Who is your money hero?
One of my Dragon costars, Wes Hall, who I got to know just a little bit this yr while filming. I’m so amazed by how he spends his money. He’s very different from me within the sense that he has fancy cars and a giant mansion and so forth. I drive my Ford pickup truck and have a modest home. But I’m amazed by how he puts charity first. He takes care of other people before he takes care of himself. He grew up in Jamaica. He did not have much, but he says, ‘This is about helping others.’ He’s done it, and I believe that is what money is all about.
How do you wish to spend your free time?
I like to travel. I like to eat. For example, this summer I went to France with my family. It was just a mix of family, friends, great food, some wine and practicing my French. It combines the whole lot I like.
My wife and three kids – we had Paris as a base and went to Cap Ferret, which is south of Bordeaux – a gorgeous little peninsula, a beach town. We frolicked in Lille for a bit to observe the Olympic basketball game. We hung out in Bordeaux and visited some wineries. Paris is such a well-traveled place, so we had dinner with various friends and their families who were on the town. I just love this country.
What is your first memory of cash?
My father is a liver transplant surgeon, not an entrepreneur or businessman. But he taught me early on find out how to manage money correctly. What do I do with the checks I get from aunts, uncles and grandparents at the vacations? He made me write thanks notes, which no kid likes to do. I had to inform them what I used to be using the cash they gave me for.
My dad really impressed upon me the importance of saving money for my education. And I did, nevertheless it was really ironic because here I’m, a highschool dropout, a university dropout. But I actually appreciated learning from my dad about money and just spending it correctly and purposefully.
But one in all my earliest memories is of scraping together all my savings on the age of eight and buying a brand recent bicycle. A number of days later, I attached a big basket to it so I could deliver newspapers more efficiently. I used that precious bicycle for my work. I learned from my father that cash is about investments – smart investments.
There’s also a frugal side of me that thinks, “Do I really need this?” I would not get any joy out of fancy cars. Would I rent a Ferrari for a day on the Italian coast? Sure. Would I ever buy one? No. And it got me eager about the worth of cash and what you possibly can do with it.
If money were no object, what would you be doing now?
Nothing else. I even have the dream job. I’m so excited to be a “Dragon” and help encourage others, impart wisdom and shared insights to pitchers. I like constructing and growing my firms. Not to earn more money, but to create opportunities and possibilities for other people and to have the liberty to travel and spend time with family and friends, which I like doing.
