I Only Play the Lottery When
It's Over 100 Million Dollars...
Today I was showing properties to a client. I needed to stop for gas so I pulled into the closest gas station.
I offered to get my client a soda and he declined. Instead he handed me $1 and asked me to buy him 1 lottery ticket.
When I approached the cashier and paid for my gas and I asked for a lottery ticket for my client, another store customer standing behind me says:
"The jackpot is only $2.5 Million Dollars, that's not enough to be playing for. I only play lotto when its over $100 Million Dollars...pffft. You can't do anything with $2.5 Million, that's not even enough to live these days"
I smiled and wished the other customer luck and went about my way. $2.5 Million is enough to change my life. I filled up my car and handed the lottery tickets to my client. He folded up the ticket without even glancing at the amount and put it in his shirt pocket.
I was curious and asked him "Mr. Client what would you do with the money if you won the lottery?"
"Nothing. I wouldn't spend it. I don't need it. My family doesn't need it. I would donate it all to charity after I take a week of vacation, I just want to say I won the lottery one day".
His Life Story
You see my client is already a self made multi-millionaire. He has no high school education. When he was 12 he quit school to work as a dishwasher in a restaurant until he was 16 to help the family. Then he went to work in the grocery business and eventually owned a store. Later he went into the restaurant business and owned that as well.
Over that time my client was also purchasing investment properties. He started with $30k investment homes then slowly graduating to several multi-million dollar commercial properties. We both know he does not need the lottery jackpot. He is looking to spend at least that much on the next property I find for him.
My client grew up poor with his family on government food assistance. He worked hard all his life, and does not know any better. It frustrates him not to work, or allow someone else to do it for him. To this day he is 75+ and still works hands on to maintain all his properties. He climbs on roofs, he cleans parking lots, he cuts the grass, and he does as much as he can himself. His tenants and employees are often shocked and try to help or stop him.
My client does not dress up, or drive a German luxury sedan. He wears jeans and a plaid shirt every day and he drives a 20 year old clunky van. Nobody knows his net worth, and it's not important to him anymore. He has accomplished more than he wants and earns more than he needs. $2.5 million will not change his life. He wants to change the life of others he can help with it. My client is the secret millionaire.
His Lesson to Us
"Mike always stay humble. Always do the right thing. Money is not everything. Live a good life. You will be rewarded by Him. Always remember where you come from. Always thank your parents for where you are today. Always take care of others before yourself. If you ever win the lottery do great things for others first, then just keep enough to be comfortable and take care of yourself and your family. Never stop working, even when you have it all."
Maybe next time I get gas... I might spend $1 for a lottery ticket. I would love to take my client on a vacation and figure out what to do with the rest.
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