Marty Lagina FINALLY Reveals the REAL Cost of Oak Island Season 13!

The multi-generational theory fits with a lot of the dates we found.
Wealth associated with a possible treasure in the money pit might have been gathered from all over the world.
>> Everyone talks about how much Oak Island costs, but almost no one asks when the cost actually becomes dangerous. By season 13, Oak Island wasn’t just a treasure hunt anymore. It had turned into a ticking financial clock because this time Marty Lagginina wasn’t paying for hope. He was paying to avoid failure. New drilling locations, deeper shafts, government permits, environmental shutdown risks, equipment that costs more per day than most people earn in a year. And here’s the part most fans never hear. Season 13. Expenses began before the cameras even rolled.
Long before the first dig, Marty already knew this season would cost more than any season before it, and backing out was no longer an option. In this video, we’re not just revealing the real cost of Oak Island season 13. We’re exposing why this season forced Marty Lagginina to spend more than ever. what was at stake if he didn’t and the one decision that quietly changed the budget forever.
Watch till the end because once you understand the real cost of season 13, you’ll never watch The Curse of Oak Island the same way again. Subscribe.
This gets interesting. Where the money really goes. With an 18 episode season, we are looking at a production budget that falls somewhere between $9 million and $13.5 million. And that is just to get the cameras rolling and the lights on. It does not even account for every single piece of heavy equipment aimed at the ground. This season is being called the billiondoll baby for a reason. The scale has shifted. In the past, they might have dug a few holes and called it a day. Now, they are running a massive industrial complex on a tiny island off the coast of Nova Scotia. The crazy part is that Marty knows exactly what he is doing. He is a pragmatic engineer who made his fortune in energy, specifically with Terra Energy, which sold for hundreds of millions. He is not throwing money into a pit blindly. He is calculating the burn rate against the potential return. But even for a multi-millionaire, dropping over $10 million in a few months is a heavy lift.
The expenses for season 13 are driven by things the audience rarely thinks about.
It is not just the diesel fuel for the excavators. It is the insurance liabilities, the safety crews, and the specialized production teams needed to film in hazardous conditions. Basically, every time they put a shovel in the ground, the meter is running at a rate that would make most construction companies sweat. The pressure this season is immense because you cannot spend that kind of cash without showing results. The network demands it and frankly, so does Marty’s wallet. He has admitted in the past that they have sunk millions into the ground with very little tangible gold to show for it. But this year, the spending is focused on high-tech solutions that promise to see through the earth. This massive budget tells us one crucial thing. They are close. You do not spend $13 million on a season unless you think the payoff is sitting right there. The gamble is huge, but the logic is sound. If they find the chapel vault or the original money pit, $13 million is a drop in the bucket. But if they come up empty, it is the most expensive camping trip in human history.
The financial stakes have never been higher, and the spending creates a ticking clock that adds a layer of anxiety to every single episode. But the cash isn’t just vanishing. It is funding a metal monster, paying for the big guns. If you are wondering where a huge chunk of that $13 million is going, you just have to look at the skyline of the island. The equipment on site for season 13 is not something you rent from the local hardware store. We are talking about specialized rigs like the Caesar, a massive oscillating queson rig that costs a fortune just to transport, let alone operate.
Industry estimates indicate that keeping a rig like that on location, fully staffed and running, can cost well over $2 million across the span of a project.
And that covers only one piece of equipment. But it is not that straightforward. The true budget drain this season is the advanced technology being used to see underground without digging. They have deployed muography scanners. This is state-of-the-art tech that relies on cosmic rays to map density shifts below the surface. It is the same technology scientists use to examine the Great Pyramids in Egypt.
That kind of equipment does not come cheap. Transporting those sensors and paying the specialists who know how to interpret the data adds hundreds of thousands of dollars to the total cost.
This level of complexity transforms a treasure hunt into a full-scale scientific mission. Then there is the swamp. Everyone is fixated on the swamp and understandably so. But draining and digging into a wetland is a logistical nightmare. The pumps, containment systems, and environmental protections required to excavate their legally cost more than most people will earn in their entire lives. Marty has to approve every bit of this each time they choose to pursue a theory in the swamp. Money disappears into permits and heavyduty water control systems. And here is the kicker. Maintaining this equipment is non-stop.
Oak Island’s conditions are brutal. Salt water, thick mud, and freezing weather punish hydraulic systems and sensitive electronics. A large chunk of the budget goes to mechanics and repair crews who keep everything functioning. If the Caesar rig goes down for even a single day, thousands of dollars are lost paying crews who cannot work. Efficiency is crucial, but the island seems intent on slowing everything down. The amount of earth being moved in season 13 is unprecedented for the show. They are not simply drilling test holes. They are attempting to carefully remove enormous sections of the island. That level of precision means they cannot hire just anyone. They need top tier operators and top tier talent comes at a high price.
So when you watch that massive claw lift a bucket of mud, remember that single scoop likely costs more than a brand new car. The technology gives them vision underground, but it also inflates the budget to the point where they need a major discovery to justify the expense.
Machines cost a lot, but the people cashing the checks cost even more. So, who gets paid first? You can own all the advanced drills in the world, but they are pointless without experts deciding where to use them. Season 13 has greatly expanded the lineup of specialists, and none of these professionals work for free. Take Dr. Ian Spooner for instance.
