A story that went viral in August claimed an Indonesian villager became an overnight millionaire after a meteorite crashed through his roof. The rock was said to be worth $1.8m (£1.36m). However, the truth is far more modest.
Josua Hutagalung, a coffin maker in Sumatra, heard a loud crash in early August and found a warm, 2kg boulder embedded in his floor. He posted pictures on Facebook, sparking global interest. Meteorite collectors, unable to travel due to Covid, enlisted Jared Collins, an American in Indonesia, to negotiate the sale.
Collins authenticated the meteorite and facilitated a deal with a US buyer. Both parties confirm the price was fair, but it was nowhere near $1.8m. The inflated figure came from amateur calculations based on small fragments listed on eBay for high per-gram prices.
Professor Laurence Garvie of Arizona State University, who classified the meteorite, said such stories are common. 'People see small fragments sold for large amounts and think their rock is worth millions,' he explained. The actual sale price remains undisclosed, but it was a fraction of the rumoured sum.
