Given the tough life that he once had, Chris Gardner deserves his wealth. He might not be up there with Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, but the Chris Gardner net worth is enough for him to live comfortable for the rest of his life.
The Pursuit of Happyness frequently ranks as one of the best Will Smith movies of all time. A tale of homelessness and fatherhood, the flick pulls on the heartstrings of even the most emotionless individuals.
However, the sad story isn’t the work of some creative Hollywood screenwriter. It’s a true story, based on the life of Chris Gardner, a businessman, motivational speaker and author.
Chris Gardner net worth: From sleeping rough to a life of luxury
Gardner was determined to give his child a better life, after a childhood of physical abuse, multiple times spent in care and loss of loved ones. However, he would have to hit the bottom before he could make it to the top.
After a chance meeting with a mystery man in a Ferrari, Gardner quit his medical equipment sales job in order to pursue a career as a stockbroker.
However, to make it on Wall Street, Gardner had to take an unpaid internship with Dean Witter Reynolds. Despite quickly working his way up to a permanent position, Gardner wasn’t making enough money to rent a home and singlehandedly care for a toddler.
As a result, they were forced to sleep in homeless shelters and train stations, wash in public toilets and eat at soup kitchens. However, hard work would eventually turn their lives around.
Investment bank Bear Stearns eventually poached him. The company gave him an advance on his wages, which allowed him to pay the deposit on a new home.
Gardner rose up the stockbroker ranks and eventually founded his own firm in 1987. While successful, not all of his wealth has come from Gardner Rich & Co. He has also published two successful books, including the Pursuit of Happyness.
As a result of his success, Gardner is now worth approximately $60 million.
Read more:
Goldman Sachs net worth: Does ‘speculate to accumulate’ really work?
Warren Buffett net worth: Investment genius or incredibly lucky?
Sundar Pichai net worth: Google’s CEO has an amazing rags to riches tale