Indonesian Man Becomes a Millionaire Overnight Through a Meteor

Remember how you used to watch that one “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” show and you were more than convinced that you could win it all? You probably grew up to realize that it is not that easy. That dream of having money flying down from the air has quickly died out. That is because becoming a millionaire is harder than it looks, especially if you never had a passed-on generational wealth. However, this man is here to prove this perspective wrong. This Indonesian man becomes a millionaire overnight. And all it took was a meteor to strike. But, how did he do it?

How This Indonesian Man Became a Millionaire

In a remarkable stroke of luck, an Indonesian man named Josua Hutagalung, a 33-year-old coffin maker hailing from Sumatra, found himself an overnight millionaire. The unexpected celestial encounter occurred in August as Mr. Hutagalung was working outside his residence. Suddenly, a massive 2.1-kilogram meteorite plummeted through the tin roof of his veranda. The impact of the meteorite was so intense that it generated a deafening sound, causing parts of his house to vibrate.

Recalling the astonishing moment, Mr. Hutagalung said:
“The sound was so loud that parts of the house were shaking too. And after I searched, I saw that the tin roof of the house had broken.”

As he investigated the damage, he discovered the meteorite. It still emitted warmth, marking the start of an unexpected and life-changing journey. This extraordinary event transformed his life when he managed to sell the space rock for a staggering sum of over 1 million pounds, equivalent to roughly ₹9.8 crore. Mr. Hutagalung went from a humble coffin maker to a millionaire.

Why Was the Meteor So Expensive?

The meteorite that crashed through Josua Hutagalung’s roof is an exceptionally rare specimen. It is known as a carbonaceous chondrite, estimated to be a staggering 4.5 billion years old. This type of meteorite is highly sought after by scientists and collectors for its unique properties and its potential to provide insights into the early solar system. In terms of value, this meteorite is considered extraordinarily precious, commanding a price of around £645 (approximately ₹63,000) per gram.

Josua Hutagalung made the decision to part ways with this celestial treasure. He ended up selling it to an avid collector, Jared Collins, who is from the United States. Collins, in turn, made a sale to fellow collector Jay Piatek. The meteorite’s new custodian, Jay Piatek, is ensuring its preservation by storing it in a carefully controlled environment of liquid nitrogen. This invaluable rock now resides at the Centre for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University, where it will continue to be a source of fascination and scientific inquiry for years to come. The extraordinary journey of this meteorite, from crashing through a roof in Sumatra to being stored for study in the United States, highlights the truly remarkable and global nature of celestial objects.

Would you have kept the meteor rock, or would you have done the same thing as Josua? Let us know in the comments below.

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