unilad homepage
unilad homepage
    • News
      • UK News
      • US News
      • World News
      • Crime
      • Health
      • Money
      • Sport
      • Travel
    • Music
    • Technology
    • Film and TV
      • News
      • DC Comics
      • Disney
      • Marvel
      • Netflix
    • Celebrity
    • Politics
    • Advertise
    • Terms
    • Privacy & Cookies
    • LADbible Group
    • LADbible
    • SPORTbible
    • GAMINGbible
    • Tyla
    • UNILAD Tech
    • FOODbible
    • License Our Content
    • About Us & Contact
    • Jobs
    • Latest
    • Archive
    • Topics A-Z
    • Authors
    Facebook
    Instagram
    X
    Threads
    TikTok
    YouTube
    Submit Your Content
    Biggest gold nugget ever found that weighed as much as a person would be worth an insane amount today

    Home> News> Money

    Published 16:42 13 Feb 2024 GMT

    Biggest gold nugget ever found that weighed as much as a person would be worth an insane amount today

    The 'biggest golden nugget' ever which weighs as much as an adult is now worth millions

    Chelsea Connor

    Chelsea Connor

    google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
    Featured Image Credit: Dunolly Museum

    Topics: Money, News

    Chelsea Connor
    Chelsea Connor

    Chelsea is a Journalist for UNILAD. Before this she worked as a Journalist and Comedy Writer for seven years, working for companies such as Newsquest, NationalWorld and Samahoma Productions. She became a qualified journalist back in 2017, completing a NCTJ at Liverpool City College.

    X

    @theccjourno

    Advert

    Advert

    Advert

    The biggest 'nugget of gold' in the world weighed as much as an adult man, and would be worth millions of dollars today.

    Gold-digging is a niche but, at times, financially rewarding activity, as miners have found gold worth millions over the years, but it's usually no guarantee that you'll make the big bucks.

    However, miners John Deason and Richard Oats hit the jackpot back in 1869, when they found the discovered the monster nugget while digging in Australia.

    Advert

    Weighing in at 72 kilograms (11 stone), and measuring a huge 61 cm (24 inches), it was found in the roots of a tree, and was nicknamed 'Welcome Stranger'.

    While gold is usually great for holding its value, the two miners took the nugget to the town of Dunolly where it was weighed at a London Chartered Bank, and were paid just under $10,000 for the massive chunk.

    "It is a great story of two guys instantly becoming fabulously rich. In those days that didn't happen," said John Tully from the Goldfields Historical Society.

    "Nowadays we have things like the Lotto where people can become millionaires overnight, but back then it didn't happen like that."

    The biggest 'nugget' ever found.
    Dunolly Museum

    In notes from the time, Deason wrote: “I tried to prise the nugget up with the pick but the handle broke. I then got a crowbar and raised the nugget to the surface.”

    Due to heavy inflation, the gold has soared in price and is estimated to be worth around $2 million in today's money.

    While there are a few ways to mine for gold, many big finds have been through a basic metal detector.

    The largest chunk of gold that has ever found by a metal detector weighed in at 875 troy ounces of gold (27kg) and was discovered by Kevin Hillier in Kingower, Victoria, back in 1980.

    Called the 'Hand of Faith', it is now on display at the aptly named Golden Nugget Casino in Las Vegas.

    The biggest nugget found by metal detector is now in a Las Vegas.
    Ken Lund/Flickr

    Gold retains such value that YouTuber Logan Paul tried to get in on the action, and asked a pawnbroker if he would exchange a Prime bottle made from 24-carat gold.

    The pawnbroker examined the bottle, subsequently offering the social media star $25,000 for it.

    However, Paul didn't stop there and tried to bargain, requesting $700,000 for the bottle.

    Ultimately, it was decided no deal would be reached for the Prime bottle.

    It was one of the bottles that was given away at the London and New York activations for the popular drink, with another being won by a young boy from the UK.

    Choose your content:

    19 mins ago
    4 hours ago
    13 hours ago
    14 hours ago
    • Scott Olson/Getty Images
      19 mins ago

      Barack Obama opens up about how Trump causes 'genuine tension' in his marriage

      The war of words between Trump and Obama continues nine years after he left office

      News
    • Patrick van Katwijk/Getty Images
      4 hours ago

      Delta Air Lines axes free snacks and drinks on hundreds of flights

      New rules regarding on-board catering are set to come into force on May 19

      News
    • Instagram/@thenycsleepdoctor
      13 hours ago

      Doctors reveal how 7:1 sleep rule could add years to your life

      A study found that following the sleep rule could cut risk of early death by nearly a quarter

      News
    • Europa Press/Europa Press via Getty Images
      14 hours ago

      Woman, 71, who used dead son's sperm to have his child shares update 3 years later

      Ana Obregon said she was following her dead son's wishes when she used his frozen sperm to have his son and her granddaughter

      News
    • Darrell Sheets once found $17,000 worth of jewelry as he struck gold in Las Vegas locker
    • Exactly how much money each person on Earth would get by splitting Elon Musk's wealth after $1 trillion Tesla deal
    • How much Bitcoin you need to have today to retire comfortably in 2050 revealed
    • Someone who invested $7,793 into Bitcoin 14 years ago and only just accessed it is now worth a staggering amount