Apr 22, 2026
Found fortune or potential penalty box? That's the question after a woman posted a TikTok video of herself with a box full of cash she says she found at a local Goodwill (1).
In late March, Sophia St. John posted the video in which she picked up a small red box in Goodwill and opened it to find "a huge wad of cash," as she recently (2) told People.
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St. John said she found the box, with the words "Karma and Luck" printed on it, "in the bins of random little things." While excited, she immediately closed it and put it in her cart so no one else would see it. She said she paid less than a dollar for the box and left with it and the money.
Moneywise reached out to St. John for comment, but she declined.
Still, while many TikTok commenters encouraged her to take the cash, it turns out that finders aren't necessarily keepers in the eyes of the law.
Cashing in on unexpected thrift store windfalls
St. John, whose website (3) lists her as a fashion stylist specializing in editorial, celebrity and commercial imagery with a distinct focus on curated vintage, garnered more than 360,000 likes and hundreds of comments on her video.
Some commenters recounted their own similar finds, while others accused her of planting the money. Many, however, told her to just keep the cash.
"Get the money, leave the box. LMAO," one person wrote, echoing others.
Another wrote, "the way it would go straight into my pocket before checkout." A third added, "Take the money out and pay for the [box]."
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St. John also told People she's found thousands of dollars in coins and gold at Goodwill in the past. Such coins can be worth up to 20 times their face value. In a more recent TikTok video St. John cashes in some of them and receives a check for $625 (4).
As for the "wad of cash," St. John told People that she won't disclose the amount "for legal reasons" — a potentially wise move given state laws that spell out protocols and penalties for found money.
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What the law says about keeping lost cash
In a legal explainer, New Mexico attorney Lauren Baldwin wrote that "cash you find is not legally yours — it's still the owner's money" and that most states have laws that require you to find the owner or turn it in to authorities to avoid possible charges or even jail time (5).
The New York-based SJKP law firm added that determining whether something is lost or abandoned is often the key legal issue. The distinction comes down to whether the property — a classification that often includes cash — was intentionally or accidentally left behind by the owner (6).
For example, a laptop tossed in a dumpster is clearly abandoned. A laptop forgotten at a shared workstation would be considered lost, and taking it could be a crime.
The legal burden on the finder depends on state laws. Many states require you to turn in the lost property within a reasonable time and wait 90 days to see whether the owner claims it before you can legally keep it.
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In New York, failing to turn in lost property (7) can bring misdemeanor charges and up to six months in jail. Property valued between $500 and $5,000 requires a one-year waiting period to claim, while amounts above $5,000 require a three-year wait (8).
In California, if property or cash is worth more than $250, police are required to publish a public notice before the 90-day window passes (9). Failing to turn it in can result in a sentence ranging from six months to three years, depending on the value (10).
In Florida, failing to turn in found property can lead to fines, probation or prison (11) sentences ranging from five to 30 years.
Texas, meanwhile, takes more of a "wild west" approach. In an interview, Fort Worth attorney Bryan Wilson said that while it's good practice to find the owner, there are no specific laws prohibiting someone from keeping lost property (12) — though it would have to be returned if the owner later comes forward.
In most states, the safest move is to turn found cash or property over to authorities. Doing so can protect you from theft charges and allow you to claim it later if no one steps forward.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
TikTok (1),(4); People (2); Soph St. John (3); Criminal Defense Lawyer (5); Daeryun Law (6); FindLaw (7); New York Public Law (8); Justia (9); DCD Law (10); Musca Law (11); Fort Worth Star-Telegram (12)
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Mike Crisolago is a Staff Reporter at Moneywise with more than 15 years of experience in the journalism industry as a writer, editor, content strategist and podcast host. His work has appeared in various Canadian print and digital publications including Zoomer magazine, Quill & Quire and Canadian Family, among others. He’s also served as a mentor to students in Centennial College’s journalism program.
