Meet Mr. Earl Crawley: Truly An Incredible Story of Earl Crawley

Earl Crawley’s real-life tale of how this parking lot attendant, earning no more than $20,000 a year, has amassed a retirement nest egg of over $500,000. Throughout his life he has never had a job that paid him a huge sum. Despite being poor, uneducated, and dyslexic, Mr. Earl overcame all these odds teaching himself to become a very savvy investor.

Today, Mr. Earl is living a comfortable life. He owns his own home, has no credit cards or debt. He was able to put his 3 children through school. Now he is “paying it forward” by teaching fellow churchgoers how he did it and how to invest their own money.

How did Mr. Earl do it? The parking lot he works at sits in the middle of Baltimore’s financial district, where over the past 44 years, he began talking to his well-heeled customers – bankers, lawyers, financial planners, and investment bankers. Mr. Earl asked questions and listening carefully to what they had to say.

In the ‘70s, when he made $80 a week and had to support a wife and 3 children, Mr. Earl bought some government and savings bonds. As he learned more about investing and the power of compound interest, he did his own financial research eventually buying stocks in some “blue chip” companies like, IBM and Coca-Cola. He says the secret to his wealth is to, “Stop working so hard and then let the money work for you.”

In a MoneyTrack episode, Pam and Jack discover from financial experts Ben Stein and the University of Connecticut’s Economic Professor Pat Terrion that Mr. Earl has 3 characteristics in common with some of the world’s richest investors, including Warren Buffett – a disciplined approach, patience, and the ability to listen.

His son recalls that whenever his dad gave him money he would always asked for the change to be brought home. Mr. Earl used this change to slowly build his wealth over the years. He never wasted a penny of his money, it either paid the bills or went toward saving and investing.

“Mr. Earl is living proof that you don’t have to be born rich to wind up that way,” said Pam Krueger, co-anchor and creator of MoneyTrack. “Mr. Earl challenges us to rise to the occasion. He’s saying to us, ‘If I can do this, then anyone can.’ Then, he takes it to the next level and reminds us how meaningful it is to give back.”

Ben Stein had this to say, “Earl Crawley should be honored. He should have his own postage stamp!”

So, what are you waiting for? Follow his example, and if you need help read the articles on this site to learn more.

If this website helped you find your financial future we ask you to please give as a way to say Thank You. Not only does it support this site, is is a way to give it forward so others may find their way toward financial security. Please consider giving today. Thank You.

top of page