Kriti Mehrotra
The hopes and dreams of thousands were utterly crushed in the summer of 2020 as they found out that Forrest Fenn’s storied hidden treasure (worth nearly $2 million) had been found by Jack Stuef. However, it was also a relief for many, considering the lives lost or upended as they unwittingly got obsessed with the search, as explored in Netflix’s ‘Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure.’ The now-late public figure himself never explicitly revealed what his opinions regarding the same were, but he did seem excited for the story to have a conclusion and for him to be a part of it. But alas, no one could have imagined he would pass away shortly after, leaving behind a legacy unlike any other.
How Did Forrest Fenn Earn His Money?
Born on August 22, 1930, as the middle child of Lillie Simpson Fenn and William Marvin Fenn in Temple, Texas, Forrest Fenn reportedly grew up surrounded by craft, love, as well as nature. In fact, some of his favorite childhood memories are from the summers he spent with family on vacation in the wondrous Yellowstone National Park, where he was given free rein to fish and explore. Thus, it comes as no surprise that apart from working small jobs like paper delivery or dish cleaning when he was a teenager, he wanted to combine all his passions into one and become a cowboy.
But alas, as time passed, Forrest found himself getting caught up in the motions of growing up and ultimately graduated from Temple High School with his partner and future wife, Peggy Proctor. He subsequently attended Texas A&M University for 4 days until it came to light that he hadn’t actually enrolled in any classes, just to then find himself enlisting in the United States Air Force. As a radar mechanic turned pilot, he was not only stationed at different points in Europe and Asia but actually served in the Vietnam War – he flew over 300 missions and was even shot down twice.
Once everything was said and done, Forrest walked away with a Bronze Star, a Silver Star, a Purple Heart, and several other accolades for his service, right along with a new perspective on morality. That’s when he decided to shift gears and step into the world of creativity since he already had a passion for the arts as well as antiques, so he gradually evolved into a collector and dealer himself. According to records, he started out by trading bronze busts and sculptures for high-quality Indian artifacts or items like rugs, paintings, and rare showpieces before truly expanding his scope.
By the time Forrest was diagnosed with kidney cancer in the late 1980s, he had a world-renowned art gallery of his own in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he had long settled with his family. We specify “world-renowned” because that’s indeed the level at which his business was when he was in his 50s, and it only grew over time thanks to his innate passion as well as work ethic. The fact he had a loyal clientele also helped, especially as most of them were high-net-worth individuals or even celebrities – Fenn Galleries Ltd. was undeniably his pride and joy for years.
Therefore, when Forrest was diagnosed in 1988, he thought it would be terminal and decided to bury some of the antiques/jewels he had acquired over the years near the Rocky Mountains. Thankfully, though, he survived, and so it wasn’t until 2010 that he really went through with his idea, even publishing a memoir titled ‘The Thrill of the Chase’ with all possible clues to find it. He never expected his treasure hunt to take on the life it did, but he still gladly leaned into it via countless television appearances, interviews, and another book titled ‘Too Far to Walk’ (2013).
What Was Forrest Fenn’s Net Worth?
With Forrest having been able to bury a small treasure chest full of items worth nearly $2 million in total, it goes without saying that he had managed to accumulate significant wealth over the years. However, most of it was through his career as an art collector, art dealer, and the owner of Fenn Galleries at 1075 Paseo De Peralta in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which he sold following his diagnosis. After all, while Air Force pilots at a high rank reportedly earned between $8,000 to $10,000 per year when Forrest served, he likely made that in a single commission when he switched careers.
It’s honestly almost impossible to figure out Forrest’s precise earnings owing to the fact it’s not public exactly how many paintings or collectibles he sold, from what artists, and at what price. Yet, we do know that once he managed to establish a name for himself in the industry, he only made high-end deals and housed many famous people, including Jackie Kennedy. As for his clients, they included the likes of Suzanne Somers, Ralph Lauren, and Michael Douglas.
Forrest even evolved as a collector of art, artifacts, rugs, jewels, and sculptures himself, making it clear that most of his savings turned into investments through this passion of his. Therefore, after taking into consideration all his assets, his expenses, his public standing, and his lifestyle, we estimate Forrest Fenn had a net worth of $20 million at the time of his death. He passed away from a heart attack at the age of 90 on September 7, 2020, mere months after his treasure was found in June.
Read More: Justin Posey’s Net Worth: How Rich is the Treasure Hunter?
