Leroy considers himself a thrift store connoisseur. Just about everything he owns in his home is from thrift stores, and he goes to a nearby Goodwill about four times a week.
The 81-year-old from Anderson County, SC, enjoys buying and selling items he gets for cheap. A former antiques dealer, he has spent his life looking for that one big find. One day he found an oil painting of what looked to be a massive feast.
He thought the painting might be worth $100 or two on the internet. However, his daughter-in-law had a hunch the painting was worth slightly more. She appeared on the PBS series Antiques Roadshow. The painting was appraised at $20,000 to $30,000.
Leroy believed the painting was from the 1800s but was stunned to discover it was a Flemish work of art from the year 1650. When he brought the painting to an auction house in Massachusetts it sold for a stunning $190,000.
“It’s the biggest find I’ve ever had,” said Leroy. “I can only thank Goodwill for that.”
The grandfather will split the money with his son and daughter-in-law, and use a portion to renovate his home. This just goes to show, you never know what hidden treasures are tucked away in thrift stores.
What’s the best secondhand purchase you’ve made? Let us know in the comments!