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This Tennessee janitor went from living in his car to driving a $3 million Bugatti — here's how he invested

Moneywise

5 min read

Janitor mopping an office floor, shallow focus, tilt shift image

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For anyone questioning the continued relevance of the American dream, the story of Sammy Poori serves as a powerful testament.

Poori arrived in the U.S. as an Iranian refugee in the late 1990s, supported by a church that helped him secure a janitor job at a Nashville hospital. With little money, he managed to save up $1,000 to buy a 1989 Toyota Camry, which became his home.

“I parked at Wal-Mart, which was the only place at the time that was open 24 hours. I parked where employees parked so I could sleep safely. I went to a gym to take a shower and clean up and go to work,” he told USA Today via The Tennessean.

Poori met his wife Ana, also an Iranian refugee, in May 2000. When she became pregnant, he decided to become his own boss, buying a "junk tow truck" and partnering with his brother-in-law to start a business.

After working many 14- to 15-hour days moving cars, this entrepreneurial drive led him to launch BBB Auto Sales in 2005.

Poori has also amassed an impressive multimillion-dollar roster of exotic sports cars. For example, the 2022 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport in his collection starts at well over $3 million, according to Car and Driver.

Earnings from the car dealership enabled Poori to venture into real estate investments. He says he now allocates 60% of his time toward real estate and 40% to managing the dealership.

You may not have the capital to be a real estate tycoon or a luxury car dealer, but you can tap into this market by investing in shares of vacation homes or rental properties through Arrived.

Backed by world-class investors including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.

To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.