The hunter has transformed into the hunted, setting the stage for an intriguing tale. At the dawn of Netflix's "Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure," Justin Posey, in a whispered aside to the production crew, unveils a startling revelation: he has concealed a treasure of his own, subtly peppering his elaborate interview setup with clues to its hidden locale. As the docuseries draws to a close, Posey, a Texas-based technologist, avid treasure hunter, and the star of the three-episode saga, shares further intricate details directly through the lens of a self-shot video, rushed to Netflix at the eleventh hour to ensure that neither the production nor post-production teams gain an unfair advantage over the viewers. This was all part of the treasure hunter-turned-concealer's grand scheme.
Posey confided to The Hollywood Reporter that he decided to embed the hidden clues "rather early" into the Netflix docuseries' narrative; although not a producer, he was merely a subject, yet his motive was cleverly aligned with promoting his book, "Beyond the Map’s Edge." This tome, containing a poem with the essential clues to uncover his treasure—a nod to the Forrest Fenn method—debuted alongside the docuseries on March 27, 2025. Posey, a sharp mind indeed, boasts that the book is "selling well."
"There are enticing hints scattered throughout the series," Posey remarks, "but the book harbors far superior clues." He profits from one of these endeavors. The docuseries and the book synergize to a certain extent. Posey asserts that the hints in the series can "aid in discovering the treasure" and "undoubtedly pave the way for understanding the book."
Before venturing into the American West, one might wonder: what is the worth of this treasure—a blend of Fenn’s artifacts (Posey acquired most of the original concealed treasure from the actual finder) and Posey’s personal plunder? He is evasive, perhaps necessity dictates his silence.
"I'm striving to sidestep the pitfalls Forrest encountered during his treasure hunt," Posey shares. "Legal counsel wisely advised never to disclose a value, as it could spark numerous legal complications down the line. For example, if I disclose a particular value and someone seeks an appraisal differing from mine, it could pave the way for litigation." No one desires such a fate. Jack Stuef, the 32-year-old medical student who unearthed Fenn’s treasure, rushed to auction it out of fear of potential lawsuits from fellow seekers, indirectly leading the treasure to Posey.
"It's reasonable to assume it's substantial," Posey remarks of his concealed hoard. "Just one of those gold bars, based on today's gold prices, nearly fetches $100,000 each." (We're lacing up our THR-issued hiking boots as we speak.)
Moreover, the chest (Fenn’s) is laden with "numerous older historical items" that Posey, as a fellow treasure hunter, finds enticing. "I spent $50,000 on one item alone, years ago. I'm unsure of its current worth, but there are quite a few similar items."
Among the treasures lies a meteorite. How did a 42-year-old who didn't uncover Fenn’s treasure acquire a meteorite? Posey was an early investor (2003) in the very platform that catapulted him to fame: Netflix. A software engineer by day (his job funded his Netflix investments, which "turned out remarkably well"), Posey hails from a "plain middle-class family." The gold bar he eagerly unwraps like a child on Christmas morning? A faux pas.
Currently, "at least a few hundred individuals" are on the hunt for Posey’s genuine gold. Posey laments receiving "over 1,000 messages an hour," prompting him to disable his direct messages on X and Instagram. (Facebook Messenger remains an option, sorry, Justin, but journalism calls.)
Posey was unprepared for this deluge. "I knew it would air on Netflix, but I never anticipated hitting the top 10—globally, no less," he admits. Within its first four days, "Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure" amassed 2.1 million views, ranking eighth globally among Netflix's English-language TV shows for the week of March 24. Data beyond March 30 is unavailable as it did not chart the following week.
As for the treasure hunters, Posey remarks that it's too soon to determine if anyone is "genuinely close," but there are certainly those who have "harbored promising thoughts." To those hundreds, we present an exclusive clue, courtesy of Posey and THR: "You don’t need a high-clearance vehicle to find the treasure." Happy hunting, even to those with lowriders.
