Christopher Paul Gardner is a motivational speaker and philanthropist who was born in Louisiana, America, in 1954.
The difficulties Chris Gardner has encountered in his life go beyond those depicted in the popular film. For example, Chris Gardner's father abandoned him, his mother, and his sisters when he was a young child; he last saw him at his father's funeral when he was 28 years old.
Chris Gardner was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he claims his mother was incarcerated, his stepfather physically and verbally abused him, and their car broke down accidentally while they were traveling to Canada. He was brought to a facility for minors several times, where he was raped, and things grew worse over time.
Despite joining the US Navy Medical Corps, he was unable to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor due to his low-paying job. He also ran into a well-known cardiologist who suggested he join the research group at UCLA Medical Center, but the funding for the project had run out, so his financial issues persisted.
Chris found selling medical supplies to be more profitable despite his prior experience as a lab assistant, which wasn't a bad idea but these machines are a luxury. In the movie, Will Smith uses every dollar he has to purchase and resell pricey, large bone densitometers.
He also divorced his first wife, was imprisoned for his inability to pay traffic violations, and went bankrupt, and his situation worsened with the passage of time, and in 1981, he met a man who drives a red Ferrari car and works as a stockbroker, so Chris (Chris) asked him about his profession that makes him acquire such a car, which drove him to look for a job in this field to be able to move forward with his son, Christopher Jr
Chris Gardner decided to train to be a stockbroker despite the fact that he was homeless during his training and work period, and he slept in any available place without giving up, as the father and son did for two weeks in a public bathroom in the San Francisco Metro. They also slept in airport lounges in Oakland and San Francisco. Chris Gardner was making about 200 stock market calls per day when he was training.
He spent his meager earnings on daycare and basic necessities for his son Christopher Jr. After a year, he passed the stockbroker exam and was hired full-time by Bear Stearns & Company at the end of his training.
Gardner Rich & Co. was founded by Chris Gardner five years later. His first office was a small one where he both worked and lived.
He invested $10,000 when he first started, but in 2006 he sold his tiny stake as part of a deal worth millions of dollars. Christopher Gardner International Holdings, which has locations in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, was soon after established.
When Chris Gardner earned his first million dollars and purchased his black Ferrari from renowned basketball player Michael Jordan, he was only 34 years old.
With a multi-million dollar net worth, Chris, also known as the "CEO of Happiness," engages in notable philanthropy like funding affordable housing for low-income families, and his company has focused on offering career guidance and job training to vulnerable populations like those living on the streets of Chicago.
He travels the world as a motivational speaker and thanks to his extensive network, he has created hundreds of jobs by making investments in developing nations like South Africa. "Just rely on yourself, the Knights will not come to your rescue," is one of his most famous quotes.
He who sows will reap is the most important life lesson Chris Gardner ever taught us. Chris Gardner advanced without going to college and never gave up on his goals.
He acknowledged that his mother was a major inspiration for him in an interview with American talk show host Oprah Winfrey, saying: "I chose to embrace the spirit of my mother who, although her dreams were crushed, instilled in me that I could dream. When I remarked that one of the players was about to receive a million dollars during a basketball game, she responded: "Son, if you really want to get a million dollars, you will get it one day."
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