Back when the Restall's got on the Island they got permission from Mel Chappell to dig the Money Pit Area in exchange for 50% of anything found. I'm guessing he gave Dunfield the same deal.. I assume Chappell owned the land. Now years later I have read that the Brothers spent upwards of 15 million dollars to get the rights and permits to start their digs. They are still having to get different permits to dig certain areas. My question is why did it cost so much money and who got it? I assume Dan Blankenship owned the rights to some or most of the island, so of course he got some but dang how much?
Money Pit Area Land Rights
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gazzahk
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Not that I know... So just speculating. I would not be surprised if much of that money was paid to 'themselves' (Blankenship's and Laginas") The TV production company has been billed by the corporation that owns the land (Blakenships and Laginas) for a significant portion of that amount. This is money is paid from all the sponsorship, government grants etc. I doub't much of that money went to external parties (I imagine Fred Nolans family are now getting some for letting Laginas search their land). Given that Laginas are basically selling the rights to themselves they can charge whatever they want to milk out all the money the TV show makes.
As you said they already owned most of the land...
As to where the 15 million you are quoting comes from and what it is meant to include is another matter. They seem to be wasting millions. In the past they claimed that each hole cost over a million to dig. The explosive/sonic mapping was over a million. I imagine the cost of putting up the coffer dam and taking it down again would be expensive as well.
So they have dug 2 new big holes this season alone.. This plus the sonic map and coffer dam already must of cost them in excess of $4 million.
The treasure they would have if they spent the 15 million on gold
Here is a picture of about $1.25 million in gold bars so juts picture a pile of 12 times the amount of gold shown...
If you are correct and that is only for the rights then the whole amount they have spent is probably closer to double that.
Now that is a TREASURE....
As you said they already owned most of the land...
As to where the 15 million you are quoting comes from and what it is meant to include is another matter. They seem to be wasting millions. In the past they claimed that each hole cost over a million to dig. The explosive/sonic mapping was over a million. I imagine the cost of putting up the coffer dam and taking it down again would be expensive as well.
So they have dug 2 new big holes this season alone.. This plus the sonic map and coffer dam already must of cost them in excess of $4 million.
The treasure they would have if they spent the 15 million on gold
Here is a picture of about $1.25 million in gold bars so juts picture a pile of 12 times the amount of gold shown...
If you are correct and that is only for the rights then the whole amount they have spent is probably closer to double that.
Now that is a TREASURE....
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Thanks for your thoughts on it. Now that Dan has passed, I guess Dave now owns the land and has access to the money that was paid Dan for the rights. He'll be able to live comfortably for his reminder years... Still at the end of the day even though they are having to pay quite a few people to be "stars" on the show, it's not like the 100's of thousands they have to pay each star on a typical sitcom per episode..The last few years of the show Friends they were paying each of them 1 million dollars per times 6 actors... So there is money there for the show to help pay for the search to continue it on as long as the TV Ratings are good...
Don't you think some of these digging/ evaluation/ survey companies either donate their services or work for a discounted rate for the free advertising/ exposure/ hope that they can claim their participation in the discovery/attempt?
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I'd imagine some of them are if not all as I'm sure there is some sort of negotiation before hand, about filming, and what to say when etc... Which may turn into them being paid from the show a portion to make up for it taking so long to do their part...
at least the folks are carrying on Tradition , " Pump Tons of Money into an Empty Hole "
lot of Money just to wallow in the Mud .
I just go 5 miles out in the Forest, 4x4 out there in the Mud . Much Cheaper , much more fun too .
LOL
lot of Money just to wallow in the Mud .
I just go 5 miles out in the Forest, 4x4 out there in the Mud . Much Cheaper , much more fun too .
LOL
sasquash
Sr. Member
The Estate of Dan now owns the land. How many peoples ... I don't know ... Dave could be one of them ... I hope so.
gazzahk
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I am sure you a right to some extent. Still I do not think that construction company is doing it for free...
gazzahk
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I also imagine the drilling crew must be thinking what a massive waste of time, money and effort... I would bet none of the drilling crew think there is any treasure buried there...
boogeyman
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Bet they're thinking that secondary! How often does that rig operate? They're working, drawing a check! Not to mention if they go to work for another company, the video clips etc. sure look pretty in the resume! The company is getting advertising I don't think money could buy. A bunch of pictures of them working the Oak Island job sure make the conference room & lobby look good for customers looking to hire them for their job. A company rep pointing to the pics saying "Here's what we did at OI, compared to that your job would be a piece of cake for us!" boom contract signed. Think, that rigs not sitting in the yard & the crews drawing paychecks.
Singlestack Wonder
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Uhh...finding what? More common artifacts from humans inhabiting the island for hundreds of years?
start here, most everybody else did .
Oak Island Treasure ? View topic - KIDD/AVERY
it's all Theater .
Disney's Senior Writers , contact " Boots on the Ground " treasure hunters , and use their experience to make money on .
it's a Laugh actually , all the mess Disney Starts .
Oak Island Treasure ? View topic - KIDD/AVERY
it's all Theater .
Disney's Senior Writers , contact " Boots on the Ground " treasure hunters , and use their experience to make money on .
it's a Laugh actually , all the mess Disney Starts .
Charlie P. (NY)
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I was responding to a post of someones who said they bet the drilling workers don't believe there is any treasure there and that this is a waste of money. All I said was "but they hope they find it" ( if it is there ) so they can be a part of it. How hard is that to understand and believe. I'm not saying there is treasure, or that they are going to find it just, HOPE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as is IF THERE IS TREASURE TO BE FOUND THEY HOPE TO BE THE ONES TO FIND IT..... They are being paid to perform their job. I'm sure every time they go out to drill they hope to hit/find whatever they are being called out to drill for, whether or not they think it's possible or not....
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