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The 'Reallionaire'

abcnews.go.com — Farrah Gray began contributing to his family's financial support at the age of 6, and he made his first million by the time he was 14. His success made a lot of people change their thinking about where life in the projects of Chicago's South Side could lead. Secret to Your Success? Ask Yourself Three Questions...

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  • Petrarch1603, on 10/12/2007, -1/+16I would love to learn more about this guy. There is a wikipedia page about him at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrah_Gray
    • Crass22, on 10/12/2007, -7/+15P.I.M.P.
    • UncommonSense, on 10/12/2007, -1/+80I tried the same thing he did and it didn't work. No one wants to buy rocks from a 25 yr old.
    • phatvolvo, on 10/12/2007, -9/+32so a young black kid from the south side made a lot of money selling rock on the streets?

      hmm... sounds like fairly well-worn territory
    • n1vek, on 10/12/2007, -12/+7Dude, you are sellin the wrong kinda rock.
    • treelovinhippie, on 10/12/2007, -10/+5Why haven't I heard of this guy?!
    • hackwrench, on 10/12/2007, -12/+9No, he'd steal rocks from people, paint them and sell them back to them. And the people were stupid enough to fall for it...Hmm, I wonder how much of society is based around taking advantage of this sort of thing?
    • scoot87, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11Awesome story. We need more people like him who see a challenge that faces them in life and instead of complaining about it, would rather instead be determined to succeed in life no matter how many trials he/she would go through.
    • jmonw, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4@phatvolvo: That was hilarious.

      That's all.
    • raindogmx, on 10/12/2007, -8/+10"No, he'd steal rocks from people, paint them and sell them back to them. And the people were stupid enough to fall for it...Hmm, I wonder how much of society is based around taking advantage of this sort of thing?"

      Actually every business in the world is based on it or around it: it's called transformation. The car you rode was a rock once somewhere else: transformation.
    • hackwrench, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3He didn't pay them for the rock before he changed it, which is different than the rules everyone claims to play by.

      Though I'm seeing a similarity I can't quite place to the content industry. Though essentially that is what he is selling, content. Perhaps it is the public domain the content industry is taking without paying changing and then selling?
    • MOJIRA, on 05/17/2008, -0/+6I like his five person policy and the three questions he tells you to ask yourself at the end of the article.

      Also, it sounds like at the very beginning (when he was selling rocks - and I'd like to note, these are actual rocks, not crack cocaine because that's what I thought when I read a couple of comments before the article) he was just harassing people until they gave him money. Seems effective.

      Then he moves out somewhere after harassing more people to get money for some organization for kids that I couldn't even pronounce when I was 8 and gets some media attention.

      If every kid did what he did, it wouldn't work. What every kid needs to do is be as innovative and creative as he was.
    • hipstershaun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2To everyone crying about him steeling rocks:

      He was 6 years old and trying to crate a legitimate business the best his 6 year old mind could come up with. He didn't scam anyone. They saw a 6 year old willing to work for something in a place where many 6 year olds have already given up. They saw this and rewarded him for it.
    • raindogmx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"buy low, sell high" he bought at the lowest and sold at the highest.

      plus yeah, he was only 6 y/o so what's the deal and the rock "owners" didn't care much about their precious possesions anyway.
  • Portside, on 10/12/2007, -2/+49Well my self esteem has just fallen through the floor.
    • benplanet, on 10/12/2007, -12/+4hahaha mine too .. LOL
      i got 4 more years to go.. what have i acheieved? nothing. lol
    • reddevil3, on 10/12/2007, -4/+12I thought reading the article must have given people more hope.
  • friend18, on 10/12/2007, -16/+6I saw this guy on Judge Hatchet. He and some degenerate sold some ugly t shirts.
  • haxx4, on 10/12/2007, -4/+26How much is "a reallion"?
    • Superthug, on 10/12/2007, -0/+33You have to be rich to understand that number.
    • radial, on 10/12/2007, -2/+32just over a brazillion
    • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -10/+2Its ebonic. Don't try.
    • jer2eydevil88, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I had a good solid laugh going through this comment on down till I read that comment by JamesWilson. Why can't people stop posting racist crap on public websites?
    • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2its a joke! i think the guy is great, everyone should laugh at everyone else. make jokes at all stereotypes and everyone have a good time, its just a joke. lighten up.

