Parker grosses 4,000 to 6,000 ounces every season ($7-11 million). After payroll, royalties, and fuel, he's probably got $2 million easily available to invest.

Tony grosses 2,000 to 4,000 ounces per season and collects royalties from other miners leasing his property, so he's likely in similar shape to Parker.

Rick's struggles are documented, he doesn't spend all that much on equipment, not like Schnabel or Beets. And he likes running a small outfit.

The one I have a hard time is Dustin Hurts on Whitewater. I have no idea how he kept things going as long as he did. At one time he'd borrowed $75k from Todd Hoffman and he's never dredged up enough gold to pay any of it back. I don't know how even pays his crew.