Founder’s Story

In July 2021, a picture on Instagram challenged me to think about what it truly means to be rich. This moment of deep thought and realization brought me back to my childhood which is how, “ACT BROKE, ACTUALLY RICH” came to life. 

As I stared at a picture of three rappers, I noticed that two had loads of jewelry on, while the other did not. Based on societal norms, some would say the two flashing their jewelry are “rich.” But is that really the truth? That question shifted my outlook on my own richness and the true meaning of the word “rich.”

In the dictionary, you will see the primary definition of rich is “having a great deal of money or assets.” But rich is a multi-definition word that also means "plentiful and abundant" – adding a meaningful layer to the complete definition. If a greater emphasis was placed on the many types of “richness,” we would have a clearer understanding of its context. For example, are our lives abundant in love, friendship, health, and happiness? Are our "everyday moments'' filled with good times and great friends? Are our hearts full?

Like many of us, I am a man who’s dreamt of being rich in the material sense, until that very moment when a single image sparked reflection on my life. Although I was raised in a low-income household with three siblings, we had everything that we needed. I was rich far beyond the material definition: I grew up with two parents, a roof over my head, a bed to sleep in, food on the table, and clothes to wear. These little things – ones that can be taken for granted – are the basis of me discovering my own richness and what the word means in its purest form.