Tony Beets Goes for Gold: How the King of the Klondike Turned a Failing Gamble into a $14 Million Payday

The Beets family charges into the final stretch of the Yukon mining season with high stakes, heavy machinery, and a half-million dollar surprise.

As Frost Sets In, Tony Beets Fires Up for a Final Push

As the Yukon begins to freeze and most miners start winding down, Tony Beets—legendary as the “King of the Klondike”—is doing the opposite. With only 180 ounces left to hit his ambitious 5,000-ounce gold goal, Tony isn’t slowing down. He’s doubling down.

Despite having two active wash plants—Trauml at Paradise Hill and the Slle at Indian River—Tony saw one more opportunity to squeeze every ounce out of the season before the ground turned to ice. His target: fire up a third wash plant in a bold bid to finish strong.

The Hester Cut Gamble That Nearly Sunk the Season

Tony’s eyes turned once again to the Hester Cut—a stretch of ground he had been eyeing for over 40 years. Earlier in the season, his daughter Monica had attempted to mine the site, but groundwater turned it into what Tony would later call a “soup hole.” Excavators sank, pumps failed, and their dream of a third plant seemed washed away.

Monica quickly pivoted. She proposed mining old-timer tailings instead—leftover piles from earlier mining efforts that still held gold. Years ago, they had recovered 330 ounces in five weeks from those same tailings. With gold prices nearly double now, the idea made financial sense.

Enter the Super Sloo: A Game-Changing Surprise

To make Monica’s plan work, they needed another wash plant—fast. That’s when Tony dropped a bombshell. He called Monica to the lower yard and revealed a brand-new, half-million-dollar wash plant.

The state-of-the-art machine was fresh off delivery and built to process massive volumes of paydirt with precision. Monica was stunned. It was sleek, powerful, and capable of turning their season around.

With time ticking, the Beets crew sprang into action. Monica and Glenn used an 18-ton excavator to lift the 17-ton plant, while cousin Mike arranged its skids. With careful coordination and Tony’s voice crackling through the radio, the team maneuvered the beast into place beside the old-timer tailings.

The Super Sloo Goes Live—and So Does the Gold Rush

Once in position, Monica brought in the 700 loader for the final push. The setup went smoother than expected, and the wash plant was ready. Just a few final connections were needed before they could start sluicing.

Tony stood back, clearly proud. This new addition, he believed, was just what Monica needed to turn tailings into treasure.

After a week of nonstop digging, hauling, and sluicing, the family gathered for the big cleanup at their familiar Gold Way site. Spirits were high, but the tension was real. This gold weigh could determine the fate of their season.

They started with the Indian River comeback cut. As the pan was emptied, the numbers climbed—10, 20, 60, 90—until they hit 205.80 ounces. Cheers erupted. That single cleanup pushed them past the 5,000-ounce goal.

At current gold prices, that haul alone was worth over $543,000.

A Second Weigh-In Raises the Stakes Even Higher

But they weren’t done. Next up was gold from Paradise Hill—Mike Beets’ domain. This time, the numbers soared even higher, ending at 264.76 ounces. Their new total? A staggering 5,290 ounces—worth nearly $14 million.

Tony praised Mike with rare fatherly pride, noting that “mini Beets” had delivered a serious win. With a few weeks left in the season, they were within striking distance of their all-time record.

A Turnaround for the Ages—and a Family Fueled by Gold

The Hester Cut may have nearly sunk their third plant plans, but Monica’s quick thinking and Tony’s gutsy investment changed the course of the season. What started as a last-ditch gamble turned into one of their most profitable plays yet.

As the gold weighing wrapped up, the family joked and celebrated. Monica urged the crew to come back with more gold, while Tony delivered one of his signature sendoffs:
“That’s all folks.”

But make no mistake—he meant, for now.

With the Super Sloo humming, prices soaring, and momentum in their favor, the Beets family isn’t just wrapping up a mining season. They’re closing in on one of their biggest wins ever—and possibly setting the stage for a record-breaking finish in the Klondike.