"The Truth Behind 'The Pursuit of Happyness': The True Story of Chris Gardner"

Starring Will Smith in 2006, the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" is based on a true story. However, as is well known, movies often end up adapting something or other in the final production. But I wonder what's really on the screen in this drama?

With a breathtaking plot, worthy of bringing audiences to tears, "The Pursuit of Happyness" has become a classic among films that apply real life lessons. If you've been touched by this story or haven't heard of it yet, check out the details and curiosities we've gathered here.

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In Search of Happiness: inspired by the life of Chris Gardner

When Will Smith brilliantly interpreted Chris Gardner's life story, the world was treated to one hell of a comeback. After all, Gardner, the man who inspired the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness", went through a series of challenges throughout his life.

From extreme poverty on the streets to financial success, Gardner has faced violence, abandonment and a struggle for survival capable of impressing any human being. However, the feat of his life was the courage not to give up in the face of all these obstacles.

Traumatic childhood

Gardner was born in Milwaukee and lived a violent childhood with his mother and an alcoholic stepfather. After turbulent times, he spent some time with a foster family, as his mother allegedly tried to kill her husband in a desperate situation.

As an adult, Gardner spent four years of his life in the US Navy. However, in 1974, he moved to San Francisco, California, and started working as a medical equipment salesman.

Financial difficulties and abandonment

Image Courtesy/Netflix

This part is portrayed in the movie, when the main character is shown selling portable bone density scanners, a specific product for clinics and hospitals.

It's worth remembering that in the plot Chris Gardner invested in several units of the product with the aim of quickly making a return on his capital, but was unsuccessful and that's when his desperation and financial difficulties began to set in.

Not only does he lack the money to pay the rent and survive, but his wife leaves him. At this stage, the intensity of the drama is multiplied, because Gardner has not been abandoned alone, he is with his 14-month-old son.

This reveals something important: the real story was even sadder than the one portrayed in the movie, after all, on the big screen Gardner's son, Christopher, is portrayed as an older child, 5 years old.

The curious thing is that this child was played by Will Smith's own son, Jaden Smith. This made the scenes even more touching, as the two have a real father-son relationship.

Overcoming and life as a millionaire

Image Courtesy/Netflix

In the midst of a harsh reality, Gardner faced the streets, living with his son in church shelters and in the public toilets of train stations. However, with impressive determination, Gardner once came across a man looking for a parking space for his Ferrari and asked the stranger what he did for so much money. The man replied that he worked as a stockbroker.

Afterwards, Gardner not only got an interview with this contact, but a great opportunity to change his future. After all, he passed the interview by impressing the hirers. The position was for an internship, which Gardner held until 1981, when he was permanently hired.

This opportunity opened many doors, as he worked for well-known companies. However, he didn't limit himself to having a good job and achieved his entrepreneurial dreams by opening his own company, Gardner Rich, which has made him as rich as the Ferrari guy. His fortune is estimated to have reached 60 million dollars in 2016.

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