The Oak Island Crew Finally Got Paid After Selling The Latest Treasure

Marty and Rick Lagina, two brothers from Michigan, grew up mesmerized by the tales of buried treasure on Oak Island.
This childhood curiosity sparked a major TV series that has kept audiences on the edge of their seats for 11 seasons, as the brothers hunt for pirate gold and ancient artifacts.

While the real treasure continues to elude them, they’ve successfully turned the Oak Island legend into a booming business and media empire.
What if I told you the Oak Island crew just cashed in big from selling their latest find? Let us dive into the golden depths of Oak Island.

The Business of Oak Island Treasures
The story of Marty and Rick Lagina, two brothers from Michigan, has been broadcast on the History Channel for over a decade.
This show focuses on their quest on Oak Island, a small island off the coast of Nova Scotia, rumored to be the hiding place for pirate treasure, possibly including riches from Captain Kidd and ancient artifacts linked to the Knights Templar.

These tantalizing stories of hidden wealth have fueled the show’s popularity, but one might wonder if the actual riches come not from what might be found underground, but from the storytelling and the media empire built around it.
As youngsters, the Lagina brothers were gripped by the tales of Oak Island after reading about it in a 1965 Reader’s Digest article.

This childhood fascination has turned into an 11-season television series full of searching, digging, and plenty of suspenseful moments.
Despite their intensive efforts, the island continues to hold onto its buried wealth, but perhaps the true value for the brothers has been in the media spectacle and business ventures surrounding the island’s lore.

One might argue that the real benefit from their adventures hasn’t been any physical treasure they’ve dug up but the financial and media empire they’ve created.
Marty, an engineer by training and a sharp businessman, sold his energy company, Terra Energy, for $60 million. This sale likely provided the initial funds needed for their treasure expeditions.

Marty’s academic background, with a degree in mechanical engineering and a law degree, helped him establish himself as both the founder and CEO of Heritage Sustainable Energy, and the owner of a vineyard in Michigan.
These businesses alone provide a significant income—his CEO role likely earns him about $600,000 a year, with additional income from wine sales, branded merchandise, and fees for public speaking.

Rick, though not as business-oriented as Marty, still shares in the financial benefits as an equal partner in the television venture.
The show’s executive producers reportedly earn around $100,000 per episode.

With 166 episodes filmed since 2014, a quick calculation shows they’ve made approximately $16 million from the show itself.
Add to this the income from reruns, speaking events, and merchandise sales, and their financial gains continue to grow.

Furthermore, their company, Salty Dog Sea Tours, taps into the public’s fascination with Oak Island by offering tours that are fully booked months in advance.
This not only turns the legend of the island into a profitable venture but also integrates the brothers more deeply into the commercial narrative that surrounds Oak Island.

Craig Tester, another central character in this narrative and a longtime business partner of Marty, also likely enjoyed significant financial returns from their joint business, particularly from the sale of Terra Energy.
The show reveals that Marty, Craig, and Rick also invest in other treasure-seeking projects, a strategy that could yield substantial returns if any major discoveries are made.

With these diverse sources of income, Marty, and likely Craig, are well on their way to accumulating wealth that could surpass any potential treasure on Oak Island.
The television show serves as a prime example of how to transform age-old tales of pirate gold and hidden riches into concrete, modern-day profits.

In essence, the ongoing search for treasure on Oak Island appears to be less about discovering historical relics and more about the continuous chase for financial success.
The island might never reveal its buried wealth, but for the Laginas and their partners, the quest itself is already a lucrative endeavor, proving that sometimes the hunt is more valuable than what might ultimately be found.