Want to Finance a Mini-Army Like Charles Widmore on 'Lost'?

Death and a disappearing island dominated the season finale of Lost (DIS) on May 29. After watching the island disappear before their very eyes, Jack (and the rest of the Oceanic 6) were eventually pulled from the ocean by Desmond's long lost love, Penny. The survivors quickly moved to cover up their story and begin a parade of lies that would haunt them all as they tried to reclaim their lives.

Per usual, Lost left the island’s mysteries unanswered and the fates of its inhabitants unknown. But one thing we do know is that Charles Widmore, the financier of the freight mission, has a lot of cash. At least enough to remove and replant the wreckage from Oceanic 815, and bankroll a three month expedition with some hired help, into the Pacific. Well, just how much would it cost to float your own mini military expedition? We tried to find out.

EQUIPMENT COSTS

150-foot freighter: Leasing of a 150-foot vessel can run from $135,000 to $150,000 a week. Multiply that by three months, and Widmore’s total is $1.62 million. And that’s not even counting the $5 per gallon diesel prices in California to sail that puppy 4,791 nautical miles from Los Angeles to somewhere off the coast of Fiji.

Helicopter: The boat originally had two helicopters, until Naomi crashed one before parachuting onto the island. The helicopters featured on the show are Bell UH-1Bs (also known as a "Huey"). The Huey is the most widely used military aircraft, and according to the Military Analysis Network, the unit replacement cost runs a whopping $4.7 million.

PEOPLE-POWER COSTS

Ray (doctor, deceased), $170,796

Keamy (mercenary, deceased), $60,000

Hendricks (freighter pilot, deceased), $58,158

Naomi (mercenary, deceased), $58,043

Miles (scientist), $58,043

Charlotte (scientist), $58,043

George (communications officer, deceased), $53,057

Captain Gault (deceased), $53,057

Regina (communications officer, deceased), $53,057

Frank Lapidus (helicopter pilot), $51,491

Jeff (mechanic, deceased) $32,989

Michael (deckhand, deceased), $30,000

Brandon (crew member, deceased), $25,813

Mayhew (crew member, deceased), $25,813

*Salaries based on Corpwatch.org and Payscale.com and assuming Charles Widmore compensates them based on their yearly rate (consider it danger pay).

Considering the inaugural episode cost an estimated $14 million, and that's real money, we're hoping Mr. Widmore really spends big on next season's finale.

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