• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Man accidentally throws away hard drive worth $630,000,000 and now he's suing

Home> News> Tech News

Updated 09:32 20 Nov 2024 GMTPublished 09:31 20 Nov 2024 GMT

Man accidentally throws away hard drive worth $630,000,000 and now he's suing

This might be worth crawling through landfill for

Harry Boulton

Harry Boulton

We certainly wouldn't want to be in this man's shoes, as he's spent the last 15 years fighting to reclaim a disposed-of hard drive that could now be worth over $600,000,000.

Cryptocurrency has changed a lot in the last decade and a half, with Bitcoin persisting as the single most popular, and most valuable choice.

There are countless stories out there of people using Bitcoin to pay for worthless things back when it had but a fraction of its current value, and while those people will certainly have regrets, at least they didn't literally chuck away a fortune.

Newport native James Howells, 39, has been on a one-man mission for over ten years now after throwing away a hard drive which contained 8,000 Bitcoin (BTC).

Advert

James Howells could not believe what he'd done (@howelzy/X)
James Howells could not believe what he'd done (@howelzy/X)

While at the time of disposal the crypto on the hard drive was worth just a 'measly' £4 million ($5.07m), it could now be sold for upwards of $740,734,080 (£584,972,160) - so you can understand why he's a bit annoyed.

This is due to the dramatic price increase of Bitcoin following Donald Trump's election victory, taking the individual price all the way up to $92,591.76 at the time of writing.

As first reported by the BBC back in 2013, the situation occurred when Howells lost track of what was on the hard drive, binning it in the process of moving house:

Advert

"I had a clearout of my old IT equipment - I hadn't used this drive for over three years, I believed I'd taken everything off it... so it go thrown in the bin."

He realized his horrific mistake when he went to check his stash following news of a price increased, which no doubt would have boiled the minds of even the calmest individuals out there.

Howells hasn't given up in his quest to reclaim his lost Bitcoin though, as he remains engaged in a fierce battle with Newport Council whom he is reportedly suing in order to access and search the landfill site where he believes the hard drive is hiding.

Newport Council have claimed that the excavation of the landfill site would not be possible, and would create a significant environmental impact on the surrounding area, but that hasn't yet proved to be a deterrent.

Advert

The price of Bitcoin continues to soar with no signs of slowing down (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)
The price of Bitcoin continues to soar with no signs of slowing down (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

He has previously offered 25% of the Bitcoin value to Newport Council for local community projects, but has since reduced this offer to just 10% - although that is likely still a larger sum of money despite being a smaller share.

Now he's stepped it up another level by opening a civil claim for £495,314,800 ($627,775,410), although the Council remain firm in resisting Howells' protests.

"The claim has no merit," argues a Newport City Council spokesperson speaking to the BBC, "and the council is vigorously resisting it."

Advert

You can't exactly blame him though, I'm sure we'd all try as much as we can to get what is likely to be one of the most valuable hard drives in the world.

Featured Image Credit: @‌howelzy/X / Johner Images/Getty Images
Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin
Money

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Man lost $4,800,000 after throwing away this computer part in 'biggest mistake he's ever made'
  • Detective charged with stealing Bitcoin now worth £3,000,000 while investigating Silk Road 2.0
  • World's first Bitcoin billionaires were laughed at in 2012, now their investment is worth 108233% more
  • Woman who threw away her boyfriend's $630,000,000 bitcoin fortune finally speaks out on what happened

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
4 hours ago
  • Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
    an hour ago

    New Microsoft study reveals every job most at risk from AI takeover

    Office jobs are among the roles most likely to be replaced

    News
  • YOAN VALAT / Contributor via Getty
    2 hours ago

    Lip reader 'reveals' eerie warning Trump issued to French President during Egypt summit

    A picture speaks a thousand words

    News
  • Wan Quan / VCG via Getty Images
    3 hours ago

    Nvidia CEO breaks silence after employee is released from Hamas after two years in captivity

    Avinatan Or was held as a hostage for over two years

    News
  • Marcos Calvo via Getty
    4 hours ago

    Porn users warned over new malware that films your webcam and uses footage as blackmail in horrific new scam

    You could be targeted during intimate moments

    News