The Guy Who Legally Owned the Moon (And Made a Fortune Selling It)

What if you could own a piece of the Moon? One man turned that wild idea into a cosmic reality—and a small fortune.

A Dream Born from a Window Glance

Picture this: It’s 1980, and Dennis Hope, a recently divorced former ventriloquist and car salesman from California, is staring out his window. Life hasn’t been kind—he’s broke, unemployed, and searching for a way to turn things around. Then, his eyes catch the pale glow of the Moon. A crazy thought flickers: *What if I owned that?* Most of us would laugh it off, but Dennis? He ran with it—straight to the library.

There, buried in the pages of the 1967 United Nations Outer Space Treaty, he found what he called a “loophole.” The treaty said no *nation* could claim the Moon or any celestial body. But individuals? It didn’t say a word about them. To Dennis, that silence was an invitation. He typed up a declaration of ownership, sent it to the UN, and waited. No reply came. In his mind, that was as good as a cosmic handshake.

“I figured if they didn’t say no, it must be a yes,” Dennis later said with a grin. That smile, he’d learned from his ventriloquist days, could sell just about anything.

From Paper Deeds to Lunar Millions

With his claim staked, Dennis didn’t stop at dreaming—he built a business. He founded the Lunar Embassy, a company that sold plots of lunar land for as little as $19.99 an acre (plus a few bucks for shipping and a “lunar tax”). Each buyer got a fancy certificate, a map of their plot, and a story to tell at parties. It was a novelty, sure, but it tapped into something deeper: the human urge to reach for the stars, even if just on paper.

And people bought it—literally. Over the decades, Dennis sold over 611 million acres to more than six million “landowners” worldwide. Celebrities like Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, and even former presidents like Ronald Reagan reportedly snagged a piece. He’s raked in over $11 million, proving that a wild idea, paired with a bit of charm, can go a long way.

The Galactic Government and a Bigger Vision

Dennis didn’t just stop at selling land. He created the Galactic Government, complete with its own constitution and currency called the “Delta.” He saw himself as more than a salesman—he was a pioneer, building a framework for a future where space might actually matter to everyday people. He even turned down a $50 million offer for the Moon’s north pole, saying it wasn’t for sale. “It’s about hope,” he’d say, “not just cash.”

Of course, not everyone’s a fan. Space lawyers argue his claim wouldn’t hold up in court—the Outer Space Treaty implies individuals need government approval, which Dennis never got. Countries like Germany and Sweden tried to sue him for fraud, but the cases fizzled out. The UN never responded to his letter. To Dennis, that’s all just noise. He’s still out there, selling the Moon, one acre at a time.

What’s the Moon Worth to You?

So, does Dennis Hope really own the Moon? Legally, probably not. But that’s not the point. His story isn’t about cold, hard ownership—it’s about imagination. For a few bucks, he’s given millions a chance to feel connected to something vast and mysterious. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the value isn’t in the thing itself, but in what it inspires.

Next time you look up at the Moon, think of Dennis. Maybe he’s a dreamer, maybe he’s a hustler—or maybe he’s both. Either way, he’s turned a glance out the window into a fortune and a legacy that’s out of this world. What would *you* do with a piece of the cosmos?

Takeaway: You don’t need to own the Moon to find your own slice of possibility. Sometimes, all it takes is a bold idea and the guts to chase it.