Strangers Made Him a Millionaire

In 2010, Brandon Stanton was laid off from his finance job in Chicago. With no backup plan, no fancy resume, and no photography training, he packed his bags, moved to New York City, and picked up a camera just to do something that felt meaningful.

What happened next was unexpected and extraordinary.

One Man. One Camera. Eight Million Stories

Brandon began walking the streets of NYC, photographing strangers and asking them about their lives. He paired their portraits with raw, real snippets of conversationsometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, always human.

He called the project Humans of New York

What started as a personal blog soon exploded on social media, attracting millions of followers across Instagram and Facebook. People around the world were moved by the honesty of these everyday stories.

From Blog to Brand to Bestseller

Humans of New York became more than just a photo series. It became a platform for empathy, storytelling, and connection.

Stanton published multiple bestselling books, including Humans of New York and Humans, and used the platform to raise millions of dollars for individuals and causes, from cancer treatments to education for underprivileged children.

Today, he’s a millionaire, not from selling products but from telling stories that matter.

A Reminder That Purpose Can Begin After a Fall

Brandon’s journey proves that even after losing everything, you can start over with nothing but curiosity and kindness and still change the world.

All it took was a camera, a sidewalk, and the courage to ask:-

“Can I take your picture?”