In this Oct.
Syracuse native David Klein, the original Mr. Jelly Belly who came up with the popular jelly bean candy’s name, has hidden a “Gold Ticket” Treasure worth $100,000 somewhere within the lower 48 U.S.
“This book will contain clues with a location where the Gold Ticket™ is hidden,” a press release says.
Klein previously made headlines with “The Gold Ticket” last year, a separate contest inspired by Roald Dahl’s famous book, “Charlie and the Charlie Factory,” which was adapted into a 1971 movie starring Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka and a 2005 remake starring Johnny Depp.
Klein says he’s given away $300,000 worth of prizes since last year, largely through “golden tickets” — gold necklaces with a tag that includes a code to verify its authenticity — hidden in every state and worth $5,000.
Klein, 74, was born in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1946.
He did come up with the idea of infusing jelly beans with flavor on the inside and creating fun new flavors, like cotton candy, and contacted the Herman Goelitz Candy Company about developing the product to be sold at his California ice cream shop.
The Jelly Belly Candy Company has publicly distanced itself from Klein, who sold the name to the Herman Goelitz Candy Company in 1980.
Klein’s book, The Candyman’s Treasure Hunt: The Orb Traveler,” is available through www.TheGoldTicket.com for $35.95.
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