This Fallen Meteorite Is Worth $1.85 Million

A Meteorite Falls from the Sky00:00:00

In August 2020, Joshua Hatagalong, an Indonesian man, was working at home when a meteorite crashed through his roof. He found a large, warm rock embedded in his floor and immediately suspected it was a meteorite.

Initial Offers and Sales00:01:10

Hatagalong shared photos of the meteorite online, catching the attention of many. He initially rejected a local resident's offer of 1 billion Indonesian rupiah ($71,000), thinking it was a joke. Later, U.S. meteorite expert Jared Collins offered 200 million rupiah ($14,207) for the meteorite and an additional 14 million rupiah ($995) to repair the roof, totaling $15,202. This amount was equivalent to nearly 19 months of Hatagalong's country's median wage. Hatagalong agreed to sell most of the meteorite, keeping a small piece as a memento.

Post-Sale Philanthropy and Meteorite Classification00:02:52

With his earnings, Hatagalong repaired his roof and parents' graves, helped his family and local orphans, and contributed to building churches in his village. The meteorite, named Kolang, was inspected by the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Texas. It was estimated to weigh 2.5 kg (5.5 pounds) before breaking, is believed to be 4.5 billion years old, and was classified as the extremely rare CM1/2 carbonaceous chondrite.

The True Value of the Meteorite00:03:36

Other fragments of Kolang were found in the surrounding area, leading to an increase in visitors hoping to find their own pieces. Smaller fragments appeared on eBay with high prices, suggesting Hatagalong could have received up to $1.85 million for his meteorite. Upon learning this, Hatagalong expressed disappointment, feeling he had been lied to. However, experts dispute this high valuation, stating that greater weight does not always equate to higher cost for meteorites.

Destination of Kolang and Final Fact00:04:44

Collins reportedly shipped Kolang to an avid meteorite collector in America. The video concludes with a fun fact about the Hoba meteorite in Namibia, the largest intact meteorite, weighing an estimated 60 tons.