Five months ago, what started as a small social media idea quickly turned into a citywide activity. Known as Omaha Money Hunt, the phenomenon has amassed over 45,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. The videos send residents searching for cash prizes across the metro.
Kyle, who asked us not to use his last name, is the creator of the Omaha Money Hunt. The concept behind the hunts is simple: clues are posted on social media, and participants attempt to solve them to locate the envelope containing the money. The first person to arrive and find the envelope wins the prize.
For example, his most recent clue, posted on March 22, involved a partnership with an organization aimed at encouraging people to fill their empty church seats that Sunday. So far, he has held 51 hunts; however, it all started with humble beginnings.
“I was honestly just bored,” Kyle said. “I am a travel nurse, and I was between contracts. I just didn’t know what to do with my time.”
One night, he saw a similar thing happening in another city and took inspiration.
“I looked it up in Omaha because I wanted to find something like that,” Kyle said. “When I didn’t see anything like it, we started it ourselves. My girlfriend, Macy, owns a creative agency, so she helped with the social media.”
The first hunt video was posted on Nov. 13, 2025, and the reaction was immediate. People quickly began following the page, solving clues and racing to find the hidden money.
“People went crazy right away, and some people started sending me crazy DMs,” Kyle said.
At first, he personally funded the prizes with smaller amounts of money.
“At first, the twenties and forties were manageable, and it was something I could handle on my own. Then, as it grew, the page itself started making money,” he said. “From TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, I am just using whatever money the account makes, so it is really whatever this account can buy for itself. If the account made a million dollars tomorrow, I’d give away a million dollars tomorrow.”
As Omaha Money Hunt gained popularity, the process of planning the hunts also evolved.
“I used to just pick a spot randomly, but people started recognizing me while I was filming, so now I scope out locations ahead of time or work with businesses and set things up when no one is around so I’m not seen,” Kyle said.
Because he is not originally from Omaha, the project has helped him explore the city and meet new people.
“I’ve gotten to see parts of Omaha I probably never would have visited otherwise,” Kyle said. “It’s been a really cool way to learn about the city and the people in it.”
Kyle believes the success of the Omaha Money Hunt reflects something positive about the community itself. While many people participate hoping to win the money, he said many others simply enjoy seeing someone else succeed.
“Even if I don’t win anything, what I enjoy most is being able to take time out of my day, whether it’s alone or with friends or family, and spend time together and maybe win a prize while I’m at it,” a participant and student at Gretna High Owen Stayton said.
Stayton isn’t the only one. The Omaha Money Hunt social media accounts continue to grow, and the community is getting more and more involved.
“A lot of the ideas actually come from people who follow the page,” he said. “They’ll send suggestions for locations or different ways to run the hunt, and that’s a big reason it keeps growing.”
If interested in joining the hunt, follow Omaha Money Hunt on social media and set it to notify you anytime Kyle makes a post, because time is of the essence if you want to win.
