In 2013, James Howells made a billion-dollar mistake: he threw away a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin—worth $760 million today.
Now, that fortune is buried beneath 110,000 tons of trash in a Welsh landfill.
Here’s the wildest treasure hunt of the 21st century:
• $11M Recovery Mission: Robot dogs, AI-powered trash sorters, and even a replica landfill to train the tech.
• $190M Offer Rejected: Howells offered his city a 25% cut of the treasure to search the landfill. The council still said no.
• Environmental Innovation: He’s proposed turning landfill methane into renewable energy while guaranteeing a safe search.
Even NASA engineers believe the hard drive’s data can be recovered—if they can find it.
For over a decade, Howells has chased his buried fortune, proving this isn’t just about money.
It’s a story of persistence, innovation, and an unbelievable second chance.
Would you dig through mountains of trash for $760M?
