The idea that a single windfall can solve every problem is a persistent fantasy in America. We imagine that if the person sleeping under the bridge just had a few thousand dollars, they could rent an apartment, buy a suit and rejoin the workforce. It is a comforting thought because it suggests that poverty is merely a lack of cash.
A documentary titled “Reversal of Fortune” tested this theory in the mid-2000s. Filmmakers found a homeless man named Ted Rodrigue in Pasadena, essentially handed him $100,000 with no strings attached and waited to see if a six-figure check could rewrite a lifetime of habits.
A clean financial slate
Ted was living a life defined by the immediate present. He collected recyclables to fund basic needs — cigarettes, beer and a bit of food. He was articulate and intelligent, dispelling a common assumption that chronic homelessness is tied to cognitive impairment.
Economists often debate whether poverty is structural — meaning the system is rigged — or behavioral. Many observers looked at Ted and assumed his situation was due to bad luck or a lack of opportunity. The $100,000 was meant to be the seed money that would allow him to start a new life.
Cash in, cash out
At first, Ted made some logical choices. He bought a new bicycle and a trailer to move his belongings, checked into a motel and cleaned himself up. For a brief moment, it looked as though the experiment might succeed.
But once the immediate discomfort of the street was gone, Ted’s behavior shifted from survival to indulgence. Instead of investing in a long-term plan, he bought a brand-new truck. He began handing out extravagant gifts and spending his days at the bar with friends who showed up only after he had money in his pocket.
The missing ingredient
Psychologists often point to conscientiousness as a primary predictor of financial success. This trait involves the ability to plan, organize and delay gratification. Ted appeared to be a living example of what happens when a person lacks this internal compass.
Despite having dental issues that caused him pain, he never made it to a dentist. Despite family members urging him to save, he insisted on living day by day. Within about six months, the money was gone.
The experiment suggests that for some, the inability to manage resources is not caused by a lack of money — rather the lack of money is caused by an inability to manage resources.
Why cash alone often fails
This story provides a sobering perspective on why simple wealth redistribution often misses the mark. If you give a person who lacks financial discipline a large sum of money, you aren’t necessarily helping them; you might just be funding a faster descent.
Some experts argue that redistribution in kind — providing specific services like housing vouchers or food assistance — is more effective than cash. If Ted’s $100,000 had been placed in a trust that paid for a modest apartment and meals for a decade, his life might have looked very different.
But given total control, he defaulted to the habits that led him to the bridge in the first place.
Wealth starts with a mindset
We often define wealth by the number in a bank account. But as Ted’s story shows, a bank account is just a bucket. If the bucket has holes in it, it doesn’t matter how much water you pour in; it will eventually be empty.
The true engines of financial stability are habits: the ability to budget, the discipline to save and the foresight to plan for next year instead of next hour. Without those, a $100,000 windfall is just a temporary distraction from a permanent problem.
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