Little-Known Facts About the Lagina Brothers

The Treasure Hunters Who Became Legends

Thanks to The Curse of Oak Island, Rick and Marty Lagina have become cult icons — real-life adventurers whose names are now synonymous with one of the greatest mysteries in history.
Viewers have watched the brothers brave dangerous digs, flooded shafts, and endless setbacks in pursuit of the fabled treasure buried beneath Nova Scotia.

We already know that Rick once worked as a postal carrier and that Marty made his fortune in the energy business, but there’s far more to these two than meets the eye.
Here are some of the most surprising — and fascinating — facts about television’s favorite treasure-hunting duo.

1. Marty Is Not Just an Engineer — He’s Also a Lawyer

Most fans know that Marty Lagina built his fortune in the oil and gas industry, later expanding into wind energy.
But what many don’t realize is that before all that, he also earned a law degree.

After completing his engineering studies, Marty decided to pursue law — simply because he’d always wanted to.
“I always loved to argue and talk to people,” he once joked.

Though he never practiced law professionally, the knowledge became invaluable when he founded his first energy company.
“You can’t make a move in business without legal knowledge,” Marty said. “I didn’t have the money to hire a lawyer, so I acted as my own.”

2. Marty Hasn’t Always Been Popular

Success hasn’t always come without criticism.
Marty admitted that working in oil and gas made him “one of the most hated people in the room.”

“It’s made me hated my whole life,” he told author Randall Sullivan. “People think we’re the exploiters, the polluters.”
Even after transitioning to renewable energy, Marty’s company faced backlash — this time for supposedly harming local wildlife.

“You better learn to live without love if you want to be in the energy business,” he said with a wry smile.

It’s this resilience — the ability to face criticism and keep going — that later helped him endure the scrutiny of television fame and the never-ending challenges on Oak Island.

3. Their Childhood Was a Rehearsal for Oak Island

Long before cameras rolled, the Lagina brothers were already treasure hunters at heart.

Their fascination began when Rick, as a young boy, discovered a 1965 Reader’s Digest article about Oak Island’s mystery.
The story described buried pirate loot, lost royal jewels, and even missing Shakespeare manuscripts — and it ignited a spark that would never fade.

Marty recalled: “Rick was obsessed. I just sort of absorbed his enthusiasm by osmosis.”

Inspired by adventure stories like The Hardy Boys, the brothers spent their Michigan childhood digging around forests and fields, hoping to uncover Native American artifacts.
They didn’t know it then, but those backyard explorations were the first chapter of a lifelong treasure hunt.

4. Their First Meeting with Dan Blankenship Was Awkward

Before they became partners, the Lagina brothers were fans of the legendary Oak Island treasure hunter Dan Blankenship.

In the 1990s, Rick and Marty decided to visit Nova Scotia to meet their hero.
After a 1,400-mile drive, they finally arrived — only to find Blankenship busy cutting down trees and barely acknowledging them.

Rick decided to help by silently pushing over trees while Dan worked, eventually earning a nod of approval.
The three men later shared a brief drink before Blankenship abruptly said, “Thanks for coming — I’ve got to go.”

Rick laughed about it years later:

“We basically got the bum’s rush off the island. Dan wasn’t unfriendly — just busy. Still, who knew that awkward start would lead to one of the most important partnerships of our lives?”

5. Marty Is Also a Winemaker

If you thought Marty’s resume couldn’t get any longer — engineer, lawyer, entrepreneur, TV star — add winemaker to the list.

He owns Mari Vineyards, a renowned winery in Michigan named after his Italian grandmother, Mari Lagina, who made homemade moonshine during the Great Depression.

Marty’s passion for winemaking stems from both his Italian roots and his love of craftsmanship. Today, his vineyard produces some of the most celebrated wines in northern Michigan, blending innovation with tradition — much like his approach to treasure hunting.

Brothers, Businessmen, and Believers

From childhood curiosity to global fame, Rick and Marty Lagina’s story is one of relentless pursuit and shared purpose.

They’ve faced criticism, loss, and countless dead ends, yet they remain undeterred — bound by the same question that captured their imaginations as boys:

Is there really treasure beneath Oak Island?

Whatever lies beneath the surface, one thing is certain — the Lagina brothers’ determination is a treasure in itself.