Eccentric jeweller sparks treasure hunt for buried millions

Jeweller Johnny Perri has buried $1.4 million worth of treasure for people to find. Photo / JohnnysTreasureQuest.com

A treasure hunt is about to launch in the United States after a jeweller buried $1.49 million worth of jewellery, rare coins and other treasurers in a variety of locations in the wild.

Johnny Perri, the owner of J&M Jewelers in the US state of Michigan, closed his business of 23 years after it suffered during pandemic lockdowns.

Rather than retire in the usual way, Mr Perri came up with an unusual plan to keep him occupied.

"I said (to his wife) Amy, we can take everything out and retire or we can bury it across the state of Michigan," he told FOX2 News.

The couple poured through their collection of valuables, selecting more than a million dollars' worth of jewels, rare coins and fine dining ware.

They then spent months travelling through the Michigan wilderness, burying smaller piles of the treasure — worth more than $6000 each — in various locations.

"We went through waterfalls, streams, we kayaked everywhere," Mr Perri said.

"As soon as I release the clues the race is on."

$1.4million in precious metals have been buried in the Michigan wilderness. Photo / Supplied

Mr Perri and his wife Amy are selling tickets for each of the Treasure Quests, with the first hunt set to launch on August 1.

"I was going nuts at home with nothing to do pacing back and forth," Mr Perri said.

"Giving people adventure is giving them something to believe in again, besides this COVID crap."

Mr Perri's treasure hunt comes months after a bronze chest filled with more than $NZ1.49 million was found in the Rocky Mountains.

The loot was buried more than a decade ago by eccentric millionaire and art dealer Forrest Fenn, which sparked one of the most famous — and deadly — treasure hunts in American history.

Johnny Perri said the treasure hunt would provide a welcome distraction from the pandemic. Photo / Supplied

Mr Fenn, 89, revealed in June the treasure was found by an anonymous man exactly where it has first been buried — although he wouldn't say precisely where.

"It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more than 10 years ago," Mr Fenn said.

"I do not know the person who found it, but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot."