Playing in Hollywood, Richard didn't forget about the vast opportunities around him. To achieve his dream of standing on top of Hollywood, he needs capital. A lot of capital.
Investing in the stock market seemed like the perfect way to generate more wealth, and having a father like David made it relatively easy to get started.
With a degree of independence to invest, Richard was determined to prove himself not only as a talented author but also as a shrewd financial investor.
Drawing inspiration from Warren Buffett, who began his Wall Street journey at the age of 9, Richard saw no reason why he, a certified genius, couldn't start even earlier - at the tender age of 5 - and earn some money while at it.
-FLASHBACK-
Little Richard sat at the cozy dining table with his parents, David and Hanna. The atmosphere filled with the delicious aroma of Hanna’s cooking as she bustled around the kitchen, preparing breakfast. David was engrossed in his morning routine of reading the newspaper, his glasses perched on the tip of his nose.
“Dad,” Richard began tentatively, catching David’s attention.
“Yes, son?” David responded, folding the newspaper and turning his gaze towards his son.
“You deal with investments, don’t you?” Richard asked, a hint of seriousness lacing his innocent voice.
David smiled, full of pride and surprise at his son’s keen interest. “Yes, I do.”
“So, you work on Wall Street?” The boy's wide eyes sparkled with the weight of his question as if unveiling a buried treasure.
“How do you know about that stuff?” David chuckled, intrigue piquing within him.
Richard leaned back, crossing his arms with a knowing smile, “One day I was reading the newspaper and saw the word ‘investment.’ I had to check the dictionary. Once I found out what it meant, I thought it was fascinating. I even tried reading some books on it, but I couldn’t make sense of half of it.” He paused, looking for affirmation. “Then I remembered you also work with investments.”
Listening to his son’s explanation, David was impressed by Richard's curiosity and determination to understand complex subjects at such a young age.
“Wow, that’s a lot of hard work for a young man like you,” David remarked, his tone filled with pride. “But why are you so interested in investments?”
“Because I want to see what Wall Street looks like!” He was practically bouncing in his seat now, his enthusiasm infectious.
Hanna, overhearing their conversation while pouring a pot of coffee, smiled warmly. “Since little Richy is so excited, just take him!”
David considered the suggestion for a moment before nodding in agreement. “Well, Richy, let’s go to the famous Wall Street,” he said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
After a warm breakfast, David took Richard to his office on Wall Street, showing him the bustling financial hub. Richard’s eyes widened with wonder as he took in the sights and sounds of the iconic street. Memories from a previous visit to his father’s office when he was fifteen flooded back, adding to the nostalgia.
In David’s office, Richard's gaze landed on a section dedicated to silver futures. Intrigued, he turned to his father and asked, “Dad, what’s this about?”
David explained, “That’s where people invest in silver futures, much like gold or oil futures.”
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Excitement evident in his voice, Richard inquired, “Did you invest in it too, Dad?”
“Of course,” David replied confidently. He went on to explain how the fluctuations in the silver market had piqued the interest of many capitalists, including himself, prompting them to delve into silver futures trading.
“Can I invest as well?” Richard asked, his voice full of determination.
“You want to invest in silver futures?” David questioned, incredulous yet amused.
“Yes!” he proclaimed, fervently.
“Do you know it’s risky right now?” David’s brows knitted together in concern.
“I know it’s risky; I want to at least try,” Richard insisted, the passion sparked within him lighting up his youthful face.
“How much do you want to invest?” David asked, his eyes reflecting a mix of caution and support.
“I earned around 10,000 USD while writing for the NY Times. I want to invest that,” Richard replied eagerly.
After a thoughtful pause, David relented, “Fine. But remember, investing comes with uncertainties. Don’t be disheartened if things don’t go as planned.”
“I promise, Dad,” Richard declared with unwavering determination.
Laughing softly, David realized that Richard, even at his young age, was hardly afraid to face the world. He would firmly grasp the reins of his own destiny, no matter the outcome.
After obtaining permission, David used Richard's money to buy silver stock at $28 per share. However, the price of silver began to fluctuate wildly the following week, causing many investors to sell their shares. David also sold most of his shares, leaving only a few. He had purchased it along with Richard's share. He did this so that if Richard suffered a loss, David could share the pain and help Richard learn a lesson from the experience.
But then, on March 26th, an unexpected turn of events led Richard to call David. “Dad! Sell my stock before the market closes!” His urgency was evident, and without hesitation, David executed the sale. To his surprise, the price had skyrocketed to $45, boosting Richard’s investment by a staggering 142 percent.
Seeing the result even David was surprised.
The next day, before heading to the office, Richard asked David to buy gold futures and oil futures using the money he had earned from his recently published book.
When David arrived at the office, he was met with a surprise, by the chaotic atmosphere of a market in uproar. The silver price plummeted dramatically, triggering panic among investors. As a ripple effect, the gold market suffered a hit as well amid the turmoil.
Despite feeling a little panicked himself, a glimmer of Richard’s confidence crossed his mind. Remembering the boy’s unyielding spirit, he bought gold futures at a low price, betting on a future rebound.
Hours passed like an eternity until the gold market resurged with astonishing vigor, soaring by an astounding 50% when the market closed its doors.
The outcome was nothing short of miraculous. Not only did Richard's capital escalate tenfold, but David too reaped the benefits of his strategic decision, emerging from the chaos with newfound wealth and wisdom.
-FLASHBACK-
One day, David approached his son and asked, "How did you do it, Richy? How did you know to look at those numbers?" Richard looked up, his eyes sparkling with an unexpected wisdom, and replied, "I just understand them, Dad."
David was astonished by his son's intuition. Richard further solidified his reputation with a string of profitable investments in the stock market, especially when he made a bold move to buy shares in Apple after its market debut, a decision that paid off handsomely.
Inspired by his son's success and to shield Richard's other income sources from the public eye, David decided to channel the funds earned by both father and son into establishing a company overseas. Thus, "Wings Ventures" was born, with Richard's vision at its core.
While Richard was the true owner of the company, on official papers, he appeared as one of the major clients. With a portion of the company's funds, he ventured into investments in oil, gold futures, and the stock market, reaping substantial profits that not only deepened the trust between father and son but also garnered attention from potential investors.
It also made his father famous in the finance circle.
Years rolled on, and Wings Ventures gained traction, rapidly transforming into a famous rising giant within Wall Street. They invested in Coca-Cola, Walmart, and emerging tech companies, witnessing their points of wealth multiply at an astonishing rate.
By 1984, Richard’s personal fortune had swelled to an extraordinary $250 million, a staggering culmination of book royalties, lucrative stage plays, films, and the boon of effective investment strategies.
The company also increased its profitable portfolio by fivefold.
With his sights set on the biggest opportunity yet, Ric began to slowly convert his USD 200 million into the Japanese Yen.
Then methodically invest in the Japanese stock and real estate market, gradually buying stocks and land, with the goal of acquiring controlling stakes in profitable game and comic companies.