A New Mexico couple unearthed a genie lamp worth three wishes and $1.2 million in the Texas desert after using a clue from the classic 90s sitcom “Seinfeld” to win an elaborate treasure-hunting game.
Ron Novak and Michelle Bush spent more than two months across three trips to Dallas to hunt for the lamp hidden by the company Treasure Games, which launched the contest in January, according to WWPL.
It was the company’s first-ever competition, offering the winner the choice of $1 million cash or three wishes worth $1.2 million, Dirk Gibson, the founder of Treasure Games, told the outlet.
On their third trip to Dallas, they decided to stay an extra day longer than planned because they felt close to finding the life-changing treasure.
The couple said they realized the vital clue was related to an episode of “Seinfeld.”
Fortunately for them, that decision paid off.
“The initial moment, I was in shock,” Novak told the outlet.
The exact clue from the hit sitcom that led to the lamp’s discovery wasn’t revealed.
However, the couple did share that they chose to accept the three wishes worth $1.2 million after finding the lamp.
But, instead of spending the first wish on themselves, they opted to donate money to a charity, Hare Krishna Food for Life Group, which helped Novak when he was homeless.
“For me, it was the biggest gift to be able to give them money for this because I used to be a taker. I just took, and I needed help and wanted help,” Novak said.
For their second wish, the couple bought the Southwest Motel in their native New Mexico to fix up.
For their third and final wish, they asked for a Sprinter van big enough to fit their four dogs.
“We bought the van for the dogs. That’s an internal joke,” Bush told WWLP.
The couple was so thrilled by their treasure-hunting experience that they plan to launch one of their own for others to enjoy.
“It will be a lot easier than this one — meant to be solved within a weekend or a week,” Bush told the outlet.
“It will start at $5,000 at least,” said Novak.
As for the company Treasure Games, they revealed their second Wish Lamp hunt worth a $1 million prize kicks off in June.
The competition is open to anyone willing to sign up for a subscription fee to the particular game in season — which varies in price depending on the value of the prize, according to the Treasure Games website.
During the hunts, those subscribed will get clues pointing toward the lamp every day.
Anyone 13 and up can subscribe to play and have a chance to win the life-changing prizes the company offers.
