The Accidental Millionaire: How a $10M Bank Error Led to a Global Manhunt and a Missing Fortune

It’s a fantasy many have entertained: you wake up, check your bank balance, and discover a multi-million dollar deposit that isn't yours. What do you do? For Rotorua service station owner Leo Gao, this fantasy became a reality in 2009, sparking an international manhunt and creating a legend that still captivates people today.

Struggling financially, Gao had applied to Westpac bank for a NZ$100,000 business overdraft. In a colossal clerical error, the bank instead approved an overdraft of NZ$10 million. Upon discovering the windfall, Gao didn't call the bank. He and his girlfriend, Kara Hurring, saw an opportunity. Within days, they had packed their bags, transferred millions to offshore accounts, and vanished from New Zealand.

For the next two years and five months, the couple lived a life of luxury. They became high-rollers in the casinos of Macau and lived lavishly throughout Hong Kong and mainland China. Back in New Zealand, they were dubbed the “runaway millionaires,” and their story became a media sensation. While they were living the high life, Westpac was scrambling to recover its funds, successfully tracing and freezing some of the money.

The dream ended in September 2011 when Gao was arrested while trying to cross the border from mainland China into Hong Kong. Hurring had already been arrested in Auckland earlier that year after returning to New Zealand voluntarily. Gao was extradited and eventually pleaded guilty to seven charges of theft.

The legal outcome is perhaps the most fascinating part of the story. Gao was sentenced to four years and seven months in prison. However, he was granted parole after serving just 16 months. His girlfriend, Kara Hurring, was found guilty of money laundering and served nine months of home detention. But the real twist lies in the money. Of the initial $10 million, Westpac managed to recover approximately $6.3 million. A staggering $3.7 million was never found. At Gao’s sentencing, the judge noted it was a 'likely inference' that Gao still controlled or had access to the missing funds.

Despite this, the parole board deemed him a low risk of re-offending and granted his release. Since his release in 2013, Leo Gao has maintained a low profile, disappearing from the public eye. The $3.7 million remains officially unaccounted for. The story of the accidental millionaire serves as a modern morality tale, leaving us all to wonder about temptation, consequence, and what we might do if faced with the ultimate bank error in our favor.

Sources:

• Stuff.co.nz
• The Guardian
• The New Zealand Herald