Chris Gardner: Story of a Homeless Man Who Becomes Multimillionaire

Inspirational Story of Chris Gardner

Chris Gardner, an American stockbroker, businessman, motivational speaker, author, and philanthropist, is a testament to the strength of the human spirit. His life story, a journey from homelessness and financial struggle to founding a successful company, is a powerful example of resilience. Despite the odds, Gardner’s determination and perseverance allowed him to overcome every obstacle he faced.

Childhood

On February 9, 1954, Chris Gardner was born to Thomas Turner and Bettye Gardner in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was the second and only boy born to Bettye Gardner. He did not have a very pleasant childhood, as his stepfather was physically abusive to his mother and sisters. Despite the challenges, Chris’s mother played a significant role in his life. Even during her unhappy marriage and long absences, she remained a positive source of inspiration and strength for her son.

According to Gardner, his mother’s encouragement and belief in him were instrumental in shaping his self-reliance and determination. From his childhood experiences, Chris Gardner learned important lessons that shaped his future. He was determined to avoid illiteracy, alcoholism, domestic and child abuse, and powerlessness. These early experiences instilled in him a strong sense of resilience and determination, which he carried with him throughout his life.

Teenage and Early Years

As a teenager, Chris did odd jobs like washing dishes at a restaurant and attending to elderly patients at a nursing home. Inspired by his maternal uncle Henry’s work in the US Navy, he completed high school at age 18 and joined the US Navy to see the world. Chris was posted at the US Navy Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, Illinois, where he received training in first-aid basics.

After his stint in the Navy, he worked at a research lab in San Francisco with a well-known cardiac surgeon, Dr. Robert Ellis, and considered getting qualified as a doctor. During this period, to earn some extra bucks, he took up painting jobs and worked part-time as a security guard on the weekends.

Marriage and Troubles

Chris Gardner married Sherry Dyson in 1977, but after three years of marriage, he left her to live with his pregnant girlfriend Jackie and prepare for fatherhood. However, he was far from achieving his dream of making big money when his son Christopher Gardner Jr. was born on January 28, 1981. Gardner’s position as a research lab assistant paid only about $8,000 a year, which was not enough to support his family. So, after four years, he decides to quit his current job and take a job as a medical equipment salesman on a double salary.

Life-Changing Meeting

A life-changing moment in his life occurred when he encountered a very well-dressed man in a red Ferrari after a sales call. Curious, Gardner asked the man only two simple questions: What do you do? And how do you do that? Bob Bridges told him he was a stockbroker and earned $80,000 monthly. From that moment on, Chris Gardner’s career is decided. Suddenly, it dawned on him that this job he was looking for could make him a millionaire. Chris is determined to pursue his goal this time, so he meets Bob again and asks for help.

Bob Bridges introduced him to the world of finance and organized meetings between Gardner and the managers of the big stock brokerage firms that offered training programs. Gardner canceled or postponed all his sales appointments for the next two months. It appeared that Gardner got his “big break” when he was accepted for a training program at E.F. Hutton.

Struggle in Life

Gardner’s relationship with his girlfriend Jackie fell apart as she took Chris Jr. away to live with her on the East Coast. During this time, police detained him for non-payment of parking fines. He was in jail for ten days as punishment for not paying $1,200 for parking tickets.

Chris’s journey was not without its challenges. He quit his sales job to focus on his training as a stockbroker, only to find out on his first day that the manager who had hired him had been fired the week before. Despite his lack of experience, college education, and connections in the financial world, Gardner managed to secure a position in Dean Witter Reynolds’ stock brokerage training program.  With no salary from his trainee job and minimal income from selling medical equipment, he struggled to make ends meet.

Fatherhood and Homelessness

During this period, he encountered some of the most significant difficulties in his life. Four months after Jackie disappeared with their son, she returned and left their son with him. By then, he was earning a small salary, but he willingly accepted sole custody of his son. As a single parent, he had to look after his toddler son, but the rooming house where he lived till now did not allow children. None of Gardner’s co-workers knew that he and his son had been homeless for nearly a year.

Chris recounts in his book that once he was homeless, on many occasions, he slept with his son in parks, on public transport, and even in a locked public bathroom in a railway station.  Most of the time, they ate in soup kitchens, and what little money he earned, he spent on his son’s day nursery to go to work.

A career as a Stockbroker and Entrepreneur

Gardner worked very hard to become a top trainee at Dean Witter Reynolds. Every day, he arrived at the office early and stayed late to make calls to prospective clients, with his daily goal being 200 calls per day. In 1982, Gardner passed his series seven exams and became a full-time employee of Bear Stearns & Company, and all his perseverance and hard work paid off. Finally able to rent a home for himself and his son, his career as a stockbroker rapidly ascended into the stratosphere.

In 1987, Gardner established his brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co., in Chicago, Illinois. He started his new company in his small apartment with a start-up capital of $10,000. In mid-2006, Gardner sold the small stake of his company, Gardner Rich, in a multi million-dollar deal. Later he became the CEO of Christopher Gardner International Holdings, which has offices in New York, San Francisco, and Chicago.

The Pursuit of Happyness Movie

Chris Gardner realized that his story had Hollywood potential after an overwhelming response to an interview he did in January 2002. In 2006, Chris Gardner published his autobiography and became an associate producer of the movie based on it. The movie, starring Will Smith and Smith’s son Jaden Smith, focused on Gardner’s nearly one-year struggle with homelessness.

According to Gardner, the unusual spelling of the film’s title comes from a sign he saw outside the daycare facility Gardner’s son attended when he was homeless. In the movie’s final scene, Gardner makes a special appearance when Will and Chris acknowledge each other and walk away while walking past.

Read: Robert Kiyosaki: The Journey of a Best-Selling Author

Frequently Asked Questions about Chris Gardner

Who is Chris Gardner?

Chris Gardner is not just an American businessman and investor. He is also a beacon of inspiration, a motivational speaker, and an author. His journey from homelessness to becoming a multimillionaire, as depicted in The Pursuit of Happyness (2006), serves as a powerful testament to the human spirit and the potential for success in all of us.

What is Chris Gardner’s story?

In the early 1980s, Gardner’s life took a drastic turn when he faced homelessness while raising his toddler son alone. However, he didn’t let this define him. He took on an unpaid stockbroker internship at Dean Witter Reynolds, which eventually led to a full-time job. This was just the beginning of his transformation. He later founded his own successful brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co, a true testament to the power of change and hope.

Was Chris Gardner really homeless with his son?

Indeed, Gardner and his son experienced the harsh reality of homelessness, living in shelters, motels, and even a subway station restroom for about a year. However, this was just a chapter in their story, as Gardner’s relentless efforts led to a stable financial future.

How did Chris Gardner become successful?

Through sheer determination and hard work, Gardner excelled in his stockbroker internship, earned a permanent position, and eventually started his own investment firm, growing it into a multi million-dollar enterprise.

What is The Pursuit of Happyness about?

Based on Gardner’s autobiography, the film follows his struggles as a homeless single father who overcomes adversity to achieve financial success. Will Smith plays Chris Gardner in the movie.

What challenges did Chris Gardner face?

Gardner’s journey was not without its share of challenges. He faced homelessness, financial struggles, a broken marriage, and the daunting task of raising his son alone. Yet, he remained resolute, his focus unwavering, and his work ethic unmatched, leading to a successful career.