# Another time travel question: how do I get rich? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [February 3, 2024, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057 "2024-02-03T02:36:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/21 "2024-02-03T17:42:35Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > bring some tulip bulbs back to Holland circa 1835, Considering how expensive it is to run this Time Machine thing, I’m going to be _really_ perturbed that we are 200 years too late to take advantage of things. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/22 "2024-02-03T18:57:45Z")
I think a lot depends on when you are travelling back to. Not a lot of financial institutions during the Mesozoic. Some places had lotteries, others placed enormous value on spices. Perhaps you could get into the prophecy game or use modern technology to give political or military advantage? ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/23 "2024-02-03T19:35:19Z")
I was just making a general observation that my old thread differs a bit from this one, not calling you out for inaccurate thread comparison or anything 😏 Glad you enjoyed the thread. As mentioned I enjoyed re-reading it. Between that thread and this one, we Dopers will all be well-prepared once time travel is finally invented. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/24 "2024-02-03T19:49:30Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/N0qDy0T5WXM/hqdefault.jpg "Big Bang Theory Funniest Joke - Roommate Agreement Time Travel") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0qDy0T5WXM) ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/25 "2024-02-03T20:41:40Z")
Step 1. Deposit couch change Step 2. Go _Forward_ in time [![](https://morbotron.com/meme/S01E06/394674.jpg?b64lines=WW91IGhhZCBhIGJhbGFuY2Ugb2YgOTMKY2VudHMuIEF0IGFuIGF2ZXJhZ2Ugb2YKMiAxLzQlIGludGVyZXN0IG92ZXIgYSAKcGVyaW9kIG9mIDEsMDAwIHllYXJzLAp0aGF0IENvbWVzIHRvLi4uIAokNC4zIGJpbGxpb24u) ](https://morbotron.com/meme/S01E06/394674.jpg?b64lines=WW91IGhhZCBhIGJhbGFuY2Ugb2YgOTMKY2VudHMuIEF0IGFuIGF2ZXJhZ2Ugb2YKMiAxLzQlIGludGVyZXN0IG92ZXIgYSAKcGVyaW9kIG9mIDEsMDAwIHllYXJzLAp0aGF0IENvbWVzIHRvLi4uIAokNC4zIGJpbGxpb24u) ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/26 "2024-02-03T20:48:15Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Step 1. Deposit couch change > Step 2. Go _Forward_ in time - > > [https://morbotron.com/meme/S01E06/394674.jpg?b64lines=WW91IGhhZCBhIGJhbGFuY2Ugb2YgOTMKY2VudHMuIEF0IGFuIGF2ZXJhZ2Ugb2YKMiAxLzQlIGludGVyZXN0IG92ZXIgYSAKcGVyaW9kIG9mIDEsMDAwIHllYXJzLAp0aGF0IENvbWVzIHRvLi4uIAokNC4zIGJpbGxpb24u](https://morbotron.com/meme/S01E06/394674.jpg?b64lines=WW91IGhhZCBhIGJhbGFuY2Ugb2YgOTMKY2VudHMuIEF0IGFuIGF2ZXJhZ2Ugb2YKMiAxLzQlIGludGVyZXN0IG92ZXIgYSAKcGVyaW9kIG9mIDEsMDAwIHllYXJzLAp0aGF0IENvbWVzIHRvLi4uIAokNC4zIGJpbGxpb24u) Too bad inflation has resulted in a loaf of bread costing 5 billion. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/27 "2024-02-03T20:50:49Z")
Oh, the tragic irony! ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/28 "2024-02-03T21:19:44Z")
I would set my time machine to beam me into one of the large De Beers company vaults in London decades ago, where they stored ~$5 billion of uncut diamonds. After lining my pockets with millions of dollars of rocks, I’d beam back home before anyone knew I was there. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/29 "2024-02-03T21:30:38Z")
Or the Fed vaults in NYC and transport the gold out of it. How big is the machine so I know how many trips I need to make. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/30 "2024-02-03T21:36:42Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Or the Fed vaults in NYC and transport the gold out of it. How big is the machine so I know how many trips I need to make. 100 lbs of gold only takes up .62 gallon. [https://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/weight-to-volume](https://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/weight-to-volume) Close to 3 million at current prices. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/31 "2024-02-03T21:38:00Z")
I’d stick with diamonds over gold, since diamonds are worth much more than gold by weight (~$10,000/gram). You don’t want to get a backache after all. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/32 "2024-02-03T21:40:17Z")
But why steal diamonds or gold or whatever? Maybe just plunk down a nickel in 1938, and legitimately buy a mint-condition comic book with the first appearance of Superman, and stash that lightweight item someplace nice… ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/33 "2024-02-03T21:40:52Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > You might have to split the jackpot with the “real” winner, but that still sets you up here in 2024 with $421M (pre tax, cash vs annuity, etc) of seed money for your next maneuver. > y. Not to derail, but: How does the split go if you buy, say, 10 tickets with the right numbers? ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/34 "2024-02-03T21:53:24Z")
I’d think knowledgeable comic book collectors would question a near century old comic book with no sign of aging. Besides, I wouldn’t feel too bad stealing from De Beers—they don’t have a stellar reputation, and my haul would be a drop in the bucket for them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/35 "2024-02-03T21:54:42Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > I’d think knowledgeable comic book collectors would question a near century old comic book with no sign of aging. That’s why I said to stash it someplace nice! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/36 "2024-02-03T21:59:18Z")
There’s a [short story](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Button,_Button_(Asimov_short_story)) by Isaac Asimov in which the characters develop a way to reach back in time to take something small but valuable. They are able to grab a signature of Button Gwinnett, who signed the Declaration of Independence for Georgia (because his signature is particularly rare). But when they try to sell the signature, experts reject it because the paper appears too new to be genuine. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/37 "2024-02-03T23:30:42Z")
Which is why I structured the Gutenberg bible in a. Oak chest proposal the way I did. When found, it will legitimately be the correct age, and while it will be a mystery how it got in the root cellar, it clearly _was_ there, so bob’s your uncle. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/38 "2024-02-03T23:38:38Z")
It’s possible that the book is damaged by bookworms or some other sort of insect. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/39 "2024-02-03T23:43:43Z")
Just go back and rewrap it in a ziplock or some such. Check in on it every decade or so. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2024, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057/40 "2024-02-03T23:53:49Z")
Do you want tyrannosaurs roaming about? Cause this is how you get Tyrannosaurs roaming about! Just look at what happened in the everglades thanks to the exotic pet trade. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-time-travel-question-how-do-i-get-rich/997057.md?page=3)