American Dennis Hope became a millionaire by exploiting legal loopholes to sell plots of land on the Moon. In 1980, after realizing no one had legally claimed it, he sent a declaration of ownership to the United Nations for the Moon and other celestial bodies. He then began subdividing and selling these plots to individuals and corporations. To legitimize his venture, Hope established a 'Galactic Government' and drafted a Constitution, which was ratified by millions of 'landowners'. His buyers have included Hollywood stars, former U.S. presidents, and major hotel chains like Hilton and Marriott. However, international law experts assert that the Moon is the common heritage of all humanity, and neither states nor individuals can claim sovereignty over it, as stipulated in the 1967 Outer Space Treaty. While the treaty is clear on national appropriation, it remains ambiguous regarding commercial activities like resource extraction, a legal gray area that Hope successfully exploited. The idea of claiming the Moon is not new. In 1954, Chilean lawyer Jenaro Gajardo Vera paid $1 to a notary to officially declare himself the owner of the Moon, a move he claimed was a joke to join a local social club.
