Man Buys Old Photo for $2 at Garage Sale—Later Finds Out It’s Worth $5 Million
What started as a casual garage sale find turned into a once-in-a-lifetime discovery for one California man. Fresno native Randy Guijarro shelled out just $2 for a dusty box of old photographs—only to uncover a hidden treasure among them: a never-before-seen photo of the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid.
The faded tintype photo, which dates back to 1878, shows Billy the Kid playing a casual game of croquet with several of his gang members—The Regulators—in what’s believed to be a relaxed wedding setting.
A Million-Dollar Mistake—For the Seller
The photo’s dimensions? Just 4 inches by 5 inches. But its value? An astounding $5 million, according to numismatics experts at Kagin’s Inc., who authenticated the image after over a year of detailed analysis.
“When we first saw the photo, we were skeptical,” said Jeff McCarthy of Kagin’s. “An original photo of Billy the Kid is the Holy Grail of Western memorabilia. But the evidence we found was overwhelming—this is the real deal.”
This discovery makes it only the second known photograph of Billy the Kid in existence. The other one, taken in 1880 in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, sold at auction in 2010 for $2.3 million.
A Face from the Wild West
Billy the Kid—born Henry McCarty and also known as William H. Bonney—has long been a figure of fascination in American history. A skilled gunslinger and elusive fugitive, he became a legend after escaping from jail and allegedly killing two deputies during his breakout.
While folklore credits him with 21 kills—one for each year of his life—historians now estimate the number closer to nine, including four direct kills and five with accomplices.
Billy’s life came to a violent end in 1881, when he was tracked down and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett in Fort Sumner, cementing his legacy as one of the Wild West’s most notorious icons.
From Garage Sale to American Treasure
What makes this new photo so remarkable is not just who’s in it, but what it represents—a candid, peaceful moment from a life otherwise steeped in violence and outlaw legend.
“To think this was sitting in a cardboard box at a yard sale… It gives you chills,” said Guijarro.
His modest $2 purchase is now considered one of the most priceless pieces of Western history ever discovered.
One photo. Two bucks. Five million dollars of history.
Never underestimate what might be hiding in the forgotten corners of a garage sale.