Death, ‘Madness’ and a Cryptic Poem: New Details Emerge in 10-Year Hunt for Forrest Fenn’s Buried Treasure (Exclusive)

A new docuseries following an epic, real-life treasure hunt is coming to Netflix, and PEOPLE has an exclusive sneak peek.

Premiering on Thursday, March 27, Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure details the 10-year hunt to find treasure buried by 80-year-old Forrest Fenn in the Rocky Mountains — and the cryptic 24-line poem that was the key to finding the ultimate prize.

More than 300,000 people took part in the monumental search for the treasure, estimated to be worth over $2 million. Some gave up their jobs, some lost their families and five people even lost their lives.

Now, Netflix is offering an inside look at the decade-long search for the famous bounty and its discovery — as well as efforts to hide the treasure once more.

Fenn, a millionaire art dealer, initially hid the treasure in 2010. According to CBS News, the chest containing the treasure held gold coins, gems and jewelry.

Finding the treasure required hunters to decipher clues connected to a 24-line poem, written by Fenn and included in his memoir.

Fenn, who died in 2020 at age 90, is described in the docuseries as becoming “a God-like figure” in the treasure hunting community. One treasure hunter said Fenn and his hidden fortune “lived rent free” in his head all hours of the day. 

“It did turn into madness,” said another hunter, who spent 10 years looking for the treasure herself.

For years, treasure hunters went to extreme lengths to find the treasure, including when one began stalking Fenn’s granddaughter.

Some suggested Fenn call off the search, to which he replied — as seen in the clip — “If somebody drowns in the swimming pool, should we drain the pool or should we teach people to swim?”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

By 2020, the treasure had been found. But the drama didn’t stop there. 

According to one expert, “Someone has re-hidden the treasure.” But why? And where might that have happened? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Gold & Greed: The Hunt for Fenn’s Treasure premieres March 27 on Netflix.