A mysterious stranger who wanted to “do something special” reportedly left a thousand $5 bills scattered around a resort island as an act of kindness during the holidays.
Nathan Johnson, from the US, struck up a conversation with a stranger while they were both sitting on a ferry returning from Magnetic Island in Queensland on Christmas Day.
The stranger told Mr. Johnson that he had filled the island with $5,000 in individual $5 bills as Christmas gifts for visitors.
All the stranger wanted to do was “spread joy,” according to Johnson, who “almost didn’t believe him at first.”
However, after some searching on his own, Johnson came across his first five-dollar bill hidden in a vinegar station located near a beach in Horseshoe Bay.
The money was accompanied by a note that read: ‘$5,000 in $5 bills have been placed around Magnetic Island on display for people to find for Christmas 2024.
‘If you’re reading this, then you’ve found one. There are trees, posts, tables, chairs, stones, signs, containers, etc. Merry christmas. Jaime 765.’
Johnson recalled that the stranger told him cryptically that this type of game was his idea of fun.
A strange man has left 1,000 $5 notes scattered around Magnetic Island in Queensland
The man explained to another that he had done well in the stocks and that he wanted to spread joy around Christmas.
“(He) said he lives a very modest life and enjoys spreading some happiness and doing something good for others,” Johnson said. told Yahoo.
“I’ve heard of a couple of people who found some of the $5 bills… That helped make my Christmas a little brighter.”
Although the exact number of $5 bills that have been found so far cannot be confirmed, some people believe that most are still hidden on the island.
Johnson said the stranger was probably born in India, but his parents were Australian and the stranger grew up there.
“He said he’d gotten lucky with stocks and invested in the right things…such a lovely gesture to share,” Johnson added.