businessman-unintentionally-throws-out-16000-after-mixing-luggage-up-earlier-than-digging-via-garbage-truck-to-search-out-money
I Couldn’t Believe This Businessman Threw Out $16,000 by Mistake—Here’s What Happened
When I first read about the businessman who accidentally tossed $16,000 into the trash, I thought it was a joke. But nope—it really happened. And honestly, it made me double-check my own bags the next time I traveled.
Here’s the story. A businessman in South Korea was getting ready to check out of his hotel. Like most of us do in a rush, he started organizing his things, mixing up his luggage in the process. Somewhere in the shuffle, he accidentally tossed a bag full of cash—yes, $16,000 in cold hard bills—into the trash instead of his actual garbage. I can’t even imagine the panic he must’ve felt once he realized what happened.
And here’s the wild part—I would’ve probably freaked out and given up. But this guy? He traced the hotel’s garbage route all the way to a garbage truck. Then, he did what most of us wouldn’t dare: he climbed into that truck and started digging through literal tons of trash. Talk about determination.
Luckily, he found the money. Intact. Unbelievable, right?
This whole thing reminded me how easy it is to make expensive mistakes when we’re moving fast or distracted. I’ve never thrown out thousands, but I have lost phones, wallets, even a passport once. It happens.
So here’s my little takeaway: always double-check your bags before tossing anything. Especially when you’re on the move or feeling jet-lagged. And if you ever do lose something important, don’t give up too quickly. Sometimes a little persistence—and maybe a lot of digging—can make all the difference.
Would you have jumped into a garbage truck for $16,000? I think I might… but I really hope I never have to!



