How the Rich Get Rich (using other people's money)
Nov 07, 2025Read time - 4 minutes / Disclosure
Using other people's money can:
- Boost your assets.
- Grow your income.
- Make 9-5 life optional sooner.
Unfortunately, using other people's money to build wealth isn't talked about in school.
The Traditional Path
When finding work, most people focus on:
- Getting a secure job.
- Keeping it long term.
- Hoping it covers the bills.
- Praying retirement is in the cards 40 years later.
Trying to get promotions and trying to make more money per hour is the game most people play.
Heck, it's the game I played too.
But over time I eventually learned.
Trading time for money is the longer path to a freer life.
"Seek wealth, not money or status. Wealth is having assets that earn while you sleep." — Naval Ravikant
Working in banking for 10 years taught me wealthy people play a different game.
It's not about:
- Getting raises.
- Getting promotions.
- Waiting for retirement in 40 years.
It's about using other people's money (OPM) to build wealth faster.
In 5 years.
Or 10 years.
Or 15 years.
I'll never forget helping a banking customer worth $50 million dollars.
He refinanced his $700,000 home loan with me twice.
He could of easily paid off the darn loan.
But he didn't.
Watching wealthy people make and manage their money fascinated the hell out of me.
After growing up watching my family struggle with money.
And starting my 20s eating lots of top ramen.
Watching wealthy people manage their money felt like a cheat code.
The "Other People's Money" Blueprint
Here's 4 things I'd see wealthy bank clients do that I shamelessly copied (you can too).
Let's dive in:
1. The Real Estate Loans
Most people think you need a 20% down payment to get a loan to buy real estate.
But many home loan lenders offer no money down loans.
Especially if you plan to live on the property for at least one year (and you qualify for the loan).
Many wealthy bank clients play the real estate game.
Getting loans to buy property over and over again.
Sometimes putting down a lot of money.
Sometimes putting down hardly any.
Using loans to buy property is a common way to build wealth in real estate without using a lot of your own money.
2. The Rental Properties
Most people think you need a lot of money to own rental properties.
But most home loan lenders are paid on commission.
And will happily explain how to qualify for a home loan.
Learning how home loans work is a cheat code.
Playing that game over and over can mean owning 1, 2, 3, 4, 5+ properties.
And with the value of real estate doubling every 14 years on average since the 1990s. It's been quite profitable.
House prices history
Getting home loans and having rental property is a common way to build wealth in real estate as renters pay off your home loans.
3. The Business Loans
Most people think it's impossible to get a business loan.
But there's many loan programs available.
And most business loan lenders are paid on commission (just like home loan lenders).
Most will happily explain how to qualify for a business loan.
Business loans are also a cheat code.
Money from loans can be used to:
- Buy equipment.
- Hire employees.
- Expand the business.
And the government helps lenders make more business loans through a popular program called the SBA (small business administration).
sba dot gov website
Using business loans to grow a business is a common way to build wealth without using a lot of your own money.
4. The Small Businesses
Most people think starting a small business is risky and expensive.
But for a few hundred bucks, you can use an online company like Legalzoom to setup your business and an LLC on a random Saturday.
It's never been easier or cheaper to start an online business.
- Setting up a website.
- Offering a product or a service.
- Finding customers on social media.
Anyone with an internet connection and a lot of motivation can do these things without spending a boatload of money.
Everyone’s looking to find the secret
— JOHN HENRY (@thejohnhenry_) October 14, 2025
to get rich and the secret still is:
- Stocks.
- Real estate.
- Starting a small business.
I'll never forget helping a customer in her 20s.
She setup a small video gaming business.
And people would pay to watch her play video games all day.
Her small online business was making $20,000+ per month.
Setting up an online business to sell products or services can generate thousands of dollars per month.
The bottom line
Most people are taught having debt is bad.
Heck, I was taught that too.
- Car loan debt.
- Credit card debt.
- Student loan debt.
All of it can be really painful.
After getting rid of it, many people completely avoid debt.
But the wealthy people I watched in banking used debt to build wealth.
- Getting loans to buy real estate (while their renters paid off the loans).
- Getting loans to build a small business (while money received from customers paid off the loans).
Watching other people do these things gave me the confidence to figure out how to get loans to buy 7 properties.
And to start building this little online business (Millennial Wealth).
What would you do if 40 years at a 9-5 wasn't the life you wanted?
That's all for today.
See you next Saturday.
P.S.
If you're interested in learning more about buying a home without much money try this:
If you're interested in learning more about investing in the stock market try this:
