Couple forced to choose between three life-changing wishes or $1 million after finding genie lamp

Ever since the first time we watched Aladdin all those years ago, a lot of us have longed to stumble across an old oil lamp which has the power to make our wildest dreams come true.

For this couple, it's no longer just a fantasy - the only thing is, it wasn't a larger-than-life blue genie with the voice of Robin Williams who offered to grant their three wishes... or alternatively, give them $1 million (£800k).

Instead, it was a US company who are on a mission to bring some of that Disney-esque magic into everyday life by organising extraordinary treasure hunts.

Take a look at this:

If you like a bit of a mental challenge and fancy winning a life-changing prize, Treasure Game$ are the guys to go to.

The firm explain that they are giving 'players an opportunity to find real treasure in the real world' with a range of fun games, the first of which kicked off in January this year.

Named 'Wish Lamp$', the high-stakes treasure hunt sees a host of Treasure Game$ subscribers trying to decipher a range of clues which will eventually lead them to where a genie lamp is hidden.

Whoever finds the coveted prop then has the choice to receive a whopping $1 million in cash, or they can instead opt to have three wishes granted.

Treasure Game$ founder, Dirk Gibson, explained he came up with the exciting concept as he simply wanted to spread his wealth - and what better way to do that than with an Aladdin-inspired treasure hunt?

Ron and Michelle are the first winners of Treasure Game$ (Treasure Game$)

Speaking of the first game as it launched in January, he said: "I thought, wouldn’t it be cool if you could find a lamp in real life and get three real wishes. This is a better way to spread wealth.

"You could have these treasure hunting games for high value things, but rather than having one person win, you build a model where as more people join and more sponsors, you can have hundreds of games going all year long where people are winning all the time."

Ron Novak and Michelle Bush were crowned the winners of the first Treasure Game$ competition after spending around two months trying to track the genie lamp down.

The couple, from New Mexico, said it took them three trips across Dallas to find the prop.

They managed to decipher a Seinfeld-themed clue which directed them to the genie lamp in the Texas brush after extending their exhausting trip by a day as they sensed they were super close.

Speaking to WWLP, Ron said of the moment they found it: "The initial moment, I was in shock."

The couple tracked down the genie lamp to Texas (Treasure Game$)

He and Michelle decided to live out every kid's dream and chose to have three of their wishes granted, much to the pleasure of people who had been intently following the Wish Lamp$ game.

With Treasure Game$ being willing to grant their any desire - within a budget of $1.2million - the pair decided to ask for a Mercedes Sprinter van which was fit for their four dogs, an entire motel they want to renovate and a sizeable charitable donation 'to a place that is connected to their life'.

Ron explained that they had presented a chunk of their winnings to the Hare Krishna Food for Life Group, a charity which he credited with helping him get back on his feet when he was homeless.

"For me, it was the biggest gift to be able to give them money for this because I used to be a taker. I just took, and I needed help and wanted help," the champion treasure hunter explained.

They chose to have three wishes granted, which included getting a Sprinter van to fit their four beloved dogs (Treasure Game$)

He and Michelle are now also the proud owners of the Southwest Motel in Grants, New Mexico, which they are now planning to give a new lease of life.

As they had conducted the treasure hunt in a cramped Subaru alongside their four dogs, the pair decided it was only fair that their beloved animals reaped the rewards of their efforts too.

So, they splashed out on a swanky Sprinter van which has plenty of room for their canine companions.

Michelle added: "We bought the van for the dogs. That's an internal joke."

The couple also want to keep the good times going and plan to launch their own treasure hunt with a grand prize of $5,000 - which they promise will be a 'lot easier than this one'.

But for those who fancy earning their own three wishes, Treasure Game$ have got their next genie bottle hunt with a $1 million prize starting in June.

Topics: Money, Good News, Weird, US News

Olivia Burke

Olivia is a journalist at LADbible Group with more than five years of experience and has worked for a number of top publishers, including News UK. She also enjoys writing food reviews (as well as the eating part). She is a stereotypical reality TV addict, but still finds time for a serious documentary.

@livburke_