How an 18-year-old turned $10 abandoned storage units into a $135,000 business

At the age of 18, Michael Haskell has turned a modest $10 investment into a thriving business that generated an estimated $135,000 in 2025. The entrepreneur purchases abandoned storage units across the New York tri-state area without prior knowledge of their contents, meticulously sifting through the items to identify valuables for resale.

This venture emerged from a childhood hobby, where Haskell sold books on eBay and stored discontinued Lego sets, anticipating potential future value. His entrepreneurial spirit grew during high school when he contemplated college admissions, seeking a unique way to stand out among peers with superior academic records. A pivotal moment came in early 2024 when Haskell watched an episode of Storage Wars, sparking his interest in the concept of purchasing abandoned storage units and reselling their contents.

His first purchase for $10 yielded a carbon dioxide canister, which he later sold for $40, igniting his enthusiasm for the business. This episode marked a turning point for Haskell, who began treating the inherent uncertainty of storage unit contents as a research challenge. The most significant acquisition, a $450 unit linked to art dealer Andrew Crispo, revealed high-value items connected to artists Man Ray and Walt Kuhn, selling for a combined $36,000.

This discovery convinced Haskell that inexpensive units could contain items worth significantly more. He developed a keen ability to analyze unit contents based on subtle details, such as personal memorabilia, books, and furniture, to gauge potential value. Haskell and his friends also created an AI tool to identify names associated with storage units, enabling him to scout promising auctions before bidding.

Haskell typically invests $500 or less per unit, with no guarantee of profitability. After winning a unit, he removes, transports, sorts, photographs, and lists the items for sale, often utilizing tools like Google Lens and ChatGPT to identify unfamiliar objects and compare prices on eBay. The business demands substantial time commitment, averaging 20-25 hours per week, with storage units occupying his mother's garage in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Haskell's inventory ranges from books to furniture, with an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 books stored at home. Some items sell within weeks, while others linger for months or years, occasionally remaining unsold. Haskell adeptly balances his education with weekend storage-unit sales, often handling paperwork during classes while using weekends for unit clearance and schoolwork preparation.