Man Who Accidentally Threw Away Bitcoin Worth $800 Million Looks To Trump For Help: 'I Am Appealing To Him'

Aniket Verma

January 15, 2025

James Howells, who lost the legal bid to retrieve his $800 million Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) fortune, has now turned to Donald Trump for help, expressing hopes for intervention from the U.S. President-elect, according to a Wednesday report.

What Happened: Howells acknowledged that his chances of recovery are slim after a judge dismissed his request to excavate the landfill that has the discarded hard drive containing 8,000 BTC, as reported by the New York Post.

"It feels like the end of the world for me. I am now stuck with it and can not escape it. I am stuck with it for life, ” he was quoted as saying.

The Wales-based software engineer sought permission from the Newport City Council to excavate the site to recover it, but the court rejected the plea, citing environmental concerns with excavation.

“Maybe Donald Trump could help make something happen. I would certainly cut Trump in on the deal if he could help,” Howells said.

While he admitted to being half-joking, he expressed a genuine desire for any assistance to resolve the situation, saying, “I am appealing to him and anyone else who can help sort this madness.”

See Also: Italy’s Largest Bank Leaps Into Bitcoin Trading With $1 Million ‘Test’ Investment But CEO Says He Doesn’t Invest In BTC Personally

Why It Matters: The incident dates back to 2013 when Howells unintentionally put a hard drive containing 8,000 BTCs in the trash while cleaning his office.

It was later revealed that his ex-girlfriend threw the fortune away after Howells asked her to dispose of some "unwanted belongings" in a black sack, which, unknown to both of them, included the hard drive.

The 8,000 Bitcoins would be worth $865 million at the all-time high price of $108,135 and $798.6 million at the current market price of $99,824.88.

Read Next:

Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy Not Alone In Bitcoin Acquisition, Says Bitwise Chief Investment Officer: ‘It’s A Bona Fide Megatrend’

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Recommended

Legendary Tech Investor: "Forget Nvidia, Buy This Instead" - Ad

The Next Big Opportunity in Electric Vehicles - Ad

Say Goodbye to Trading Losses - Ad

NEW YORK (AP) — The superstar run for Nvidia’s stock the last few years has been astonishing. So was its tumble Monday, which caused $595 billion in wealth to vanish. That’s about as much as PepsiCo, McDonalds, Starbucks and Target are worth, combined.

What to know about Trump's buyout proposal for federal employees

President Donald Trump's administration is offering to federal employees to quickly reduce the government workforce. They don't have a long time to decide: The deadline is Feb. 6.

Crypto Stocks Surge Amid Market Boom

Crypto Stocks Surge Amid Market Boom - Ad

Crypto stocks are on fire as Bitcoin hits all-time highs. One under-the-radar company is leading the charge, managing $2.1 billion in client assets and seeing record trading volumes. With crypto adoption skyrocketing, this could be a game-changing opportunity.

Wall Street's Most Accurate Analysts Weigh In On 3 Consumer Stocks With Over 5% Dividend Yields

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks.

Dubai's ceaseless boom is putting strains on its residents

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — — and some residents are starting to feel burned.

Live Demo: New Tech to Surpass AI?

Live Demo: New Tech to Surpass AI? - Ad

I want to show you a free demonstration. Of one of the most incredible technologies you've ever seen. You'll be getting a peek at the cutting edge... A decade from now, you'll remember where you were when you saw this video.

Edmunds' hybrid SUV test: 2025 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid vs 2025 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Hybrids are hot right now, and you have lots of choices if you’re considering a hybrid SUV. For years, the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid has been the go-to model for hybrid SUV shoppers.

NASA's 2 stuck astronauts take their first spacewalk together

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s took their first spacewalk together Thursday, exiting the International Space Station almost eight months after moving in.

Crypto Stocks Surge Amid Market Boom

Crypto Stocks Surge Amid Market Boom - Ad

Microsoft reports 10% quarterly profit growth as it works to show AI investments paying off

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) — Microsoft Corp. said Wednesday that its profit for the October-December quarter grew 10% from the same time last year as it works to capitalize on the huge amounts of money it has spent to advance its artificial intelligence technology.

