How a car mechanic donated over Rs 29 crore to a hospital

Ronald James Read wasn't the kind of man you'd expect to be a millionaire. Born in 1921, he grew up on a small farm in Vermont, walking and hitchhiking four miles to high school each day. After serving in World War II, Read returned to his hometown and took a job as a gas station attendant and mechanic. Later, he worked as a janitor at a department store until retirement. His hands were always calloused, his clothes modest, his car secondhand. Yet, when he passed away in 2014 at the age of 92, this unassuming man left behind a staggering $8 million fortune (over Rs 49 crore). Of this, he donated $4.8 million (over Rs 29 crore) to a hospital and $1.2 million (over Rs 7 crore) to his local library. The news left the community stunned. How could someone who spent his life pumping gas and sweeping floors quietly amass such riches? The answer lies in his simple approach to money, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to build lasting wealth. The power of patience and compound growth Read's fortune didn

This article was originally published on March 13, 2025.