Keynote Speaker

Chris Gardner is best known for his remarkable rags-to-riches story of overcoming homelessness while raising his young son as a single father to become a multi-millionaire stockbroker and entrepreneur. His autobiography “The Pursuit of Happyness” became a #1 bestseller and was adapted into the 2006 Academy Award-nominated film starring Will Smith. He founded Gardner Rich & Co., a successful brokerage firm, and is now a globally recognized motivational speaker inspiring audiences in over 50 countries.

In 1981, Chris Gardner was accepted into an unpaid stockbroker training program at Dean Witter Reynolds that paid only $1,000 per month. Around the same time, his girlfriend Jackie returned their toddler son Christopher Jr. to him. Unable to afford both childcare and rent on his meager stipend, Gardner and his son became homeless for approximately one year. They slept in homeless shelters, subway bathrooms, parks, and even under Gardner’s office desk while he completed his training program.

Chris Gardner began his financial career as a trainee at Dean Witter Reynolds (1981-1982), where he earned his stockbroker license. He then worked at Bear Stearns & Company (1983-1987), becoming one of their top producers in both San Francisco and New York. In 1987, he founded his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co., with just $10,000 in start-up capital. After selling his stake in 2006, he founded Christopher Gardner International Holdings, where he currently serves as CEO.

Chris Gardner’s net worth is estimated at approximately $70 million as of 2024. He built his wealth through his successful career as a stockbroker and the founding of Gardner Rich & Co., which he sold in 2006 in a multi-million dollar deal. His bestselling books and speaking engagements have also contributed significantly to his wealth. Despite his financial success, Gardner dedicates much of his resources to philanthropy, particularly supporting homeless families, veterans, and fatherhood initiatives.

Chris Gardner has authored three bestselling books: “The Pursuit of Happyness” (2006), his autobiography that became a #1 New York Times bestseller and was translated into over 40 languages; “Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be” (2009), which provides practical guidance for personal transformation; and “Permission to Dream” (2021), a true fable exploring generational legacy and achieving dreams, which was selected as Book of the Month by the Wall Street Journal.

No, Chris Gardner did not attend college. After graduating from high school in Milwaukee, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1972, serving as a hospital corpsman until 1974. Following his Navy service, he worked as a research assistant at the University of California Medical Center, where he considered becoming a physician but realized medical school was financially and time-prohibitive. His success in the stockbroking industry came without a college degree, proving that determination and aptitude could overcome traditional educational requirements.

Chris Gardner currently serves as CEO of Christopher Gardner International Holdings with offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. He has declared himself “CEO of Happyness” and dedicates approximately 200 days per year to traveling the world as a motivational speaker, addressing audiences in over 50 countries. He is also an Ambassador of Pursuit and Happyness for AARP, runs the Christopher P. Gardner Foundation focused on youth empowerment, and continues his philanthropic work supporting homeless families, veterans, fatherhood initiatives, and violence prevention.

The movie “The Pursuit of Happyness” is largely accurate to Chris Gardner’s real-life story, though some details were dramatized for cinematic purposes. The core elements are true: Gardner’s year of homelessness with his young son, sleeping in subway bathrooms and shelters, his unpaid internship at Dean Witter Reynolds, and his eventual success as a stockbroker. Gardner served as an associate producer on the film to ensure authenticity. The real Chris Gardner even makes a cameo appearance near the end of the film, walking past Will Smith’s character on the street.

Chris Gardner’s “5 C’s” framework represents the essential components for achieving dreams and goals. The framework requires that plans and aspirations must be: Clear (well-defined and specific), Concise (focused and straightforward), Compelling (emotionally motivating), Committed (dedicated with unwavering resolve), and Consistent (maintained over time with persistent action). Gardner teaches that dreams without these elements remain wishes, but with all five C’s in place, goals become achievable realities.

Christopher Jarrett Medina Gardner Jr., who lived through the homeless period with his father as a toddler, grew up to become a successful businessman and fitness entrepreneur. He is now the CEO and founder of Gardner Rich Enterprises and Gardner Rich Lifestyle. He is married with two children, making Chris Gardner a grandfather. Christopher Jr.’s estimated net worth is around $25 million. Father and son maintain a close relationship, and Christopher Jr. has spoken publicly about his father’s dedication and the impact of their shared experiences.