The Millionaire Janitor

Have you heard about Ronald Read? He worked as a janitor, cleaning floors at JCPenney. He also pumped gas at a local gas station. Nothing fancy about his jobs. But when he died in 2014, everyone was shocked. This simple man had saved up $8 million! Even better, he gave $6 million to help his local library and hospital.

Who Was Ronald Read? 🤔

Ronald lived in a small town called Brattleboro in Vermont. You’d never guess he was rich. He:

• Wore old flannel shirts and caps
• Drove an old Toyota car
• Collected his own firewood to save money
• Lived a very simple life

The Surprising Part 😲

Here’s what makes Ronald’s story amazing: While he was quietly getting rich, many bank workers on Wall Street (who earned millions per year) were going broke! These people went to fancy schools and wore expensive suits. But Ronald, with his simple janitor job, got richer than many of them.

How Did He Do It? 🎓

Ronald’s way of saving money was very simple:

1. He Spent Less Than He Earned 💡
   • Bought used clothes
   • Drove old cars
   • Lived in a small house
   • Never showed off with fancy things
2. He Invested Wisely 📈
   • Bought shares of good, stable companies
   • Kept these shares for many, many years
   • Never sold when the market went down
   • Let his money grow slowly over time
3. He Kept Learning 📚
   • Read the newspaper every day
   • Learned about the companies he invested in
   • Made smart choices with his money
   • Stayed calm when others panicked

Money Lessons We Can Learn 📝

Ronald teaches us some very important things:

• You don’t need a high-paying job to become rich
• Saving regularly is more important than earning lots of money
• Living simply helps you save more
• Time and patience are your best friends when saving money
• You don’t need to be a money expert to invest well

Why His Story Matters 🌟

Ronald Read shows us that:

• Regular people can become rich
• You don’t need to be born with money
• Simple jobs can lead to big savings
• Patience beats getting rich quick
• Anyone can learn about money and investing

The Big Message 🎯

Ronald’s life teaches us one big thing: It’s not about how much money you make. It’s about how much you save and invest. He proved that a janitor who saves and invests wisely can end up richer than people who make millions but spend it all.

Remember Ronald’s secret:

• Live simply
• Save regularly
• Invest wisely
• Be patient
• Stay humble

By following these simple steps, anyone - no matter their job - can build wealth over time. Ronald Read wasn’t special because he was smart or lucky. He was special because he was patient and wise with his money. And that’s something all of us can do too.