<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/"><channel><title><![CDATA[cashtomato - SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports]]></title><description><![CDATA[SFist is San Francisco's source for fun, witty, & serious news. With updates about restaurants, events, sports, politics & more, SFist reaches millions of users in California.]]></description><link>https://sfist.com/</link><image><url>https://sfist.com/favicon.png</url><title>cashtomato - SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, &amp; Sports</title><link>https://sfist.com/</link></image><generator>Ghost 2.12</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:38:04 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://sfist.com/cashtomato/rss/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><ttl>60</ttl><item><title><![CDATA[Millionaire Real Estate Investor Behind @HiddenCash Reportedly Identified]]></title><description><![CDATA[The anonymous Bay Area real estate investor behind the <a href="http://www.twitter.com/hiddencash">@HiddenCash</a> phenomenon has allegedly been identified as one Jason Buzi, according to a voice anal...]]></description><link>https://sfist.com/2014/06/05/hidden_cash_guy_unmasked/</link><guid isPermaLink="false">5c24238a44ad066cdcf2619c</guid><category><![CDATA[SF News]]></category><category><![CDATA[cashtomato]]></category><category><![CDATA[hidden cash]]></category><category><![CDATA[hiddencash]]></category><category><![CDATA[publicity stunts]]></category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Andrew Dalton]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2014 14:00:47 GMT</pubDate><media:content url="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2014/06/jasonbuzi_hiddencash-thumb-640xauto-845593.jpg" medium="image"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://img.sfist.com/assets_c/2014/06/jasonbuzi_hiddencash-thumb-640xauto-845593.jpg" alt="Millionaire Real Estate Investor Behind @HiddenCash Reportedly Identified"><p><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image" style="display: inline;">  </span></p>

<p>The anonymous Bay Area real estate investor behind the <a href="http://www.twitter.com/hiddencash">@HiddenCash</a> phenomenon has reportedly been identified as one Jason Buzi, according to a voice analysis expert and a cache of online evidence.</p>

<p>Fresh off of their work busting <a href="http://gothamist.com/2014/03/11/video_nj_realtors_sex.php">a couple of horny real estate agents</a> in New Jersey, sensational national newsmagazine <em>Inside Edition</em> believes they've successfully doxxed the well-heeled prankster who has <a href="https://twitter.com/janellewang/status/471760024247619584">bribed journalists</a> and <a href="http://laist.com/2014/05/30/hidden_cash_benefactor_tells_angele.php">caused chaos all along the West Coast</a>. In a piece set to air tonight, IE's Jim Moret spoke on the phone with the man who claims he is the man with the cash behind the twitter account. <em>Roll clip</em>:</p>

<p><iframe src="//player.vimeo.com/video/97464794?portrait=0&amp;color=ffffff" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>

<p>Though the man on the phone denies being any of people named by the press as @HiddenCash candidates, <em>Inside Edition</em>'s voice analysis expert (who we're told is the same guy who <a href="http://drphil.com/shows/show/1925/">busts catfish on <em>Dr. Phil</em></a> if that's worth anything) claims "with 99% certainty" that Mr. Hidden Cash's voice matches Jason Buzi's voice as heard on a real estate podcast. </p>

<p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbuzi">Buzi's LinkedIn profile</a> is strikingly similar to the @HiddenCash M.O. as well:</p>

<blockquote>
<strong>In addition to real estate investing, Jason Buzi tries to be involved in the community and give back to those less fortunate.</strong> He has volunteered in East Palo Alto as a mentor and is an active donor to the East Palo Alto Kids Foundation. He is currently working with refugee families through the International Rescue Committee.</blockquote>

<p>And then there's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jason.buzi/posts/10152436889715535?comment_id=10152436950025535&amp;offset=0&amp;total_comments=3">this Facebook status update</a> from Buzi on a Chronicle article about the rising costs of housing in the Bay Area, which reads like one of the many statements @HiddenCash has given to the press: "It's hard to not feel bad for friends and strangers who are getting shut out of the market, even though personally I am doing very well."</p>

<p>Most convincing, however, is Jason Buzi's connection to CashTomato.com, a YouTube knockoff started by "a wealthy and eccentric real estate investor" that probably failed because of its horrible URL as much as its also-ran status. In 2008, the site tried to drum up interest by <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/Online/Video_Website/prweb714393.htm">giving away money to anyone who asked for it</a>. The publicity stunt eventually moved offline when the site <a href="http://sfist.com/2008/02/20/cash_tomato.php">handed out free cash in Dolores Park</a> and eventually <a href="http://gothamist.com/2008/03/01/completely_fore.php">started a riot over $29 in Times Square</a>. </p>

<p>That would be in line with @HiddenCash's <a href="http://sfist.com/2014/05/27/anonymous_person_skyrockets_to_infa.php">prior assertion</a> that he has "had some publicity before and nothing good ever resulted from it." Jason Buzi was listed as the VP of CashTomato.com and the contact <a href="http://www.prweb.com/releases/Online/Video_Website/prweb714393.htm">on a press release</a> about the stunt.</p>

<p>As for the man on the phone with Inside Edition (who may or may not be Jason Buzi) as he said, he hopes @HiddenCash catches on and becomes a global phenomenon — which it already has, spawning copycat accounts <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/hidden-cash-uk-twitter-account-sparks-citywide-treasure-hunts-for-moneyfilled-envelopes-9465401.html">in the U.K.</a> and closer to home <a href="https://twitter.com/hiddentreats">in the East Bay</a>. Others have taken the idea and swapped out the cash for weed, <a href="http://blogs.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2014/05/hidden_cash_giver_has_marijuan.php">like this guy did in Seattle</a>.</p>

<p>Requests for comment sent to an email address which the proprietor of @HiddenCash had used to communicate with SFist and Gothamist in the past were not returned by publication time.</p>

<p><em>Update: Added statement from Buzi's Facebook page.</em></p>

<p><strong>Previously:</strong> <a href="http://sfist.com/2014/06/02/hidden_cash_guy_returns_from_la_pro.php">Hidden Cash Guy Returns To Bay Area, Promises 'EPIC' Weekend Of Cash Drops</a><br>
<a href="http://sfist.com/2014/05/27/anonymous_person_skyrockets_to_infa.php">Anonymous Person Skyrockets To Infamy By Hiding Cash Around San Francisco</a></p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>