Sean Belnick

How did you become a Millionaire?
I started an online office furniture distribution company called BizChair.com. We've expanded from office chairs into other areas of furniture and continue to grow and expand. In 2011, our sales will eclipse $70 million per year.

Is there anything that would surprise viewers to learn about you?
The most surprising thing about me is that I started my company when I was 14. That's not too typical and I've always been looking for ways to succeed, even from a young age. I'm an aggressive businessman and am always taking new risks and initiatives.

Why did you want to be a part of the show?
I wanted to be a part of the show because as I look back at my life, I realize that I've been very successful and not given much back to the community and charity compared to how well I've done. By doing the show, I'm able to experience some new situations and give a major financial donation.

Was there anything you were hoping to learn about yourself?
There wasn't anything specific that I was hoping to learn, but I ended up learning a lot about myself and the organizations that help out the community. I've had a new sense of connection to organizations and how the human aspect impacts them.

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We also talked to Sean about his experience after filming the show:

What surprised you most about your experience as a "Secret Millionaire"?
The most surprising aspect of the experience was how deeply I connected with the organizations and the people involved in them. Before I embarked on this experience, I thought the financial donation would be the primary motivation and impact to me. Meeting the organizations and those involved with them brought a new level of connection and the financial donation was just on top of everything else.

How did you feel about the experience living "undercover"?
Living "undercover" was pretty fun—and a bit scary. Anytime anyone asked me any questions, my heart would always race and I'd be scared that I would blow my cover. The good thing was that I am only 24, so I don't have much of a list history to hide and my story seems pretty believable.

How did you feel living on such a limited amount of money for a week?
Living on a budget for the week seems more harrowing than it actually is. As I'm given the budget and start thinking about it, a sense of panic and restriction sets in. But after shopping and living frugally for the week, I actually had left over food and money—even after going out for pizza one night.

Has your life changed since this experience? In what ways?
My life certainly has changed during this experience. I have a new sense of giving back and how a small impact can continue to make changes in the community. I'm also not afraid to approach organizations and see if they need help—no matter how much. The most amazing thing is that I have impacted lives and changed organizations—and that is ever lasting.

Do you have any suggestions or advice for someone who wants to become involved in helping their community?
The best thing to do is to go and find organizations and ask how you can help. No amount of help is too small and every bit helps. Often times people make financial donations or donate food, but spending just a couple of hours makes so much of a difference to the organizations and their members.

Any other final comments you'd like to add?
The entire experience has been amazing and I wouldn't change a second of it. I'm so glad that I went through it and I feel that I've made life- long friends and changes to organizations that will provide benefits for years to come for their members.