They say “one man’s trask is another man’s treasure” – and while it sounds nice, most stuff turns out to be actual junk.
Of course, there have been a few instances over the years where a lucky individual happens to pick up a painting or random household item for a few bucks at a yard sale only to learn it’s worth a load of cash!
Check out these incredible “rags to riches” examples where “junk” turned out to be worth fortune.
1. The painting above a stove
A woman living in the French town of Compiègne was selling her house when she had someone come out to appraise her possessions.
When the appraisers walked through the door, they were shocked. Above her stove hung a 13th-century painting by Florentine artist Cimabue. It was valued at a cool $6.6 million!
We sure how she wasn’t a messy chef!
2. A 6-figure porcelain bowl
An antique buyer bought a small bowl at auction for only $35.
Of course, he must have seen some promise in it, because he decided to have it appraised by Southby’s. That’s when he learned something incredible.
This was a 15th-century Chinese porcelain bowl made during the Ming Dynasty. It was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars!
Quite the lucky investment!
3. The doorstop meteorite
When we need to hold a door open, we’ll grab anything heavy nearby. But for one man in Edmore, MI, that doorstop happened to be a rare meteorite. A professor at Central Michigan University confirmed it.
Apparently, the family came into possession of the “rock” after they heard a loud boom then went outside to a crater in their yard! This was what was sitting inside. It was valued at $100k.
4. Pearly finds
A fisherman in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines, went to the local tourism office when he realized that he had found a massive pearl in the ocean.
His anchor had gotten stuck on something, and when he pulled it up he thought it was a rock.
Turns out it was the largest pearl ever found, weighing 75 lbs and worth $100 million!
5. A pic of Billy the Kid
Getting a photo of Billy the Kid was an exceedingly hard thing to do.
When a man bought this photo from an antique shop in Freemont, California, for $2, he didn’t realize how rare it was. It’s worth an estimated $5 million!
6. Postcard-sized painting worth $400k
About a decade ago, a British man purchased a small, postcard-sized painting for under $50.
It took 9 months to have it appraised, but when it was done, he found out he owned a painting by 19th-century artist John Constable worth $400,000.
7. Andy Warhol sketch worth millions
A man was visiting a Las Vegas garage sale in 2012 when he decided to purchase a sketch for $5.
When he noticed Andy Warhol’s signature and decided to get it appraised. It was confirmed as authentic and valued at around $2 million!
8. Apple 1 computer for $200,000
A woman dropped off some “old technology” to Goodwill. When the workers noticed it, they did some research and discovered it was an Apple 1 original computer – and it was worth at least $200,000!
They tried to reach out to her, but no one ever came forward!
9. Rare watch found for $5.99
While browsing Goodwill in Phoenix, Arizona, Zach Norris saw a watch sitting on the counter for $5.99.
After taking a closer look, he realized it was a Jaeger-LeCoultre, one of the first sophisticated diver’s watches.
He was able to sell it for $35,000!
10. Faberge egg belonging to Russian royalty
A Faberge egg is valuable itself, so it’s no surprise that even at a flea market it was purchased for $14,000.
However, it turns out it was GREATLY undervalued. This specific egg was originally part of the collection that belonged to Russian royalty before the revolution. It was likely worth at least $20 million!
11. $100,000 Renoir painting in a box of junk
A West Virginia woman bought a $7 box of junk at a flea market, hoping to take the frame from one of the paintings and reuse it.
However, she had it appraised first and learned that it wasn’t junk at all – it was a $100,000 painting by Renoir that had been stolen in the 1950s!
12. Worlds most expensive blanket
Navajo weaving is a lost art and if you can find a piece in good condition, you’d have one of the most coveted antiques in the world.
In 2014, a man who was living on disability decided to take in an old blanket from his home for appraisal, thinking it would be worth a couple of bucks.
He was floored when he was told it was worth at least $1.5 million!
13. Baseball cards worth $1 million
Who said trading cards couldn’t be a valuable hobby? One woman found some baseball cards that her great-great-grandmother had given her from when she ran the boarding house where the Boston Red Stockings lived in 1871-1872.
The collection was topped off with a letter and notes from three Hall of Fame players, Albert Spalding, and brothers Harry and George Wright.
The package is worth a cool million dollars.
14. A hidden Picasso
A woman in Rhode Island bought a ceramic plate with a “funny drawing” on it in the 70s, keeping it around her kitchen until 2014 when she decided to have it appraised.
Turns out it was a piece by Picasso himself, made in 1955. It’s now worth $10,000.
15. Rare violin found in trash
A man found a violin in the trash and pulled it out, thinking he may just try and sell it. When he had it appraised, it was quite the find – it was made by Giuseppe Pedrazzini, a premier Italian violin maker.
It’s worth somewhere between $35,000 and $50,000!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
