Do you really know? What are some of the world's best treasure hunts?
Mar 22, 2026
A whirlwind look at legendary treasure hunts from the Golden Owl’s decades-long riddle chase to Forrest Fenn’s Rocky Mountains mystery. Listeners hear about the owl’s design and the moment its marker was found. The show also covers ongoing hunts like the Entente Cordiale and the risks and drama that can surround real-world searches.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
The Three Decade Golden Owl Hunt
- The Golden Owl treasure hunt lasted over three decades and began with Max Valentin's 1993 book Sur les Traces de la Chouette d'Or.
- More than 200,000 enthusiasts called chouetteurs decoded 11 riddles before the €150,000 owl was found on 3 October 2024.
The Golden Owl Is A Jewelled Sculpture
- The Golden Owl is a high-art objet d'art combining craftsmanship and precious stones rather than a simple buried chest.
- Artist Michael Becker designed a 50 cm, ~10 kg silver sculpture with gold accents and ruby and diamond-set eyes; Becker announced the find on his forum.
Forrest Fenn's Controversial Rocky Mountain Chest
- Forrest Fenn's 2010 Rocky Mountains hunt hid a chest full of gold, gems and artifacts and was driven by clues in his poem from Thrill of the Chase.
- Over 350,000 people searched, four died, and police urged Fenn to stop before a 2020 finder located it in Wyoming.
