Remember when you were a kid and thought teachers lived in mansions because they had a chalkboard? That’s us with Walt. We project our own desires onto his bank account.
I once asked my buddy Phil how much his uncle made. He shrugged and said, “I dunno, but he has a hot tub.” That’s our math: hot tub = rich. But hot tubs can be financed for $99 a month. Walt might be living on ramen and free samples from Costco.
The truth is, nobody really knows unless you’re their accountant or their spouse. And even then, spouses sometimes lie. “Honey, my bonus was $500” is the patriotic fib of our time.
Walt’s Side Hustle vs. Your Side Hustle
Walt probably made his money from something boring, like selling industrial gaskets. Meanwhile, you’re trying to monetize your sourdough starter on Etsy. The difference is scale and luck.
Walt Disney: Most Money Grossing Movies 1980-2019(4k) - YouTube
My cousin runs a lawn care business and makes more than his brother the lawyer. But he also works Saturdays and his back hurts. Walt might have a similar story—maybe he invested in Bitcoin at $200 or inherited a rental property from Aunt Mildred. Either way, it’s not a blueprint.
We love to imagine Walt’s life as a fairy tale: he made a killing, bought the kayak, and now waves at us from the lake while we’re stuck in traffic. But most Walts are just regular folks who paid off a pickup truck and call it a win.
