GoKawiilJulian Sancton's 'Neptune's Fortune' chronicles hunt for $1 billion San José shipwreck
Historian Julian Sancton has published 'Neptune's Fortune: The Billion-Dollar Shipwreck and the Ghosts of the Spanish Empire,' which recounts underwater archaeologist Roger Dooley's search for the Spanish galleon San José, sunk off Colombia in 1708. Dooley located the wreck in 2015 using Spanish archival research, but was excluded from Colombia's official announcement and has since faced numerous lawsuits over salvage rights. The book, a follow-up to Sancton's bestseller 'Madhouse at the End of the Earth,' was named one of Barnes & Noble's Best Books of 2026.
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The story illustrates how independent, self-funded research can surface major historical and financial discoveries, even when institutional recognition and legal control follow a different path. The ongoing litigation over the San José suggests unresolved questions about ownership of shipwreck treasure between private discoverers and national governments, which could influence future underwater archaeology disputes.
- Roger Dooley located the San José wreck in 2015 using self-taught archival research.
- Colombia excluded Dooley from its official celebration of the discovery, prompting lawsuits.
- Sancton's book follows his bestselling 'Madhouse at the End of the Earth' and was named a Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2026.
Neptune's Fortune by Julian Sancton — If this story of relentless obsession and treasure-hunting grit grabbed you, the full book dives even deeper into Roger Dooley's incredible quest to find the San José. It's a gripping true account of ambition, archival detective work, and the messy aftermath of discovery that any entrepreneur chasing a big idea will relate to.
See Neptune's Fortune by Julian Sancton on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: entrepreneur.com — Dan Bova, 2026-11-10
Published there as: “What a Billion-Dollar Shipwreck Can Teach You About Relentlessly Chasing Your Big Idea”
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