If one day you woke up being rich, with billions of dollars in your bank account or you won the lottery jackpot worth millions in cash, what would you do with the money? Maybe you’ll put up a business, travel around the world, or build a mansion. But how about dropping off sums of money around the city?
Since Friday, a mysterious (and for sure very wealthy) man have been making rounds on the internet and the social media. Operating under the Twitter handle @HiddenCash, the anonymous user has started an online scavenger hunt by dropping envelopes full of cash across San Francisco and inviting strangers to find it via a series of clues he tweets.
This is the first clue that started it all.
Love arugula? So do we 😉 @hiddencash strikes again. pic.twitter.com/GokFZIfsp6 — Hidden Cash (@HiddenCash) May 23, 2014
He has placed a $100 bill under a the key box at a yoga studio.
Why not use this to tip your @YogaToThePeople teacher this morning? (Find it under the key box) pic.twitter.com/0ERUndkajF — Hidden Cash (@HiddenCash) May 23, 2014
Left some at a unisex bathroom.
New Drop: Popular Chinese place near Market/Kearny in unisex bathroom #payitforward & drop couple 20s to next person pic.twitter.com/WE2wMqy3Eu — Hidden Cash (@HiddenCash) May 24, 2014
Another $50 at the City Hall’s stairs.
5 minutes past midnight, and no one but me at this famous SF landmark – City Hall. Left $50 right on the stairs. pic.twitter.com/SA6IYS9vc5 — Hidden Cash (@HiddenCash) May 24, 2014
And even on storage container, bikerack, and tree
New Drop: Giving Oakland some ❤️. Lake Merritt BART (storage container, bikerack, tree). SF drop in 15 min pic.twitter.com/CJxCVVLkzo
— Hidden Cash (@HiddenCash) May 23, 2014
Numerous tweets were then posted, indicating they have found the hidden treasures.
#wemadeit #$100beforenoon @HiddenCash you made my day man! Thank you!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/CpDvtzcUFe — Jon Tso (@AyoJTso) May 25, 2014
@HiddenCash the tv popped on in the cafe and mentioned you so I looked to see one pop up just one block away!! pic.twitter.com/TJ3t3Xg94I — Alexzandra Nirvana (@nirvanazana) May 25, 2014
Though there were some who weren’t able to make it on time.
@HiddenCash didn’t make it in time but I met a new friend @mrdic and we made a video of my defeat https://t.co/jNiOCk9jBP shoutout to @smule — Turner Kirk (@EfficiencyJunky) May 23, 2014
But this anonymous philanthropist plans to continue his work on his “anonymous social experiment for good.”
San Jose drops in the morning. Showing the South Bay some love and cash. — Hidden Cash (@HiddenCash) May 28, 2014
In a phone interview with CNN, he was fortunate to close a deal with a six figure profit and decided to “give some of it back” through some random acts of kindness. “This is not a set-up charity, but I wanted to do something fun and creative. We were thinking of something like the ‘Survivor’ TV show or something of that nature that was a scavenger hunt. They were basically too involved. So what we did was hide cash in different places. I thought it would be fun but it’s also something simple to execute. All you’re doing is leaving money and putting clues on Twitter,” he said. And in an e-mail sent to TIME.com, @HiddenCash leaves a touching message which says:
My message for the ‘haves’ is to be a little more generous, and to give back more,” HiddenCash adds. “I know so many wealthy people who are selfish and greedy, and just want more, more, more. When is it enough? When will you be satisfied? Take a step back, relax, and give back a bit. Putting smiles on other people’s faces will put a smile on your face. Believe me.
Share this to others and watch out for more clues. Just remember, “stop being greedy, spread generosity”!