Cursed Gold: A Shipwreck Scandal tells the story of Tommy Thompson, an American treasure hunter best known for his 1988 discovery of the SS Central America shipwreck.
The series gives a glimpse into the 30-year story of adventure, deception, and personal turmoil, that followed, taking him from venerated celebrity to suspected conman and finally, a defiant prisoner who refused to give up his gold.
The three-part series will premiere on National Geographic on Sundays at 21:00 (CAT) from 8 September 2024.
SS Central America, which sank in a hurricane in 1857, was carrying a massive haul of gold coins and ingots, valued at hundreds of millions of dollars today.
It was carrying nearly six hundred passengers returning from the California Gold Rush and sank two hundred miles off the Carolina coast in September of that year. Over four hundred lives and twenty-one tons of California gold were lost. It was the worst peacetime disaster at sea in American history, a tragedy that remained lost in legend for over a century.
Thompson’s discovery was a significant breakthrough in maritime archaeology. The ship was located at a depth of over 7,000 feet in the Atlantic Ocean, making it a challenging recovery operation. Over the years, Thompson and his team salvaged thousands of gold coins and ingots from the wreck.
Gold shipwreck scandal
However, Thompson’s journey was not without controversy. He faced legal battles with investors, government agencies, and other treasure hunters who claimed ownership of the recovered treasure. His story has been the subject of books, documentaries, and even a feature film.
Despite the challenges, Thompson’s discovery of the SS Central America remains one of the most significant treasure-hunting feats in history.
The legal battles surrounding the SS Central America shipwreck were complex and lengthy. At one point, Thompson was convicted of wire fraud and sentenced to prison. The conviction was later overturned, but the legal saga continued for years.
After years of legal battles and negotiations, a settlement was reached. The gold was sold, and the proceeds were divided among various parties, including investors, government agencies, and the treasure-hunting company led by Tommy Thompson.
While the exact distribution of the proceeds may be complex and vary depending on specific legal agreements, it’s important to note that the gold from the shipwreck was ultimately sold, and the value was shared among different entities involved in the discovery and recovery process.
The TV series based on the New York Times bestseller “Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea,” tells the true story of Thompson and his resourceful team who stunned the world with their discovery at the famous 1857 shipwreck SS Central America.
The series follows the three-decade story of adventure, deception and personal turmoil that takes Tommy from a celebrated explorer to an infamous fugitive and, ultimately, to the inside of a prison cell.
With exclusive access to over 600 hours of archival footage and thousands of slides, prints, photos and newspaper clippings on the original exploration mission – many of which have never been seen before – the series is a cautionary tale of obsession and its devastating consequences.
Related: Long-Lost Ship Found in the Desert Laden With Gold
