Farrah Gray

The Essential Lessons that took me from Public Assistance to a Millionaire -- by the Age of 14 "My story, though unique, is not unlike others who began with nothing more than a dream fueled by sheer determination. I believe my story will remind you of the kid in all of us who knows no limits and believes anything - and everything - is possible." --Farrah Gray

About Farrah Gray
Farrah Gray is an internationally known and respected entrepreneur and business leader who addresses more than half a million people per year on leadership, personal development, diversity, strategic planning, creativity, business development and financial management.  Gray is a 21-year old African-American man who has risen to national prominence in an American “rags-to-riches” story of success, perseverance and hard work. Raised in the projects on Chicago’s south side, Gray defied the odds and became a self-made millionaire by the age of 14.  Gray is one of the great business minds and icons of his generation. At the age of 21, he has achieved more than many achieve in a lifetime.   

Gray began his entrepreneurial, personal development and civic engagement as a stellar young citizen at six years old by selling his own hand-painted rocks as book-ends and home-made body lotion door-to-door.  At age 7, he was carrying business cards reading “21st Century CEO.”  At 8, Gray became co-founder of Urban Neighborhood Enterprise Economic Club (U.N.E.E.C.) on Chicago’s Southside. U.N.E.E.C. was the forerunner of New Early Entrepreneur Wonders (NE2W), the flagship organization he opened on Wall Street.  NE2W enlisted, educated and engaged “at-risk” youth by creating and developing legal ways for them to acquire additional income. Gray is the youngest person to have an office on Wall Street.

Between the ages of 12 and 16 years old, Gray founded and operated business ventures that included KIDZTEL pre-paid phone cards, One Stop Mail Boxes & More franchise and The Teenscope “Youth AM/FM” interactive teen talk show,   Gray was also Executive Producer of a comedy show on the Las Vegas Strip and owner of Farr-Out Foods, “Way-Out Food with a Twist,” aimed at youth familiar with the company’s first Strawberry-Vanilla syrup product.  Farr-Out Foods “Foodfulooza” generated orders exceeding $1.5 million. 

As a pre-teen, Gray reached 12 million listeners and viewers every Saturday night as co-host of “Backstage Live,” a syndicated television and radio simulcast in Las Vegas.  Gray’s inspirational spirit and grounded personality sparked requests from organizations around the country. According to Naples Daily News, “Farrah Gray touched them in a way few speakers can.”  Gray's sense of social responsibility motivated him to create the non-profit organization, The Farrah Gray Foundation.  Among other programs and initiatives, his Foundation focuses on inner city community-based entrepreneurship education and provides scholarship/grant assistance for students from at-risk backgrounds to attend HBCU's (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). Gray donates his honorariums from speaking engagements (which can be upwards of $10,000) and the proceeds of his book to his Foundation in what he refers to as his “self-imposed” youth tax.  Gray’s work did not remain under the radar-screen for long.  He was given a three-year term on the Board of Directors of United Way of Southern Nevada at the age of 15 and also became the youngest member of the Board of Advisors for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

In December 2005, The Farrah Gray "goFarr" Prepaid Mastercard was introduced. Cardholders are able to increase their financial literacy with financial advice from Gray during live chats, pod casts, e-mails and discussions of business trends and ideas. "When I look at the fact that one-quarter of 18-24-year-olds are 'un-banked' I see that it is a problem that plagues low-income people of all ages," says Gray. "This card can be an empowering tool that will instill valuable budgeting habits and responsible money management skills." First Premiere Bank and Diamond Financial Products unveiled its newest debit card, The Farrah Gray Prepaid Mastercard®, which features Gray’s likeness on it.  The “goFarr” card is designed to increase financial freedom and financial literacy.

Gray is also the Co-Chair of Relational Brokers Alliance Consultancy (RBA).  He has consulted with the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Development Agency in the creation of a youth entrepreneurship institute and JP Morgan Chase to name a few.  According to NV Magazine "Farrah Gray is one of the most respected and uncommon business minds to date."     

Gray was also the youngest member of the “African-American Leadership” Roundtable invited by President Bush and the Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, to set the stage for the upcoming corporate and philanthropic summit being planned for March 2006.  Gray is renowned as the youngest African-American to rise from public assistance to business mogul without being in entertainment or having a family connection. 

