Florida man finds millions of dollars floating off Fort Lauderdale beach, pulls it from water and calls police [VIDEO]

The unidentified man dragged a seaweed-covered bundle ashore and discovered bundled cash before alerting authorities

A Florida man waded into the ocean off Fort Lauderdale Beach, dragged a heavy, seaweed-covered bundle onto the sand, and found what appeared to be millions of dollars in bundled U.S. currency. He then contacted the police.

A 20-second video of the incident, posted to X by @mymixtapez yesterday (May 24), has accumulated over 11 million views. The clip captures the unidentified man — shirtless, with visible tattoos and a gold chain — pulling the large dark bundle through the surf. Once on shore, he opened it to reveal stacks of cash, primarily $100 and $20 bills.

The video employs a split-screen format, combining a static image of the cash with footage of the retrieval, set to Sublime’s song “Santeria.” The clip has sparked widespread attention and debate online.

The Man Dragged the Bundle From the Surf Before Opening It

The video opens with the man standing waist-deep in the turquoise ocean, gripping a large dark bundle as waves crash around him. He works steadily to pull the heavy package toward the shore, bending forward and repeatedly adjusting his grip against the weight and the constant push of the surf. The bundle looks thick and waterlogged, wrapped in material heavily encrusted with seaweed, sand, and marine debris.

As he continues dragging it through the breaking waves, a second person wearing a white T-shirt briefly steps into view and reaches out to help. The handheld camera follows the effort. It captured the physical struggle of moving the soaked package from deeper water onto the sand.

Once the bundle reaches the beach, the scene shifts to show it resting on the wet sand. The footage then moves closer, revealing more detail of its rough, debris-covered exterior sitting near several blue lounge chairs. A uniformed officer appears standing close by in the later shots. The entire clip never shows the man opening the bundle or handling the cash inside.

The Incident Has Drawn Massive Attention Online

The post on X quickly gained significant traction, generating more than 16,000 likes, 1,700 reposts, and over 3,000 replies within hours of being shared. The online response has been sharply divided between those who view the man’s decision as foolish and those who see it as prudent.

A large number of commenters expressed frustration and disbelief that he contacted the police instead of keeping the money. Reactions included statements such as “[…] that was the blessing you been asking for,” “I swear the best things happen to the dumbest […],” and “Why do things I dream of come true for people who don’t appreciate it?” Many framed the moment as a rare opportunity for generational wealth that was willingly surrendered.

Other users defended the choice, highlighting potential dangers. Several pointed to the risk of cartel involvement, with comments like “Nah he can’t keep that. The cartel would find him so quick and end his whole bloodline” and “I’ve watched enough cartel shows to know you don’t want to fuck around with cartel money.” Multiple replies referenced the film No Country for Old Men, noting how discovering drug money often leads to deadly consequences in similar stories.

Some comments fell in the middle, acknowledging the risks while still questioning the decision. One user wrote, “He’s absolutely dumb. I would have gave everybody some that was watching and dipped.” Another observed that the situation “sounds exactly like the beginning of a crime movie,” suggesting that calling the police was likely the safest immediate action despite the lost opportunity.

South Florida Has a History of Smuggled Bundles Washing Ashore

The South Florida coastline has a long and well-documented history of maritime smuggling activity. For decades, the waters off Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the Florida Keys have served as key routes for drug smugglers moving cocaine and other contraband into the United States. These operations occasionally result in bundles breaking loose from vessels during transit or pursuits, eventually washing ashore after drifting in the ocean currents.

Locals have coined the term “square grouper” for the cocaine bundles that frequently appear on beaches in the region, a reference to the wrapped packages resembling a type of fish common in local waters. Drug bundles are relatively common discoveries. However, currency bundles are less frequent but not entirely unknown. Smugglers sometimes jettison large amounts of cash to avoid detection when law enforcement vessels approach or during emergency situations at sea. Criminal organizations also transport substantial sums of money by boat to bypass traditional banking systems and regulatory scrutiny. A package lost overboard can drift for days or even weeks before reaching land.

In this particular case, no official statement from law enforcement has confirmed the origin of the cash recovered on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The identity of the man who found the bundle has not been released. Authorities have also not clarified whether the money is linked to drug trafficking, general smuggling operations, or another form of criminal activity. As of now, police have not announced any arrests. Nor have they confirmed the existence of an active investigation connected to the discovery.

Florida Law Governs Found Property and Missing Cash

Florida Statute 705 outlines the rules for lost or abandoned property. Under this law, a person who finds such property can potentially claim ownership after a designated waiting period. If no rightful owner comes forward within 90 days, the finder may be entitled to keep the item or receive a portion of its value. However, these rights change significantly if the property appears connected to criminal activity. In those cases, law enforcement can hold the item indefinitely as part of an investigation.

The man’s immediate decision to contact police indicates he may not have wanted to assume the risks involved. He could have been unaware of the specific provisions in the statute, or he may have suspected the cash was linked to illegal operations. Keeping the money without reporting it could have exposed him to serious legal consequences. This includes charges for theft or possession of stolen property if authorities later traced its origins.

The video itself does not show police arresting the man or forcibly confiscating the bundle. He appears to cooperate fully with the officers who arrived on scene. At this time, no public reports have confirmed whether he received any form of finder’s reward or compensation for turning the money over to authorities.

The Audio Track Features Sublime’s “Santeria”

The audio in the video was chosen intentionally. The uploader used Sublime’s song “Santeria” as the soundtrack, and several lyrics line up noticeably with the footage of the man retrieving a large bundle of cash from the ocean. One prominent line in the clip states, “Well, I had a million dollars but I…” before cutting off just before the word “spent it.” The song also includes references to violence, jealousy, and sudden money.

Sublime is a band originally from Long Beach, California. They gained widespread popularity in the 1990s. Their music remains closely tied to beach culture, surfing, and a laid-back reggae-rock style. Selecting this song for a video showing money washing ashore in Fort Lauderdale does not appear to be random. The track adds an ironic and somewhat humorous layer to the entire clip.

The song’s opening lyrics — “I don’t practice Santeria, I ain’t got no crystal ball” — play as the man struggles to drag the bundle through the surf. The timing creates a clear contrast: the man is not a fortune teller with special insight. However, he has just encountered an unexpected fortune floating in the water.

What Happens Next Depends on the Police Investigation

As of press time, no mainstream news outlets have published official statements from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department or the Coast Guard regarding the incident. The man who retrieved the bundle has not been publicly identified. Authorities have also not confirmed the exact amount of cash recovered or provided any details about its origin.

The video continues to circulate widely on social media, maintaining strong engagement several days after its initial posting. Debates over the man’s decision remains intense and divided. Many continue to criticize him for contacting police instead of keeping the money. Meanwhile, others maintain that turning it in was the safer and wiser choice. The discussion frequently contrasts themes of missed opportunity with concerns about potential legal and personal risks.

For now, the cash sits in police custody. The man has presumably returned to his regular life. The millions of dollars that were once floating in the ocean are now secured inside an evidence locker. Whether the money will eventually be claimed by its original owners, returned to the finder in some form, or remain unclaimed indefinitely is still unknown. The answers will likely depend on the progress and findings of any law enforcement or federal investigation that follows.