The Homeless Man Who Built a Million-Dollar Empire

Chris Gardner’s early life was riddled with hardship. Abandoned by his father, abused by his stepfather, and thrown into foster care when his mother went to prison, Chris was a child who learned to fight for survival. At 16, he was kicked out of his home. At 18, he joined the Navy, hoping for a better future. He later worked in medical research and dreamed of becoming a doctor—but reality hit hard. He had a child to support and bills to pay.

Switching to sales, Chris saw a man step out of a red Ferrari and asked what he did for a living. “I’m a stockbroker,” the man replied. That moment changed everything. Determined, Chris pursued a career in finance. With no degree or experience, he begged for interviews, made over 200 cold calls a day, and slept in train station bathrooms with his toddler son.

He passed the Series 7 exam on his first try and in 1987, founded his own firm—Gardner Rich & Co.—with just $10,000 and a phone. Years later, he sold a part of his business in a multimillion-dollar deal.

Chris’s journey from homelessness to financial independence became the inspiration for the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness, starring Will Smith. It’s not just a story of rags to riches—it’s about relentless grit, a father’s love, and refusing to let circumstance dictate destiny.