His geological research has become the foundation of the entire operation.
Bringing in a high-level academic and his team for a full season includes consulting fees, travel costs, and accommodations.
While the exact figures are not public, estimates suggest that elite consultants can earn upwards of $50,000 per season for their continued involvement and analysis.
But here is the reality. It is not only the scientists you see on screen. There is a large team of researchers, archivists, and data analysts working behind the scenes. They process data from the mography scans, study water samples, and dig through European archives searching for links to the Knights Templar. This mental work is a huge line item in the overall budget.
You are paying for their time, their knowledge, and their confidentiality until the show finally airs. Then there is the government side of things. This is what most people fail to understand.
You cannot simply tear into an island in Canada without paying your dues. The Nova Scotia government plays a major role. Excavation permits, especially in historically sensitive spots like lot 5, are costly and slow to obtain. Strict environmental rules require constant oversight, and that oversight is not free. Still, there is a small upside for Marty. The Nova Scotia Film and Television Production Incentive Fund helps recover some of these expenses. It is estimated the production gets back around 30% of what they spend locally.
So while the upfront costs are enormous, the rebate eases the sting. Why does the government support this? Because the show fuels tourism. It injects millions into the local economy. But for the Lagginas, the cash still has to come out first. The challenge of housing the crew, feeding everyone, and moving people back and forth to the island is massive. We are talking about dozens of people who must be supported for months, and that barely covers it. Security expenses alone have exploded. As the show grows more popular, more fans attempt to get close to the island.
Protecting the site, the potential treasure, and the show’s intellectual property requires roundthe-clock security. All of these human related costs climb into the millions. It is the unglamorous work that makes the dig possible. Without permits, security, and experts, the Caesar rig is nothing more than a giant paperwe. Marty is funding an entire ecosystem of people built to solve a mystery that has already taken six lives. They spend millions, often to uncover nothing more than a corroded coin, losing money or making history.
So, here is the reality. Marty Lagginina is a businessman first and a treasure hunter second. In episode two this season, he made a comment that perfectly captures the madness. He held up a single coin valued at maybe $25,000 to $35,000.
Then he compared it to the millions of dollars buried in the search to find it.
On paper, that is an awful business plan. You spend $10 million to uncover $30,000.
Any other CEO would have shut it down long ago. But Marty sees it differently.
In interviews, he has said the return on investment is not just about gold. It is about history and storytelling.
Still, let’s be honest, the TV money matters. With roughly 1.3 million viewers tuning in, advertising revenue and syndication rights are enormous. The show has become a global phenomenon.
That income stream allows them to take risks that would destroy a normal expedition.
The curse of Oak Island brand may now be worth more than the treasure itself.
That said, critics argue this is simply endless funding for filler content. They claim the budget is used to stretch the mystery instead of solving it. Marty counters that it is a calculated obsession. His net worth, estimated at over $100 million, gives him breathing room. he can afford to lose money on the dig as long as the show breaks even or makes a profit. The real risk in season 13 is that costs are climbing faster than ratings. If viewership drops, the math no longer works. There is also the sunk cost trap at play here. They have spent more than $100 million since 2014 based on estimates shared by fans on Reddit. Walking away now would mean admitting that money is gone for good.
So, they keep investing, hoping for one massive discovery that evens the score.
This season’s focus on the money pit and other high-risk zones shows they are going allin. They need a victory. They need something more than bits of wood or old ox shoes. The wild thing is that Marty seems comfortable with the gamble.
He treats the island like a venture capital bet. Most startups fail, but the one that succeeds covers all the losses.
He believes Oak Island is that success story. But with season 13’s budget hitting new extremes, success now means something different. A handful of coins will not cut it anymore. To justify this level of spending, they need to find the vault. They need to find the source. The financial strain is the unseen villain of this season, forcing them to move faster and dig deeper than ever. The money is already spent, but one looming question hangs over the entire production. What happens next? When you look at the sheer scale of season 13, you have to wonder if this is the final act. The phrase billiondoll baby has been tossed around. And while they have not actually spent a billion yet, the path points that way. Spending at this scale usually signals an endgame. You do not bring in this much technology and this many experts just to say maybe next year. The urgency in the editing and the aggressive pace of digging suggests the Legas are searching for closure. Marty’s openness about the costs is also intentional. By showing how expensive this has become, he is raising the stakes for viewers. He is basically saying, “We are fully committed. Every failed drill hole hurts more when you know the price tag. Every discovery feels bigger because of it.” The story has shifted from what is buried down there to whether they can afford to reach it. What many people miss is that the real risk is not just financial, it is reputational. If they spend $15 million this season and find nothing but mud, the credibility of the entire project takes a serious blow. Fans are loyal, but patience has limits. The producers understand this. That is why they slowly reveal details about the budget. It manages expectations.
It frames the dig as a battle against the island itself, where money is the weapon. So, is Marty Laganina actually burning through his fortune? Or have they realized the show itself is the only true treasure? The numbers are scary, but the mystery is hard to resist. What do you think? Hit that like button if you believe they find the vault this year, and subscribe for more updates from The Dig.