      You can't say 'Reallionaire' doesn't sound black. It does! come on!
  • heavensblade23, on 10/12/2007, -3/+12I find his story inspiring but realistically most inner city kids are not going to be able to make a million bucks by 14.
    • friend18, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10Yeah, and not everyone is outgoing enough especially at 14 to go door to door in the city selling stuff.
    • olddirtycr, on 10/12/2007, -8/+12If they read his book they will, I guarenteeeeeeee it!
    • Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -11/+14It's like when a successful basketball player tells inner city kids the secret to success is to work hard and never give up...it worked for him, but it won't work for you. Dealing drugs is the only real way to a pimpin' Caddy, a posse, and a back seat full of bitches.
    • heavensblade23, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4Some of them go to door selling stuff, but not painted rocks and cooking syrup. ;)
    • D3koy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9'If you're here on Earth and you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.'
    • autodata, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This kid had a whole lot of help from older family members, as is virtually always the case with these young "success stories."
    • babakshirazi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0
      Everyone who is rich had a whole lot of help from other people. You don't get rich alone.
  • headzoo, on 10/12/2007, -5/+13This kind of story really makes me believe that much of our behavior is genetic. This guy just seems like he was born to be an executive.
    • jerr0328, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9And how attitude can make a difference.
      I'm sure a bunch of the people you see that end up in jail or whatever could have gone to do great things, but never took the chance they were given, even if they might've not seen it.
  • digitaldater, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7Very inspiring article about a natural born leader. He is honest with his 3 questions. Gotta love that! I do believe people could acheive more but they are so distracted and set in their ways. He saw the world as it is at a very young age so he never developed a lot of nasty habits. Good for him.
    • aviano2004, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7I liked his 3 questions as well. I actually stopped and thought about each one of them and came up with some surprising answers. Cool guy.
    • peritonlogon, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2mmmm distracted, time to read some more articles.
  • anglachel, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25What they don't mention about door to door rock sales is that if they don't buy the rock and bring it in the house themself, then it entered through a closed window at a much higher velocity.
  • miyamotofreak, on 10/12/2007, -4/+4this kid is a genius!
  • girlsdiggittoo, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8i think he's awesome and i think that he embodies today's spirit. the american dream is still out there. we just have to know how to change with the times and adjust when necessary. digg is a prime example of that: kevin rose caught the right vibe and ran with it and now we're all in his army.
    • Dayz, on 10/12/2007, -7/+7lol the american dream cracks me up. Only people living the american dreams are the immigrants. I never saw a rich american
    • natey1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7"I never saw a rich american" ... are you blind, or have you just never been here.
    • PaulOwen, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I fairly convinced that there's only really one thing that inspires people to do great things, and that's hardship.

      Once you reach your comfort zone, you've no incentive to work harder and achieve more. That's why you don't see so many rich americans but see rich immigrants - because they've often had a much harder life.

      The secret therefore might be to have a high comfort zone - never be happy with your condo when you could have a penthouse!
    • girlsdiggittoo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1you know, i don't think our latest batch of success stories came from another country or adversity. kevin rose, mark zuckerberg, bill gates, shawn fanning are all americans and i'm pretty sure they all went to college at least for a while. and maybe they aren't all rich, but they're all making a hell of a noise and are successful in my book. i think that having the ability to jump on what the world needs now and run with it is genius--and that kind of genius doesn't necessarily need to be born out of tragedy.
  • cambrown99, on 10/12/2007, -2/+14The three questions at the end of the article are great!
  • mojo, on 10/12/2007, -3/+7Great article! He deserves every cent he made.....and I will gladly accept some of it to ease the burden of finding a place to keep it all.
  • trunkster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Eh well you can say he is really lucky but I rather have the health of my family then all that money. But that's not the point of the article. The key probably is learning how to deal with rejection. He has a great attitude with that.
  • mojo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2oh yeah, here's his website:
    http://www.farrahgrayfoundation.org/
  • D3koy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6"Yes, but it's diffrent now." Only a 6 yr. old kid with a clip on tie could pull that off.
  • ziki, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4He should have been on The Apprentice
  • yukevster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Inspirational stuff; What the hell are we all wasting so much time on Digg for? Most of us live in that 'comfort zone' I guess.
  • yukevster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+20The sister with leukemia he tried to save died five days ago!

    http://www.greekgrayleukemiafoundation.org/
    • cambrown99, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8digging this up in sympathy. Sounded like her brother did everything he could to save her, and will succeed in saving others.
  • ReikiMaster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9There was a small sentence buried in there that is probably one of the truest things I have ever heard. "Comfort is the enemy of achievement."

    I believe this whole heartily. I used to be very motivated and took a lot on myself. But, now, I am fairly comfortable and my motivation isn't anything close to what it used to be. I bet if I wasn't so comfortable I would be much more motivated then I am now.
    • mattlong, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Don't most of us aim for achievement so that we may be comfortable thereafter?

      That's why people retire many years before they become not physically able to continue working.
    • yukevster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Yes, but it has to be said that once we become 'comfortable' (as in not doing things that challange or scare us), we tend to get less from life than we could.
    • beotch, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3When I'm uncomfortable I'm too busy scratching for a dollar to pay the bills to achieve anything. Only when I have nothing to do can I accomplish anything of real value.
  • Dayz, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2who cares how much money he has or how much he made. The first paragraph says he sahaves his head. Can someone say too much stress and grey hair already at age 21. Isn't life about doing the things you like not making money.
    • SkeletaLlama, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Maybe that's why the three questions he asks at the end of the article are:
      1. "what comes easy to me but harder to others?"
      2. "what would you do for work for years and years and never have to get paid for it?"
      3. "how can you be of service and how can you give back?"

