My Net Worth is… (2015 Update)

This is my net worth from 2015. See my updated net worth here. 

Many of you may be wondering what my financial situation is. I get that question often which makes sense since most of us feel that we need enough money to be able to really pursue our passions. I’ve poured my heart into this response.

My net worth is a little under $15,000. This includes all the money I have and every possession that I own. I have $3,200 cash right now and some of my more valuable possessions include my house ($950), bicycle ($2,000), camera ($2,000), computer ($1,000), and clothing ($1,800). I have no debt and not a credit card to my name. Some would say I’m in poverty and strictly in financial terms they’d be right. However, I’m far from living a life of poverty.

I live a life of voluntary simplicity. But up to now I’ve always been a business oriented person and pretty good at it. On my summer vacations during university I worked 80-90 hours per week selling educational books door to door as an independent contractor. I made around $20,000 each summer during university. After college, I continued doing sales as an independent contractor and made as much as $2,000 on some days. I sold advertising at supermarkets. At the age of 24 I took all that I had learned and started my own marketing company. I ran this company for three years and it was a successful endeavor. I’ve always been good with money and if I wanted to have a lot of right now I absolutely could. I could have a big house, a nice car, expensive suits and fancy possessions. But I have moved away from the world of bills and possessions. I believe in sharing and I’ve chosen to live a life of non-ownership. I do think we’re entitled to our possessions but I’m supportive of systems that allow us to share our resources rather than each of us having our own of everything.

If my financial net worth changes at all in the near future it is going to shrink, not grow. I am not aiming to increase my own net worth but instead to increase the net worth of the earth. I don’t see worth in dollar signs like I did in the past though. I see worth in natural beauty. I see worth in the quality of human life, which greatly revolves around health, happiness and freedom in my mind. I see worth in abundance and diversity of animal and plant life. I see worth in clean air. I see worth in pure water. I see worth in wholesome food that is available to everyone. I see worth in infrastructure and systems that provide justice and equality for all.

I don’t need money for any of these things. And although I think money can serve as a tool to create these things, I also don’t think it is necessary. In today’s society I think it usually brings us further away from these things. Abundance and over usage of money is destroying our natural beauty. It is decreasing abundance and diversity of animal and plant life. Money is increasingly ending up in the hands of the wealthiest people on earth while the middle and lower income classes are earning less and less, even though they are working harder than ever before.

Because of these reasons, among others, I have made vows to live a life that is not based on money. I have vowed to earn no more than $15,000 per year and own no more than $15,000 in possessions or assets ((updated to federal poverty threshold). I have dedicated my life to bettering the United States by leading by example and by being a person that has the best interest of our entire population in mind. I’ve also vowed to donate at least 90% (update 100%) of all of my media earnings to grassroots environmental and social non-profits. At this time I have donated over 100% since I made that vow. As my voice grows stronger, so too will my dedication to humanity and the environment. And as I grow mentally and in age, so too will my courage to hold strong to my ethics, morals and beliefs. Great changes in society don’t come by doing what’s always been done.

From a financial standpoint, I have two large projects happening in early 2016 both of which I have already allocated 100% of my proceeds to be donated to non-profits. You will see announcements for these projects later in this year and I promise they will be exciting. I aim to grow my voice through TV and media but I promise not to get financially wealthy off of my fame. I promise that I will remain pure and a leader to those who want to live in a manner that is fair to the earth, humanity, and all the creatures that we share the earth with.

Some would say that I’m being foolish by not having a big savings; that I am unprotected. However, I find security in giving all I have, fostering deeply connected relationships, and being resourceful. In my opinion money is largely an illusion of security, especially if you have no-one that loves you. I’ve come to feel that the more I give of myself to humanity and the environment the more secure I feel. I believe that in hard times my friends would help, just as I would help them. And I believe in abundance not scarcity.

I truly believe that I can be a contributing member of society without working for money. I know many would say that if I’m not paying taxes I’m not contributing, however, I think taxes are just one of the many ways to contribute to society. I honestly believe that my hard work and dedication to my fellow US Americans is worth far more than what I could pay in income taxes if I worked for the dollar instead. If I didn’t truly believe this then I’d be working for money to pay taxes because I can say from the bottom of my heart that I am here to serve the people of the United States and the world. For those who don’t know this, you only have to pay taxes on money that you earn so if you are not earning money then you don’t have to pay federal or state income taxes. Also for those who think that the richest people in the United States pay the most taxes, I strongly encourage you to do some research. Many of the largest US American corporations work loopholes to not pay a single cent in taxes.

My work can actually save taxpayers vast quantities of money. For example, US Americans spend hundreds of billions in taxes per year on disposing of trash. I’m teaching people (tax payers and non-tax payers) how to live a life that creates less trash. My work, along with many of the nonprofits out there that I support could save taxpayers far more money than I could ever pay in taxes.

I encourage all of you reading this to look past the surface of preconceived notions and to seek the deeper truth in life. You CAN change the way you are doing things in order to live in a manner that is truly beneficial to the earth, your community and yourself. I believe that you will find great worth in living in service to humanity and all the creatures we share this earth with. I believe you will find security in a deeper connection to your fellow humans and nature. I encourage you to explore your own means to follow those feelings inside you, the ones that are telling you to do the right thing.