A millionaire who deliberately made himself broke and homeless in a bizarre social experiment designed to rack up YouTubehits has suddenly quit his challenge after concerns over his health.
Mike Black had planned to essentially start over from nothing, while proving to himself that he would be able to make $1 million in the space of just 12 months.
Black had been anentrepreneur his entire life, but in July 2020 decided to walk away from everything giving up his car, house and all of his money.
'I knew a lot of people who lost everything during the pandemic and they got really depressed. I even had a friend that lost a $10 millionbusiness overnight', Black explained in a YouTube video.
Black wanted to help his friends rebuild their lives and prove that luck or money was not necessary to become a millionaire - just hard work.
Millionaire Mike Black embarked on a daring social experiment, intentionally becoming homeless to prove he could make $1 million in a year
Black found the hardest part of the journey being homeless not knowing where he'd sleep
Black struggled while begging on the streets - even finding it hard to get water
Black's idea was the 'Million Dollar Comeback Challenge' that would see him start from nothing, only to build a new business, growing it to be worth one million dollars in the space of a year
But Black ended his challenge after it took a toll on his health.
'I have officially decided to end the project early. Now as much as it hurts me to do this, especially with just two months left, I feel like it's the right thing to do,' he announced on YouTube.
'I've been dealing with a lot of things personally, and recently something's happened that has really pushed me over the edge.
'My personal health has declined to the point where I really need to start taking care of it. Throughout the entire project, we haven't shared it with you, but I've been in and out of the doctor's office.'
Black explained how he also suffered from two autoimmune diseases which caused 'chronic fatigue' and another that attacked his joints.
'A lot of what's come to light for me is what truly matters, health and gratitude,' he said.
Black was offered the chance to stay in an RV. he was allowed to stay for several weeks
Black first began making money by selling furniture online and acting as a middle man
Black was allowed to stay in this RV for several weeks thanks to the generosity of strangers
Things were looking up when Black managed to secure his own place to rent
Black's idea was the 'Million Dollar Comeback Challenge' that would see him start from nothing, only tobuild a new business, growing it to be worth one million dollars in the space of a year.
But the challenge was far harder than Black could ever have anticipated.
From the very first day as a homeless man he experienced how rough life was out on the streets and contemplated sleeping on a bench.
People refused to give him water and he was unable to find a place to stay the night.
Eventually, a man with an RV allowed him to stay for several nights in his van.
Black started off small and managed to make his first $300 by selling furniture online.
'One of the best things to sell are tables,' Black explained. 'I started taking ads on Craigslist in the free section, putting it on Facebook Marketplace and selling it for a profit.
'I acted as the middleman, handling all the logistics between the buyer and the seller.'
By the fifth day of the challenge he had made enough money to buy himself a computer.
Almost two weeks in, he was able to secure his own office space and after just over one month, Black finally had his own place to rent.
Three months into the challenge, Black's entrepreneurial spirit appeared to shine through having set himself up as a social media manager
Concerns about his own health led him to end the challenge early after facing the harsh realities of homelessness and his own health issues
Three months into the challenge, Black's entrepreneurial spirit appeared to shine through having set himself up as a social media manager, managing to land clients - while even coming up with his own brand of coffee.
'Look at where we're at right now. We're not making millions of dollars but look at this gonna be living potentially in a mansion rent free. I'm getting on calls with big tech companies pitching them on running their social media. I'm starting a coffee brand I have a coffee dude in Austin now,' Black said.
'I mean everything's going inthe right direction. Three months ago I was homeless!'
Four months into the challenge, on day 138, Blacklearned that his father was officiallydiagnosed with stage four colon cancer andhad just started chemo which led Black to question the entire project - but he continued.
'Health and Family were much more important than the challenge so I decided to stop the whole project.'
Black ended the challenge having completed 10 months, with just 60 days left to run. He had managed to make a grand total of $64,000
Black ended the challenge having completed 10 months, with just 60 days left to run. He had managed to make a grand total of $64,000.
Despite failing to make the million dollars he had aimed for, Black says it was still a successful experiment after demonstrating how it waspossible to rebuild his life through the power of determination.
'Weshould always remember to help those in need because it could be the opportunity that they need,' Black said.
