The World's Most Famous Homeless Father

Based on Gardner’s memoirs, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ is a blockbuster movie highlighting one father’s struggles with homelessness while raising his toddler.

Chris Gardner’s story includes a time when his estranged girlfriend returned their son to Gardner’s care. The rooming house in which Gardner was living would not permit children. Therefore, Gardner left with his son, living on the streets of San Francisco, while he saved up money toward a rental.

Although employed, Chris Gardner and his son secretly struggled with homelessness for the next year.

Unbeknown to his co-workers, Gardner scrambled to place his child in daycare, stood in line at soup kitchens and slept wherever he and his son could find safety. This includes in city parks, on public transport, and in a locked public bathroom at one of the transit stations.

“Wealth can be that attitude of gratitude

with which we remind ourselves everyday

to count our blessings.”

Today, Christopher Jr is 37. When first asked what he most remembers about being homeless, he recalls “I couldn’t tell you that we were homeless...I remember us always moving.”

In ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’, Chris Gardner is played by Will Smith. The movie earned over 300 million dollars worldwide.

Gardner is now a motivational speaker. He has spoken in over 50 countries.