      Sounds to me like the guy knows what he likes and it's business. He founded a business club at 8. He's travelled the country seeking out business mentors and reads books on business. He does what he likes and he makes money doing it.
    • Dayz, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4ok so why does everyone need to know that? I bet noone whould car eif he was white.
    • yukevster, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3You are projecting your own opinion/outlook on to others. I wouldn't think differently if he were black, white or black and white and red all over. His story is more inspirational considering Blacks in America have it harder though.
  • TheKillDoctor, on 10/12/2007, -5/+3I say it's impossible to make a million dollars by the age of 14 without taking advantage of someone along the way. Call me cynical.
    • beotch, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1You can't even sign a legal document, so WTF. Maybe he was a front for his drug dealing parents or something.

      That makes me feel better. Something wrong with HIM, and not ME : )
    • TheKillDoctor, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Obviously you've never encountered a con-man at your front door who could sell you ice water and you'd buy it. This guy cut his teeth on door to door selling tactics which is the lowest of low when it comes to Spamming people. Ever notice how spamming rhymes with scamming.
  • ephemeral, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4The way he did this was by sheer ambition. Most people don't want to work all their hours per day in an attempt to make money. In Farrah's case, his work paid off. In lots of other cases, their work destroys their lives and makes them greedy sick individuals.

    Look to celebrities for an example of how much happiness wealth and success can buy you.
  • stinknugget, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4In short, it takes confidence and determiniation, I personally want out of this IT *****. Its just a waste of life. I say outsource it so we can do something better and more worth while and furfilling.

    His 2nd question is the most important. What would you do if you wouldnt get paid for it. In other words, what do you enjoy and what do you find worthwhile and fulfilling.
  • decipherd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2An Inspiration
  • stinknugget, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2"If you're here on Earth and you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much room.'"

    The guy is an arrogant prick, perfect for being an executive.

    Everybody should be like him if not, we should curl up and die?
  • Youngster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I read that book, but never got the chance to finish it. Great book so far!
  • Marking, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"comfort is the enemy of achievement."
  • michaelbuddy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0I started that book, Realionaire. It was ok. I'd say, don't waste your time and get "Think and Grow Rich" and "how to win friends..." Farrah seems to take advantage of some business opportunities that I just find silly, so I wouldn't necessarily want to emulate that.
    Such as getting paid by having a branded credit card that people could sign up for. I don't even want to make a profit off something that later in life I wouldn't want to admit to. I think that a lot of success came from people's impression of him and willingness to help. Meaning he had a lot of push behind him, not just his own. We can say all we want about his having life struggles, but actually he had a stronger single parent then most peoples parents put together. So the real success story is his mom in my opinion, she introduced him to a few key people who laid a path out for him.

    On another note, I don't believe always that success can't happen out of your comfort level. I think a lot of success comes from contribution. You can contribute when you are comfortable, because you see the gap between your lifestyle and others. That makes you uncomfortable. Well it does for some. Many never seem to notice others, but then again my country the United States makes it difficult to. The successful part about Farrah gray is his contribution, whatever that may be. Just because he has a few million dollars isn't a true mark of success. That is to say, people don't look upon your grave and say you were a great man because you made millions. You find the really successful stories involve what someone gave away in your life. Andrew Carnegie is a good example. So if Farrah reads this, I'm sorry for his loss and happy for his opportunities to be bigger than himself and make an impression on society in a solid good way.

    On the other side, the successful people I don't like, appreciate or won't want to remember are certain musicians such as eminem who are millionaires, gave the public something new that they wanted, but really their contribution for those millions in the form of a lot of perverse lyrical ideas isn't a good thing for society, so why would I think they are successful?
  • ccheath, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2Sell your soul for a box fulla jelly rolls. If you want to pass through to eye of the needle, then you must stay small. If you grow to the size of a camel then you know you've sold out.
  • narutofroggy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Usually I read things on digg first then I see it on the news a couple days later. I saw this on the news a couple weeks ago, and then digg. Uh oh. Digg is slipping!
  • musaad, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Undoubtedly much of his success was to do with thge media attntion brought on him for being so young and trying to become an enterpeneur - by no means is he a genius, but he is an example of hard work paying off - good story.
  • real2, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Why am I predestined to read and hear about other people's successes? =(

    WThell am I doing wrong, other than surfin digg and working a minimum wage job and being poorly motivated and lazy and isolated? C'mon!
  • jhinds, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Two of the points I liked reading in particular were...
    1. how he used even the most basic of resources available to him getting started. Seems like there's always a reason not to get started, but what makes the difference often is getting started in spite of whatever limitations we might think we have.

    2. his five-person policy -- where if someone were to say no, he'd ask them to introduce him to five people who might say yes.
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