Marcus Lemonis

How did you become a Millionaire?
Over the years I have been blessed with various business success. Although I made my first million while in the automobile business, the RV industry over the years has provided the bulk of it. I have also been lucky enough to make a few investments that have worked out in my favor and maybe a few that did not.

Is there anything that would surprise viewers to learn about you?
The viewers would be surprised to know how sensitive I am before they watch the show. They also would be surprised to know what my hobbies are.

Why did you want to be a part of the show?
I wanted to be part of the show to really learn more about myself than anything else. It was paramount for me to get broken down with a big dose of reality and find out what my reaction would be.

Was there anything you were hoping to learn about yourself?
I was hoping to reconnect to my ability to see things from a clear looking glass. I often time wear my rose colored glasses around town and it truly jades my thinking.

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We also talked to Marcus about her experience after filming the show:

What surprised you most about your experience as a "Secret Millionaire"?
The most surprising thing about my experience was the level of adrenaline that drove me each day. I was often asked for an emotional reaction to a hardship that I saw or experienced but really felt more compelled and motivated to do more and see more. I was often times more inspired by what I saw than saddened.

How did you feel about the experience living "undercover"?
I felt great about living undercover. Although the first couple of days were difficult, it really was great to get more in touch with who I know I really am. The ability to be undercover gave me the chance to be invisible without people tugging for me to do something for them. I was truly being appreciated in that moment for what I was doing and not who I was.



How did you feel living on such a limited amount of money for a week?
I felt embarrassed that I would even complain about living off that amount of money. There are people around the country who don't even have that. I felt blessed in the context of what was really going on around me. In fact, giving away all of my weekly allowance that I had left on the second day was liberating not difficult.

Has your life changed since this experience? In what ways?
My life has clearly changed since this experience. Its really not about anything for me other than realizing that I have a responsibility to do great things for others. I used to spend a great deal of time feeling bad about what I had but now feel that what I have is a tool if used properly.

Do you have any suggestions or advice for someone who wants to become involved in helping their community?
Look in the least obvious places and really be a good listener. If I wanted anyone else to get something out of my experience it would be that great things are done in small and unobvious ways.

Any other final comments you'd like to add?
My final thoughts are that this experience is not about me or any other participant. Its about changing things for others. Often times some of these organizations have more zest for life, more optimism and more drive then us. How do we bottle that up, give them the resources they need and let them teach the world something.

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