James Kane and Barbie Agostini, a New York City couple, made an unexpected discovery while magnet fishing in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens on May 31, 2024. The couple retrieved a safe from a lake, which contained $100,000 in cash, though the money had been damaged by the water.
Magnet fishing involves using a strong magnet attached to a rope to retrieve metal objects from bodies of water. Kane and Agostini began this hobby during the Covid-19 pandemic, described by Kane as "poor man's treasure hunting." The couple has previously found various items such as old guns, grenades, a motorcycle, foreign coins, and jewelry.
Upon discovering the cash, the couple contacted the New York Police Department. After conducting an investigation, the police confirmed that there was no crime associated with the money and no way to identify the original owner of the safe, allowing the couple to keep the cash.
Kane and Agostini document their magnet fishing finds on their YouTube channel, "Let's Get Magnetic." Despite often finding less lucrative items, their recent discovery has been their most significant yet.