Did DeepSeek copy ChatGPT? Trump adviser thinks so

Did the upstart copy ChatGPT to make the artificial intelligence technology that this week?

Consistent Profits Every Day

Consistent Profits Every Day - Ad

LitePips EA delivers steady profits with no risky strategies like Grid, Arbitrage, Scalping or Hedge. Enjoy stable trading with fixed Stop Loss and Take Profit, over 62% WinRate, DrawDown below 32% and 100%+ annual returns. Not forget about tools like spread filters, slippage protection, and equity safeguards, it's the perfect choice for XAUUSD H1 traders.

Stryker's Strategic Moves Impress Analysts, Spine Implant Sale and NARI Deal Set to Drive Future Growth

Wall Street analysts upgraded Stryker Corp (NYSE: SYK) after its Q4 report beat expectations, with strong sales and earnings growth projected for 2025.

Kansas City Battles Major Tuberculosis Outbreak, 67 Active Cases, Hundreds Under Watch

Kansas City faces one of the worst U.S. tuberculosis outbreaks, with 67 active cases and 384 people under monitoring.

This Electric Boating Stock Has Potential To Soar

This Electric Boating Stock Has Potential To Soar - Ad

While competitors struggle, one company is leading the electric boating industry with scalable production, strategic partnerships, and a revolutionary powertrain. In a market set to move, this stock is quietly gaining momentum.

Senate confirms Zeldin to lead Environmental Protection Agency as Trump vows to cut climate rules

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday confirmed Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, a key role to help President Donald Trump fulfill his pledge to roll back major environmental regulations, including those aimed at slowing climate change and encouraging use of electric vehicles.

Betting Against Nvidia Again

So much for the Jevons paradox.

Top AI Stocks for 2025

Top AI Stocks for 2025 - Ad

My 2025 AI Blueprint features three of what I call Nvidia's "Silent Partners." Some of the world's hottest companies are working with AI's undisputed leader, Nvidia. And I've identified three of them that appear to be well-positioned for the next AI boom in 2025. Everything you need to know about them in my 2025 AI Blueprint.

Trump White House Puts DeepSeek Under National Security Scanner: 'Wake-Up Call To The American AI Industry'

The White House is reviewing China's DeepSeek AI for potential national security risks, amid growing concerns over intellectual property theft and its impact on U.S. AI dominance.

F5 Sees Big Wins in Multi-Cloud, AI Security, and IT Refresh, Analysts Forecast More Upside

F5 Inc (NASDAQ: FFIV) reported strong Q1 results, beating revenue and EPS estimates. The stock gained as analysts raised price targets and expectations for further growth from IT budgets, data center refresh, and AI demand.

Unlocking a Polymetallic Discovery Like No Other

Unlocking a Polymetallic Discovery Like No Other - Ad

With drill results rivaling the best in the world and a fully funded 2025 program, this polymetallic stock is poised for major growth. Industry icons Robert Friedland and Rob McEwen are already in. Will you be next?

AI ETFs In Focus As Alibaba Challenges DeepSeek With New Model

AI arms race fueled by DeepSeek and Alibaba's AI models. Investors can profit from trend with AI-focused ETFs, including AIQ, ARKQ, QQQ.

Stock market today: Asia shares mostly rise while some regional markets stay closed for holidays

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve opted for the first time since it began trying to help through easier rates in September.

Undervalued Stock Riding the $22B Electric Boating Wave

Undervalued Stock Riding the $22B Electric Boating Wave - Ad

In a booming $22 billion market, one company is redefining electric boating with record-breaking technology and strategic partnerships. With production scaling fast and an innovative powertrain already in demand.

Apple Surprises Users With Starlink Beta, Teams Up With Elon Musk's SpaceX And T-Mobile To Bring Satellite Texting For iPhone Users In iOS 18.3

Apple has partnered with SpaceX and T-Mobile to bring Starlink satellite texting to iPhones, with a limited beta test rolling out via iOS 18.3, marking a major step toward expanding connectivity in remote areas.

