Born in 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Chris Gardner’s early life was shaped by significant adversity, including poverty, domestic violence, and alcoholism. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the US Navy. Following his discharge, he relocated to San Francisco, where he worked as a medical research associate and later for a scientific supply distributor.
Gardner faced a series of hardships in the early 1980s that left him homeless while raising his young son as a single parent. Refusing to relinquish custody or abandon his ambitions, he began his career in finance from the ground up. He secured positions at Dean Witter Reynolds and Bear Stearns & Co. before founding his own brokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co., in Chicago in 1987. In 2006, he sold his stake in the company in a multimillion-dollar transaction and went on to establish Christopher Gardner International Holdings, where he serves as Founder and CEO.
Driven by a desire to inspire others, Gardner published his autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, which chronicles his journey from homelessness to professional success. The book became a #1 bestseller on both The New York Times and The Washington Post lists and has been translated into more than 40 languages. It later inspired the critically acclaimed film of the same name, released by Columbia Pictures in December 2006, with Gardner serving as an associate producer. Actor Will Smith portrayed Gardner and received Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Academy Award nominations for his performance. In May 2009, a year after the global financial crisis, Gardner released his second bestselling book, Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, offering practical guidance and personal insights on achieving success and fulfillment.
Gardner is also an active philanthropist, supporting causes focused on combating violence against women, addressing homelessness, improving financial literacy, and expanding access to healthcare.
