My 5 Millionaire Mentors

Are you looking for a millionaire mentor? Motivational coach Jim Rohn famously declared that you are the average of the five people with whom you spend the most time. In this article, I share the lessons I’ve learned from five people in my life with millionaire status. 

Only one of these five people have had generational wealth handed down to them, however they all possess the hallmark qualities of self-made millionaires. They are all disciplined, committed, and smart with money. They are people of integrity and live out the principles that lead to wealth. 

Check out my video on my millionaire mentors here.

What is a mentor? 

A mentor is someone who believes in you more than you believe in yourself. Moreover, a mentor shows you the way to success by their actions. Most of the time, an effective mentor won’t need to say a word in order to make a point. A mentor speaks with their life. 

Why do you need a mentor? 

If success is your goal, then you need a road map to get there. An ideal mentor has achieved success in one or more of the areas you’re looking to develop. Also, a mentor will help you grow faster and farther than you will on your own. A mentor can give you the push you need to take steps to grow.  

How does mentorship work? 

A relationship with a mentor should be natural. Ideally, you already move in the same circles, so this mentor will be someone with whom you naturally cross paths. In working with each other, you may provide your mentor with a sense of satisfaction for having achieved the status that you seek. 

What can you expect from a mentor? 

Most importantly, when you work with a mentor, either officially or unofficially, you have the opportunity to observe them in action. Ideally they will influence your life in a positive way and you will see first hand the behaviors and habits that lead to success.  

My Millionaire Mentors 

Millionaire Mentor #1 – Mr. and Mrs. B

Nate was my best friend from high school. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. B, were my first millionaire mentors. They were both teachers with long careers in the public high school system. They were modest, generous, ridiculously intelligent, and kind. Nate mentioned in passing that his dad was good with money and I started to pay attention to the way his dad handled their finances. Because I was in high school, I was terrified of intruding, but he graciously allowed me to observe.

He would sit at an old wooden roll top desk and write out their financial details in a ledger. To clarify, it didn’t take him a long time, but he did do it consistently. This type of consistent attention to detail allowed him to save up enough money to be able to retire early and live the life of his dreams.

Millionaire Mentor #2 – Leonora

I participated in a dynamic and encouraging church community for several years. One of the people I met there was my millionaire mentor #2. We roomed together at a church getaway and we got to know each other fast. I was first attracted to her outstanding selflessness and tremendous generosity. She was humble and open with her personal struggles. For months, we bonded over relationship woes, but eventually came to share in all corners of life. 

She was only a few years older than me, yet it felt like she was light years ahead of me in her financial habits. It wasn’t until several months of our friendship that I realized that she also had a quite important position as director of finance for a luxury consumer goods company. I knew she was whip smart, personable, and a woman of integrity. It made perfect sense that she would be a high earner. 

She lived very simply and made smart financial decisions. These are the hallmarks of a millionaire.   

Millionaire Mentor #3 – Mr. and Mrs. Barnes

Mr. and Mrs. Barnes were two of the most influential people in my life. They were a loving, dynamic, and creative couple. Mr. B is a high income earner and Mrs. B left a very successful career in corporate development and fundraising to raise their three children. They raised their girls and navigated the ups and downs of life with grace and ease. 

My mother also knew the Barnes family and one day she gathered up the courage to ask Mr. B for financial advice. “Simple”, he said. “Read this book” (money master the game). By chance, I had purchased that book and read it cover to cover two years earlier. As a result, I felt like we were on the same wavelength and I really appreciated that he liked the book as well. 

Millionaire Mentor #4 – Sal

I met Sal, Millionaire Mentor #4, at a real estate investment meetup group. I jived with many of the things he was saying and appreciated his perspective on real estate. We kept in touch and I attended other events that he had planned in the area. Eventually I learned that he had a real estate portfolio of well over 150 doors (units) and a family investment portfolio of substantial holdings in a variety of new and emerging markets.     

He has an easy knack for finding out what you need and how he can help. He can walk into a room full of strangers and leave with a room full of connections. It’s no surprise that he’s probably the person with the highest net worth.

Millionaire Mentor #5 – My Uncle and Aunt

My fifth millionaire mentor is a member of my family. He came from a working class family, yet he and his wife worked together to build their own business and substantial nest egg of their own. Growing up I had the opportunity to observe this couple in action. Their teamwork and work ethic formed the basis of their personal and financial success.  

The Bottom Line:

Learn from people who are living the life you want to live! If someone is good with money, you can study their behavior and adopt their habits. Becoming a millionaire isn’t hard; it simply requires consistency, good decisions, and perseverance.