Mark Zuckerberg Says China's DeepSeek Did Some Novel Things 'We're Still Digesting,' But Meta May Keep Pouring Billions Into AI Infrastructure Anyway

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged that China's DeepSeek made novel advancements that Meta is still evaluating but emphasized that the company will continue investing billions in AI infrastructure, seeing it as a long-term strategic advantage.

Legendary Investor: Buy These "Trump Stocks" Now

Legendary Investor: Buy These "Trump Stocks" Now - Ad

Within the first week of Trump's election, several stocks exploded for double- and triple-digit gains. According to legendary investor Louis Navellier, this is just the beginning of what could be the best four-year period for stocks in U.S. history.

Judge Blocks Trump's Order To Freeze Federal Grant Money

A federal judge in the District of Columbia on Tuesday afternoon temporarily blocked an executive order given by President Donald Trump that imposed a freeze of all federal grants and loans, putting $3 trillion in funding in jeopardy and entire industries on edge.

Elon Musk's Tesla Records $600 Million In Paper Gains On Bitcoin In Q4 Thanks To New Accounting Rule

Electric vehicle behemoth Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) reported an unrealized gain of $600 million on its cryptocurrency holdings in the fourth quarter.

22X Better Than Bitcoin... Without Crypto

22X Better Than Bitcoin... Without Crypto - Ad

For every $1,000 made in Bitcoin... you could have made as much as $22,000 with this strategy. legendary former hedge fund manager Larry Benedict calls it "Bitcoin Skimming." And get this... it's CRUSHING Bitcoin's returns. If you want to get in on the ground floor then watch this free interview NOW.

Bank of America's Sensitive Customer Data Compromised in Third-Party Hack - Is Your Account Safe?

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) has confirmed a data breach involving a third-party software provider that led to the exposure of sensitive customer data.

Lyft Faces Growing Competition, Bank of America Analyst Warns

Bank of America analyst Micheal McGovern reiterated a Buy rating on Lyft and lowered the price target from $21 to $19.

What Bill O'Reilly Said Floored Me

What Bill O'Reilly Said Floored Me - Ad

Bill O'Reilly has trusted one expert for investment advice for over 20 years... Alexander Green. Now, Alex is revealing Trump's impact on YOUR Money, like how AI technology could amplify Trump's policies and details on 3 stocks that could rise 20-fold by 2029.

Everyone aboard an American Airlines jet that collided with an Army helicopter is feared dead

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — At least 28 bodies were pulled from the icy waters of the Potomac River after an American Airlines jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, officials said Thursday.

Georgia Republicans push to limit lawsuits. But would that keep insurance rates from rising?

ATLANTA (AP) — The pitch from Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is simple: Putting will halt rising insurance costs.

Trump Could Make Surprising Tech Announcement Any Day

Trump Could Make Surprising Tech Announcement Any Day - Ad

Meat and greet: Historic London market counting down the years

LONDON (AP) — Norman Gregory is an institution within an institution. He’s been working at the historic Smithfield wholesale meat market in central London since 1961, witnessing first hand the rapid transformation of the capital over the decades.

Robert Kiyosaki Predicts Yet Another Stock Market Crash, Pitches Bitcoin Investments -- Here's What The 'Rich Dad Poor Dad' Author Said

Renowned investor and author Robert Kiyosaki on Monday predicted a major stock market crash in February and advised investors to focus on Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), gold, and silver.

Trump Could Make Surprising Tech Announcement Any Day

Trump Could Make Surprising Tech Announcement Any Day - Ad

Elon Musk is heavily invested in a cutting-edge new technology. In fact, Musk has turned the new president on to this breakthrough. And President Trump could make an announcement any day that could spike the price of stocks in this sector.

Firings, freezes and layoffs: A look at Trump's moves against federal employees and programs

CHAPIN, S.C. (AP) — Changeover among federal government agencies is normal when a new administration comes to Washington. But President has implemented in the first days of his second administration, from firing career agency employees to freezing trillions in federal grant funds and halting diversity, equity and inclusion programs that could result in wide-ranging layoffs.

Trending Now