When 19-year-old Jose Lopez stumbled upon a bag stuffed with cash outside a Wells Fargo ATM in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he thought his eyes were deceiving him. The canvas sack was sitting beside the machine, unmarked and half-open, revealing what looked like bundles of hundred-dollar bills. “I thought it was fake,” he said. “Then I picked it up — and it was heavy.”
Inside was $135,000 in cash — money that police later confirmed had been accidentally left behind by an armored truck driver who had just refilled the ATM. What Lopez did next has earned him praise from around the world — and a surprisingly small reward that’s now sparking debate online.
“Teen finds $135,000 in cash next to ATM, turns it in, gets $1,500 reward — internet says he deserved more.” @ABC
Instead of taking the money, Lopez immediately called local police. “I just thought, if someone lost this much, someone else might be in serious trouble,” he told CNN. “I grew up with nothing, but my mom taught me right from wrong.”
Police later confirmed the teen’s incredible honesty. “This young man did the right thing in a situation where many might not have,” said Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina. “He could have changed his life overnight, but instead, he chose integrity.”
Officers returned the cash to the armored truck company responsible for servicing the ATM, and the bank issued Lopez a check for $1,500 as a “thank you.” But when the news broke, the public’s reaction was swift — and divided.
“$1,500 for returning $135,000? That’s an insult,” one commenter wrote on Reddit. “He saved them from losing more than a hundred grand — they should’ve given him at least ten percent.” Another wrote, “It’s great he did the right thing, but the reward system clearly doesn’t value honesty like it should.”
“People online are calling it ‘the cheapest thank you in history.’” @guardian
Lopez, however, says he’s at peace with the decision. “I didn’t do it for money,” he told NBC News. “I just didn’t want that kind of karma. Maybe the reward wasn’t big, but it still feels good knowing I did the right thing.”
Still, his act of honesty has sparked a larger conversation about corporate gratitude — or the lack thereof. Many have pointed out that major banks and security companies routinely issue multi-million-dollar bonuses to executives, yet reward everyday citizens with token gestures for extraordinary moral choices. “A $1,500 check from a billion-dollar corporation is almost comical,” one columnist for The New York Times wrote. “They got their money back. He got a photo op.”
According to Reuters, the armored transport company involved — which has not been publicly named — called the mistake “a regrettable oversight” and thanked Lopez for “exemplary citizenship.” Representatives confirmed the cash was destined for multiple ATM refills and was left behind after a shift change. “This could have been a massive financial loss,” said a company spokesperson. “We’re deeply grateful for Mr. Lopez’s integrity.”
But gratitude doesn’t pay bills. Lopez, who works part-time at a mechanic shop and lives with his mother, says he’s using the $1,500 to fix his old Toyota Corolla and pay off student fees. “It’s not a fortune,” he laughed, “but it’s something.”
“He could have changed his life overnight. Instead, he changed how people see honesty.” @people
Social media users have since launched several GoFundMe pages in Lopez’s name, hoping to raise him a more fitting reward. One fundraiser organizer wrote, “He gave back $135,000. Let’s give him the future he deserves.” Within 48 hours, donations had already surpassed $30,000.
Ethicists say stories like Lopez’s highlight the tension between moral duty and material reward. “We tell people to do the right thing, but we rarely make it worth their while,” said behavioral psychologist Dr. Lena Ortiz. “In a world where greed often wins, honesty like this deserves more than applause.”
When asked whether he’d make the same choice again, Lopez didn’t hesitate. “Absolutely,” he said. “I’d rather have a clean conscience than a fast car. That money didn’t belong to me — and that’s the bottom line.”
“‘I’d rather have a clean conscience than a fast car.’ — Jose Lopez, 19” @Reuters
For now, Lopez says he’s trying to stay humble as attention pours in from around the world. “My mom keeps saying, ‘I told you God was watching,’” he said with a smile. “I guess she was right.”
As for the armored truck driver who left the bag behind? Police confirmed he’s been reassigned — and reportedly took home no bonus at all.
“I don’t want anyone in trouble,” Lopez added. “Everyone makes mistakes. I just hope someone would do the same if it were me.”
