Gold Rush Star Fred Lewis Once Found $12,000 Dollars Worth Of Gold In One Day

It's not difficult to understand the allure prospectors of Discovery's "Gold Rush" feel, pushing them to search for the precious metal. The fact that there is more than a fortune scattered throughout the North American wilderness, all for the taking, is enough to have cartoonish dollar signs replace the eyeballs of many hopeful profit-hunters. However, as the series has shown time and time again, this up for grabs treasure, sometimes being as small as a dust particle, can be as elusive as the past forty-niner ghosts that used to dig 170 years ago. And yet, another thing the show has proven is that in this risky business, it takes invested money and long stretches of time to even have a chance at seeing any sort of profits. In fact, according to the National Parks Website, most pro gold miners only find $10-$15 worth a day.

Of course, every gold miner, based on investment and equipment, have different chances of scoring a phenomenally successful day. On "Gold Rush," these profits are most notably summed up at the end of each season, comparing each minor's bounty numbers to each other. One fan favorite, Parker Schnabel, has topped the charts, bringing in mind blowing numbers that near $70 million. Close behind, is Tony Beets, who first popped up on the series in Season 2. Holding the most experience compared to the rest of the cast, this old-school miner has pulled in nearly $30 million of gold for his team. Other prospectors, such as Fred Lewis, hasn't yet proven to come close to this high mark, however, the former Green Beret claims that he once had a $12,000 day.

It's no secret that Discovery struck gold when they started airing the series "Gold Rush," which has now lasted thirteen seasons, without any signs of stopping. One of the featured prospectors, along with his crew, is Fred Lewis, who, before joining the series in 2020, was already a fan of the show. The US military veteran was recently featured on the "Big D and Bubba Show," where the hosts asked him about his biggest daily haul and how difficult it actually was to bring it in."I think six ounces in one day is the most I've ever gotten...," Lewis said, "... which is, you know, like $12,000 worth of gold." If anyone listening felt this number seemed a bit low, Lewis explained how difficult the process actually is.

As Lewis continued on, he explained that although $12,000 in one day may seem a little light to those hoping to become a gold-finding millionaire one day, the actual act of discovery seems harder than snagging a needle in a haystack. "I don't think people understand that in order to get a thermos full of gold, you've got to move about the amount of dirt that will fill a [football] stadium." With this analogy, it seems as if these hard workers basically need to move mountains to get significant findings. However, when they do, it must to be as thrilling as it is profitable. When asked how much that small thermos Lewis referred to would be valued at, he replied with, "at least a quarter of $1 million." Not too shabby for a simple jar of dust.