D.B. Cooper Ransom Note Sells for $134,200 at Auction
A single $20 bill recovered from the infamous 1971 skyjacking fetched a record price at a recent Dallas auction.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Financial Crime
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A banknote from the legendary D.B. Cooper ransom was sold for $134,200 during a currency auction held in Dallas this October. The specific bill, marked with serial number L32796069A, is part of the original $200,000 taken during the only unsolved skyjacking in commercial aviation history.
Why it matters
The sale highlights the enduring fascination with the D.B. Cooper case, which the FBI officially closed in 2016. Despite the note showing significant water damage and missing sections, it serves as a tangible link to one of the most mysterious crimes in American history.
The federal investigation into the hijacking concluded in July 2016 without identifying the culprit. Authorities previously allowed the Ingram family to keep the $5,800 in currency discovered at Tena Bar in 1980.
The players
D.B. Cooper
This unidentified individual is the perpetrator of the 1971 skyjacking who jumped from a plane with $200,000 in ransom money.
Brian Ingram
He is the person who discovered three bundles of the original ransom money near the Columbia River in 1980.
FBI
This federal agency conducted the decades-long investigation into the hijacking before officially closing the case in 2016.
Heritage Auctions
Based in Dallas, this company is a major auction house that specializes in collectibles, including rare currency and historical memorabilia.
The details
The bill originated from the 10,000 $20 notes provided to the hijacker in 1971 in exchange for the release of 36 passengers in Seattle. The note was later found alongside other bundles by Brian Ingram in 1980, marking a rare recovery of the stolen funds from the Boeing 727 flight.
Timeline
November 24, 1971: D.B. Cooper hijacked a commercial flight.
February 1980: Brian Ingram discovered ransom money at Tena Bar.
1986: Federal authorities permitted the Ingram family to retain the bills.
July 2016: The FBI officially ended the active investigation into the case.
October 6-9, 2026: Heritage Auctions held the currency sale in Dallas.
Legal Context
The sale follows the pattern set by the 1971 D.B. Cooper skyjacking, which remains the only unsolved case of its kind in commercial aviation history. This auction reflects a broader trend of high-value collecting centered on artifacts from historic federal criminal investigations.
The sale of this artifact provides local residents and collectors with a rare glimpse into a landmark case that fundamentally changed aviation security. The public continues to track these items as they appear in the market to see if any new evidence regarding the hijacker might eventually emerge.
The takeaway
The high auction price confirms that items linked to notorious cold cases retain significant value among collectors. Keeping such historical artifacts provides a physical link to criminal mysteries that remain permanently unresolved.
Further reading
For more on notable high-value cases, see our Financial Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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