This dollar bill traveled all the way from Phoenix, Arizona to San Jose, California. Normally, I’m not the kind of person who gets excited over money tracking projects like Where’s George, but I feel a strong need to report the whereabouts of a particularly special dollar bill that I came across today. There are some discoveries in life that are just too precious to keep to yourself.
The message written on the bill says the following:
Please return this bill to me
Gary
. . . . . . . . .
Phoenix, AZ 85053
I am very poor.
You may be a poor man, Gary, but I tip my hat to you for having the guts to write your address on a stray dollar bill. You may not be the smartest man who ever lived, nor do you seem to have a strong sense of self-preservation, but you are a far richer man than you may ever know.
By the way, just so we’re clear on this, I’m not sending this one back to you.
Seriously though. Who puts their address on a dollar bill?
For starters, how about Gary from Phoenix, Arizona?
The local radio station in Phoenix Az KNIX 102.5 is sending out Barrell Boy to go to Gary’s house and return his dollar bill we’ll see what happens
Hi Kerry, thanks for commenting. I really appreciate the update. It appears Gary wrote his address on more than a few dollar bills. If you’re able to, could you possibly provide me another update to let me know how everything turned out with Barrel Boy’s visit to Gary’s place?
Got one of these recently – Did KNIX ever find Gary?
That’s a good question. I never received a follow-up response on this one. I think I’ll send an e-mail to the radio station to ask what happened.
Yes, the news station did find him, and he had his interview. I live in Phoenix and know him personally and he is NOT POOR. He merely stated that so people will continue to return the dollars. Gary received over 90 dollars back this past month and some of his most prized dollars have come back from places like Australia, Seoul, and Great Britain. He handed out these dollars to all the people in in our college class (this is how he and I are acquainted) and when a select few refused to take the money, he became very rude and hostile. He is retired and has little else to do other than send his money out and hope people actually return it. Now I’ll leave it up to you if decide whether you’ll participate in his little game or not.
AND by the way, here is the link to his interview.
http://www.kpho.com/story/16674753/valley-man-finds-way-to-have-spent-money-come-back
Katie, thanks so much for the article, and for the insight. I really appreciate it. It’s nice to finally know what this Gary guy is all about. Although I find Gary’s antics amusing, I don’t intend to send him any money. I have my own bills to pay.
You are welcome! It’s an interesting idea but quite frankly, I really am surprised it is not considered “defacing currency” and therefore illegal… I’m also surprised by how many people actually do return the bills to him! It just makes you wonder how much money he has sent out that never was returned. I’m sure it’s a LOT.
My name is Hallie and I am currently a waitress at a steakhouse in Illinois. I actually received this bill tonight at work, with plans of sending it back. I’m not sure if this is seriously a poor man or a scam but either way, I’ll be sure to return Gary with his dollar.
Hi Hallie, I wouldn’t say that these dollar bills are a scam per se, but from what I hear, Gary is not necessarily living in the poor house. Some other helpful commenter said something about meeting this Gary guy in person.