behind a legacy that speaks to his soul. But what began as a man’s whimsical idea ended in a nationwide obsession, lawsuits, and even death.
Born in Temple, Texas, Fenn lived his life pursuing his passion for art and became a wealthy dealer. But when cancer clawed at his body, the millionaire wanted to do one last thing that would define his legacy. His idea? Purchase a 12th-century Romanesque box, pack it with $2 million worth of artifacts and a copy of his autobiography, and die beside it.
Fenn went to great lengths to prepare the ‘box because he thought his cancer was terminal. But he miraculously defeated the disease in 2010, and then began his real legacy. Fenn published a memoir titled The Thrill of the Chase, where he wrote,
“It had been so much fun building my collection over the decades, why not let others come searching for some of it while I’m still here, and maybe continue looking for it after I’m gone?”
The memoir also contained a cryptic 24-line poem. The 80-year-old announced that the hidden message in the poem leads to the “Fenn Treasure,” filled with gold coins, jewels, and rare artifacts worth nearly $2 million. But there was a catch. It was buried “somewhere in the Rocky Mountains,” and finding it would require both brains, physical strength, and sheer luck.
The treasure hunt turned deadly for many
What started as a poetic riddle soon turned into one of America’s strangest modern obsessions. Over 300,000 people spent their savings and trekked across the mountains, chasing the myth. Fenn himself fanned the flames, teasing updates and clues that only made the legend burn brighter.
But the hunt also drew tragedy. At least five people died while searching; drowning in rivers, falling off cliffs, and disappearing into the wilderness. In 2017, Colorado pastor Paris Wallace died while looking for the Fenn Treasure. Others, like Eric Ashby and Randy Bilyeu, met similar fates. As the body count rose, authorities begged Fenn to call it off. But he refused, saying adventure always came with risk.
Who found the Fenn Treasure?
On June 6, 2020, a full decade after the first clue, the mystery finally ended. A 32-year-old medical student named Jack Stuef from Michigan found the treasure somewhere in Wyoming. For months, he stayed anonymous, fearing backlash and legal trouble, before revealing his identity. He had spent two years decoding the poem, traveling across the Rockies, and locating what many believed would never be found.
“This treasure hunt was the most frustrating experience of my life. There were a few times when I, exhausted, covered in scratches and bites and sweat and pine pitch, and nearing the end of my day’s water supply, sat down on a downed tree and just cried alone in the woods in sheer frustration,” Stuef wrote in a Medium essay.
Inside the bronze box were several gold nuggets, pieces, and coins, ancient Chinese carved jade figures, a Spanish 17th-century gold ring, and an antique gold bracelet set with 254 rubies, six emeralds, two Ceylon sapphires, and several small diamonds (via Today). Eventually, Stuef auctioned off the treasure’s contents, gaining him $1.3 million in sales.
Just three months after the Fenn Treasure was found, in September 2020, Forrest Fenn died of natural causes at the age of 90 in Santa Fe.
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