Gray is the author of “Reallionaire” which was nominated by NBC & Publishers Weekly Quill Awards in the category of "Health/Self-Improvement."  His book appeared on Amazon and Barnes & Noble’s Bestseller List two weeks before its international release.  “Reallionaire” was also named as the #1 Best selling Nonfiction Paperback Book in the August 2005 Issue of Essence Magazine. Gray’s book and his journey to succeed against the odds have become required reading and part of classroom study from elementary school to entrepreneurship departments on college campuses.  “Reallionaire” has been endorsed by former President Bill Clinton, Pierre Sutton, Stedman Graham, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Gray is also a Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the African-American Soul.  

Gray’s honors include Keys to the Cities of Dallas, Shreveport, and Cincinnati. He has received Proclamations from the Governors of Illinois and Nevada, the Mayors of Chicago, Las Vegas and New Orleans and Clark County Nevada Commissioners.  Gray’s Awards include The National Urban League Whitney M Young Jr. Entrepreneurship Award, The Indiana Black Expo (IBE), Hoosier Lottery Entrepreneur Award for 2005, The Alabama A&M Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) Award, The Davidson College Love of Learning Lifetime Educational Achievement Award, Central State Award Appreciation for contributions made in the area of entrepreneurship, NV Magazine Vision Award and the American Red Cross Award of Appreciation. 

Since his first interview at 11 years old on KVBC Channel 3, Gray has been featured in hundreds of print, magazine, radio and television venues such as: ABC World News with Peter Jennings, Good Morning America, The Montel Williams Show, Life & Style, Tavis Smiley Late Night on PBS, Good Day LA, CNBC, BET, NBC, FOX, CBS, NPR, The Tom Joyner Show, ABC Radio, Neal Boortz, Sean Hannity,  Radio One, XM Satellite Radio, Ebony Magazine, Essence,  Readers Digest English 2 Go, Gospel Truth, NV Magazine, MBE,  Folio, Las Vegas Review Journal, Wall Street Journal, Atlanta Voice, Dallas Morning News, Sacramento Bee and Montreal Gazette. Gray’s biography is recognized in the 2005 Marquis "Who's Who in America".

Farrah Gray's keynote speeches are a motivating mix of practical business advice and inspiring personal journey. Audiences across America have responded with enthusiasm to his uplifting message.

Below is the amazing Farrah Gray timeline starting at the age of 6: At Age 6 * Farrah Gray sold body lotion for $1.50 from door to door  At Age 7  * he carried a business card that read “21st Century CEO”  At Age 8  * in Chicago, Farrah started UNEEC (Urban Neighborhood Economic Enterprise Club)  At Age 9  * At 9, almost 10, Farrah co-hosted radio show “Backstage Live” in Las Vegas reaching 12 million listeners every Saturday night  At Age 12  * Farrah had a lucrative nationwide speaking career commanding $5 - $10 thousand per appearance  At Age 13  * Farrah started Farr-Out Foods, a specialty foods company headquartered in New York, targeting young people  At Age 14  * Farrah officially became a millionaire by hitting sales of  $1.5 million for Farr-Out Foods   * Farrah started New Early Entrepreneur Wonders (NE2W) Student Venture Fund  At Age 15  * Farrah negotiated selling of Farr-Out Foods for one million plus  * Farrah founded the Farrah Gray Foundation  * Farrah was sent a special invitation to consult and oversee an entrepreneurial institute for The Minority Business Development Agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce  * Farrah was elected by the United Way of Southern Nevada to sit on the Board of Directors for a three-year term as the youngest director ever to sit on any United Way board nationwide  * Farrah had the distinct honor of serving as the youngest Board of Advisor for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce  At Age 16 * Farrah acquired INNERCITY Magazine from Inner City Broadcasting Corporation  At Age 17  * Farrah financed a comedy show on the Las Vegas Strip, which gave him the distinct honor of being the second African-American after Red Foxx to own a show production on the Las Vegas strip  At Age 19  * Farrah signed his "Reallionaire" book deal with HCI  * Farrah Gray became a Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the African-American Soul. Both books were published by Health Communications Incorporated (HCI) publisher of the New York Times and USA Today Best-Seller Chicken Soup for the Soul Series At Age 20 * Farrah, as a real estate investor, was elected as youngest member to sit on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inc. Region 15 (N.A.R.E.B.®), the oldest and largest minority trade association.

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