# Where would you hide $10 million in cash/jewels **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 23, 2008, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553 "2008-07-23T22:50:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/21 "2008-07-24T04:54:58Z")
I don’t know that I’d hide it. I’d probably spend part of it on gambling, part of it on booze and part of it on women. The rest I’d spend foolishly. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/22 "2008-07-24T05:27:52Z")
> [@](#): > > In doing genealogical research I’ve encountered more itty bitty backwoods family cemeteries than you ever realized existed and most of them on backroads with no house- often no road- in sight. I think one of these would be perfect- take a trusted lookout if possible and if not take infrared specs and the like to make sure you’re not being watched (and best not to do this in hunting season). Dig a deep hole, drop in the fireproof/waterproof case, and do as much stomping of ground (mechanically if possible) and sowing of wild grass seeds to remove signs of the hole. A generally good plan. But I’m not burying it in some cemetary out in the country. Why put it some place where anyone can start looking? I’m going to buy a large plot of land and bury it somewhere on my own property. And I’d divide it up into ten shares and bury them all in seperate holes. Somebody might get lucky and find one stash but I won’t lost everything. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/23 "2008-07-24T06:35:23Z")
Convert it to precious stones. Set it in jewelry that looked like junk. Treat it like junk jewelry. (Except for the part where I keep losing one earring–I’d treat it a bit better than that.) But not much better, because then it would look like Something instead of worthless rhinestone gewgaws. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/24 "2008-07-24T07:16:19Z")
[QUOTE=Duckster] [QUOTE=runner pat] Marianas Trench. [/QUOTE] But only if you paid her well. 😃 [/QUOTE] You can only go there **once** :smack: …for 20 minutes Si ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/25 "2008-07-24T07:17:45Z")
Isn’t the old adage that the best place to hide something is in plain view? 38 dusty cardboard boxes of Christmas decorations in the basement, except one box is a bit more valuable than just for sentimental reasons… Or six huge potted plants on the back patio, but a couple of them might not have dirt going all the way to the bottom of the three foot high containers… An entire bookcase of dusty out-of-date sets of encyclopedias and law books…except one complete set is hollowed out and glued shut, as if bought solely for decoration… A false back panel in the large glass aquarium where you keep your pet cobra… The bottom of your laundry hamper where you throw your dirty underwear and socks… Inside your pit bull’s dog house… ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/26 "2008-07-24T11:12:29Z")
Inside frozen turkeys. I bet no one looking for treasure while searching through a home thinks to themselves “well, it wasn’t in the safe, now let’s look in the frozen turkeys.” Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/27 "2008-07-24T11:51:33Z")
[QUOTE=Starving Artist] I’d probably spend part of it on gambling, part of it on booze and part of it on women. The rest I’d spend foolishly. [/QUOTE] Nice, the ol’ hookers and blow routine. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/28 "2008-07-24T12:05:26Z")
I’d tell you, but then I can’t use it. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/29 "2008-07-24T12:34:04Z")
I will hide it in a place that they can never imagine… Open up one of my unused CPU tower and stashed it all inside, run Linux on it and use it as a file-server; so if my wicked step-brothers and step-sisters come, they will never thought to look _inside_ a functioning computer… (If one CPU tower won’t fit, I will set up a render farm. yah) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/30 "2008-07-24T13:00:10Z")
My apartment actually has a good sized hidden room. You have to smack the wall in the right space to pop it open. I could hide anything there. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/31 "2008-07-24T13:31:36Z")
Given a really good watertight container, the septic tank would be ideal. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/32 "2008-07-24T13:56:07Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] Convert it into lots of high quality but small (5 carats or less?) diamonds and have them on my person (I am a girl, so I have a built-in hideout :eek: ). [/QUOTE] Reminds me of a true story a roommate told me about when he was a taxi driver, and he gave a ride to a prostitute who hailed him in one of the rougher parts of town . . . those bills were spent quickly. As for the OP, it really depends on the time involved. If it’s a scenario like _The Shawshank Redemption_, then burying it someplace it won’t be disturbed, like an old graveyard as Sampiro suggests. Shorter-term, it could be anyplace. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/33 "2008-07-24T14:25:27Z")
[QUOTE=Joey P] I don’t remember if I heard this here or if one of my in-laws told it to me. Eitherway, _someone_ was cleaning out the house of a recently deceased friend/family member. During the cleaning they kept their eyes open as they knew there was quite a bit of money hidden away somewhere. By the last day of cleaning they had given up on the money. As they were bringing the last box out of the basement, their foot caught the edge of one of the treads and it lifted. Yup, the person had built a box underone of the stairs with a hinged tread to access it. That always seemed like a good place to hide stuff. [/QUOTE] I like this idea, but it wouldn’t work in my house. NOSY NEIGHBOR: Why do you have stairs in a one-story house? :dubious: ME: I just like stairs? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/34 "2008-07-24T14:27:45Z")
[QUOTE=Bearflag70] I like this idea, but it wouldn’t work in my house. NOSY NEIGHBOR: Why do you have stairs in a one-story house? :dubious: ME: I just like stairs? :smack: [/QUOTE] Up the ladder to the roof/ Where we can see heaven much better ---
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/35 "2008-07-24T17:12:08Z")
Krugerands. Or other gold coins. Dipped in chocolate, then re-wrapped in gold foil and placed in my kithcen. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/36 "2008-07-24T17:40:09Z")
[QUOTE=Tristan] Krugerands. Or other gold coins. Dipped in chocolate, then re-wrapped in gold foil and placed in my kithcen. [/QUOTE] Too obvious. As soon as someone picks up the bag (or even a single coin), they will know what they have. And if the searcher decides to eat one… :smack: Si ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/37 "2008-07-24T17:59:17Z")
The big problem with stashing stuff in the freezer is that there’s always the possibility that the freezer will be cleaned by some well-meaning but clueless helper and your stuff winds up in a landfill. My first inclination would be towards safe deposit boxes. But if you need something more subpoena proof… Convert everything to gold. Melt and cast gold into small statues. [Electroplate](http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/brass.htm) with brass. Display in suitable curio cabinet. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/38 "2008-07-24T18:22:38Z")
[QUOTE=Projammer] The big problem with stashing stuff in the freezer is that there’s always the possibility that the freezer will be cleaned by some well-meaning but clueless helper and your stuff winds up in a landfill. My first inclination would be towards safe deposit boxes. But if you need something more subpoena proof… Convert everything to gold. Melt and cast gold into small statues. [Electroplate](http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/brass.htm) with brass. Display in suitable curio cabinet. [/QUOTE] [Just don’t make them into Eifel Towers!](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044829/) ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/39 "2008-07-24T19:03:46Z")
[QUOTE=DMark] A false back panel in the large glass aquarium where you keep your pet cobra… [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t a false panel in a _glass_ enclosure be kind of, you know…noticeable? ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2008, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553/40 "2008-07-24T19:38:18Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] A generally good plan. But I’m not burying it in some cemetary out in the country. Why put it some place where anyone can start looking? I’m going to buy a large plot of land and bury it somewhere on my own property. And I’d divide it up into ten shares and bury them all in seperate holes. Somebody might get lucky and find one stash but I won’t lost everything. [/QUOTE] Yeah, if you’re going to bury it, don’t bury it on land that somebody else might be able to buy someday. Maybe in a National Park? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-would-you-hide-10-million-in-cash-jewels/457553.md?page=3)