Good News: A $35 bowl in a junk sale turns out to be worth over $500,000

How would you like a 1.4 million percent return on investment?

A someone that spends their days shopping at thrift shops and garage sales spotted a promising-looking piece of porcelain amidst other items at a yard sale. It was for sale for $35. He didn’t even haggle. He paid full price on the spot.

Then he went to work to figure out what it was worth. The bowl just six inches in diameter and decorated with lotus, peony, chrysanthemum, and pomegranate blossoms. It turned out to be one of only six Ming pieces that have survived. Sotheby’s confirmed the exquisite 15th-century treasure likely originated between the years 403–1424.

They estimate the value to be between $300,000 to $500,000. It is to be auctioned off during a sale Wednesday, March 17.

If it sells for $500,000, even taking into account the auction house’s commission, the return on the $35 investment will be 1,428,471%. Not bad!