Frenzy as mystery benefactor doles out cash

Someone is dropping envelopes full of cash across San Francisco — and causing an international frenzy on social media.

An anonymous man with the Twitter handle @HiddenCash has been hiding money throughout the city since last Friday, leading scores on a scavenger hunt. His Twitter following exploded from a few hundred to more than 100,000 and counting last night. He is estimated to have splashed out more than $10,000 so far.

Little is known about the mystery benefactor, but he or she is believed to be a wealthy property mogul who wishes to address the discrepancy between the rich and poor in San Francisco.

In an interview with one website, Hidden Cash said: “I’ve made millions of dollars the last few years, more than I ever imagined, and yet many friends of mine, and people who work for me, cannot afford to buy a modest home in the Bay Area. This has caused me quite a bit of reflection. I am determined to give away some of the money I make, and, in addition to charity, to do it in fun, creative ways like this.

“I am OK with giving out at least $1,000 (€736) a day for the foreseeable future,” the donor said. “It will not affect my finances significantly.

“We are planning to add more cities, starting with LA next weekend, and NYC shortly afterwards.”

One of his clues this week told San Francisco followers to “find Mr Franklin along the ‘crookedest street,’ (towards the bottom).”

Translation: There was a $100 bill at the bottom of Lombard Street, the popular tourist thoroughfare that’s best known as the “Crookedest Street in The World”.

Hidden Cash’s anonymous creator said his giveaways are a “social experiment for good”.

Sergio Loza, 28, of San Francisco, said he saw a clue on Twitter with the message “Early bird gets the worm”. He raced out and found an envelope with $50 inside taped to a parking meter in the city’s Mission District.

Loza said he spent $30 on clothes for his 2-year-old niece’s birthday and gave her the remaining $20 as well.

“I didn’t spend it on myself,” said Loza, a security guard. “It feels good to give, especially in these times.”

Adam Wenger, 27, said he won $200 by finding two envelopes about two hours apart in the city’s South of Market District. One envelope read, “With Love, from @HiddenCash. Leave $20 somewhere and pay it forward.”

Wenger, a web producer for KGO-Radio, bought pizza for his co-workers on Tuesday and plans to pay a $100 parking ticket. “It’s crazy,” he said.

@HiddenCash said on Twitter that he plans to leave envelopes in San Jose on Wednesday, Los Angeles this weekend and maybe New York City next month.