From Drug Addict to Billionaire: My Story
This is the real, raw, uncut story of how I went from a drug addict to a billionaire.
Those who see me today would never know where I came from.
People see me on stage with people like Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent. They see me doing millions of dollars in real estate deals and flying my family around on our private jet.
What most people may not know is that I was a drug addict for 10 years before I got here.
How I went from drug addict to billionaire is a crazy ride, but here is how it happened.
Nearly dying wasn’t enough…
As I mentioned earlier, I was addicted to drugs for 10 years. My involvement in drugs nearly cost me my life at the age of 23.
No, I didn’t overdose. That probably would have been less painful than what actually happened.
When I was 23, a drug dealer attempted to rob me at gunpoint.
I was able to get the .45 caliber out of my face, but the dealer roughed me up. He roughed me up bad. The result was three days in the hospital and 70 stitches over my head and face.
I still wouldn’t quit drugs for two more years.
My mother saved me from addiction
Finally, when I was 25, my mother gave me the greatest gift she could ever possibly give me.
She cut me off completely.
That was the rock-bottom moment that I knew I had to succeed at kicking my habit.
I spent the subsequent 30 days in a treatment center. For the first time in over a decade, I was sober. These were the actual first steps from going from drug addict to billionaire, but the counselor’s parting words weren’t hopeful of that.
I had expressed in the treatment center how I had always had big dreams. From a young age, I wanted to be rich and famous. The counselor told me I had to give up all that or that I’d end up back on drugs. I had to focus on just being average and not doing drugs every day.
This infuriated me. I was going to prove him wrong, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t anxious about my future.
Terrified of free time
When I got out of rehab, I had a big realization. Every time I had free time, I got into trouble. That’s when I dedicated myself to my sales job that I hated.
I showed up early and stayed late. I would learn everything I could about sales until I was great at it. Ultimately, I became an authority figure on it and began teaching how to sell to others.
I went from a drug addict to a billionaire
The thing I had hated the most launched me towards becoming a billionaire. That taught me a valuable lesson.
Addiction wasn’t the problem. I was addicted to the wrong thing.
EVERY SUCCESSFUL PERSON HAS THE ABILITY TO BE ADDICTED.
— G.C.
If you have the ability to be addicted or obsessed, congratulate yourself. That is not a bad quality.
You have what it takes to be great. What I hope you learn from how I went from drug addict to billionaire is that you can make it.
Become obsessed with your goals and fill your time. That’s what it takes.
Can’t wait to see your success story,
Grant Cardone
