Construction workers, including an 18-year-old, find $10M of gold in the walls on the job. But can they keep the spoils?

A crew of construction workers in Belgium discovered a buried fortune of approximately $10.4 million worth of gold while renovating a former brewery building. The gold, estimated to be worth about €9 million, consisted of gold bars, coins, and nuggets sealed inside the cellar wall of the property in Sint-Gillis-Dendermonde. An 18-year-old worker named Kobe initially mistook the gold for ordinary change but soon realized the true value of their find.

The workers contacted the police, who secured the gold and transferred it to a high-security federal vault for further investigation. Authorities are now determining the origin of the gold and whether it is connected to criminal activity or the property owner's interests. If the treasure is linked to the Van Assche family, descendants could claim it within a 5-year window. If no rightful owner comes forward, the finders may eventually be entitled to a share.