Thought gold rushes belonged purely in the history books? Think again.

Plenty of people are still cashing in on the world's most desirable commodity, from the anonymous finder of the UK's second-largest nugget to the professional gold prospectors that are on the prowl in the Australian outback.

Click or scroll through our gallery to meet the individuals who turned the modern-day gold rush into their 9-5 job. All dollar amounts in US dollars unless otherwise stated.