Grant Cardone built a powerful name across business, real estate, and media. His influence reaches far beyond seminars and book tours.
With a background shaped by personal hardship and early failures, Cardone transformed his setbacks into stepping stones.
His rise began with car sales and expanded into high-stakes real estate and multi-platform business ventures. Every move carried risk. Every deal pushed his reach wider.
Explore how one entrepreneur shaped a financial empire through relentless focus, sharp execution, and long-term vision. Keep reading to uncover what drives his success in 2025.
| Full Name | Grant Cardone |
| Date of Birth | March 21, 1958 |
| Birthplace | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States |
| Age | 66 |
| Education | McNeese State University |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, Real Estate Investor, Author, Sales Trainer |
| Net Worth (2025) | Estimated $750 million |
| Assets Under Management | Over $4 billion |
| Main Company | Cardone Capital |
| Other Companies | Cardone Enterprises, Cardone Training Technologies, The Cardone Group |
| Major Books | The 10X Rule, Sell or Be Sold, Be Obsessed or Be Average |
| Major Real Estate Holdings | 35 properties, 11,552 apartment units, over 1 million square feet of commercial space |
| Social Media Reach | 2.53M YouTube subscribers, 4.77M Instagram followers |
| Marital Status | Married to Elena Lyons |
| Children | Two daughters: Scarlett and Sabrina |
| Notable TV Appearance | Undercover Billionaire (Discovery, Season 2) |
| Religious Affiliation | Member of the Church of Scientology |
Early Life in Louisiana: Loss, Rebellion, and a Twin Brother
Grant Cardone was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana in 1958. He grew up in a modest household as one of five children. His twin brother, Gary, remains one of his closest ties.
Tragedy struck when Grantโs father died suddenly at age 10. That moment changed the family’s direction. Their financial stability disappeared. The emotional vacuum left behind shaped much of Grantโs early drive.
“I was a kid without a compass. I didnโt know where I was headed, so I crashed into everything.”
โ Grant Cardone
Addiction, Assault, and the Turning Point at Age 23
After high school, Cardone enrolled at McNeese State University. He graduated in 1981. But his student years were overshadowed by addiction, conflict, and isolation.
By his early twenties, drug use had taken over. He was fired from multiple jobs. He overdosed. Then came the breaking point.
Recovery did not happen instantly. But within five years, he became a millionaire.
“I got clean at 25. I was broke, angry, and lost. Rehab gave me space. Business gave me purpose.”
โ Grant Cardone
That moment reset his future.
From Car Sales to CEO: The First Million After Rehab
After recovery, Cardone took a job at a car dealership. He hated the jobโbut learned everything about the sales process. He turned it into a system.
By mastering patterns and buyer psychology, he turned car sales into a science.
Timeline to his first million
- Age 25: Fresh out of rehab
- Age 26โ29: Built income through sales and consulting
- Age 30: Became a millionaire
- Founded: Cardone Group, offering dealership consulting across North America
“Sales saved me. It gave me a game I could win at. It gave me my life back.”
โ Grant Cardone
His sales methods became the foundation for his future books, courses, and empire.
How He Bought 11,552 Apartment Units
Grant Cardone entered real estate not through theory, but through obsession with control and cash flow.
His first propertyโa single-family home in Houstonโfailed. Tenants left. Profit vanished. He sold it fast.
He then shifted his strategy.
First Big Win
- Year: 1995
- Deal: 38-unit multifamily property in San Diego
- Cost: $1.9 million
- Down payment: $350,000
- Result: Fully rented in 30 days
After that, he never looked back.
Current Scale of Cardone Capital
| Apartment Units | 11,552 |
| Properties Owned | 35 |
| Portfolio Value | Over $2.7 billion |
| States Active In | 8 |
| Year Founded | 2016 |
Why He Chose Multifamily over Single-Family
Cardone once said single-family homes are liabilities. They sit empty. They cost too much. They bring risk.
He made a clear statement:
โI do not touch single-family. I do not flip. I do not gamble. I scale.โ
His Real Estate Rules
- Rule #1: If it does not cash flow on day one, walk away
- Rule #2: Never buy fewer than 16 units
- Rule #3: Never sell if it performs
- Rule #4: Use investor capitalโbut protect it with your life
- Rule #5: Never trust hypeโtrust math
Cardone University: 221,000 Students, One Philosophy
Cardone University stands out as one of Grant Cardoneโs most profitable ventures. Unlike real estate, it depends on training, not property. The entire system runs online, giving users access to his methods any time of day.
The program teaches people how to sell, grow their income, and increase business results. Students include solo professionals, sales teams, and Fortune 500 companies.
What You Learn Inside
| Topic | Skills Covered |
|---|---|
| Sales Basics | Prospecting, closing, objections |
| Marketing | Generating leads, personal promotion |
| Customer Service | Retaining clients, building loyalty |
| Writing for Sales | Scripts, email pitches, sales pages |
| Team Growth | Building a sales force, setting goals |
Each topic includes short video lessons, challenges, and real-world practice exercises.
Key Facts About the Platform
| Subscription Price | $1,497 per year |
| Active Learners | Over 221,000 |
| Format | Digital, on-demand, 24/7 access |
| Business Accounts | Available for custom group use |
| Countries Reached | More than 26 worldwide |
Cardone University helps people turn theory into action. It gives them a daily structure, simple tools, and real feedback.
Book Sales and Business Advice: The Impact of The 10X Rule
Grant Cardone published eight books, but one changed everythingโThe 10X Rule. It introduced the core mindset behind every deal, pitch, and goal he pursued.
The message was simple: most people fail because they underestimate effort.
Top-Selling Books by Grant Cardone
| Title | Published | Focus Area |
|---|---|---|
| The 10X Rule | 2011 | Goal setting, execution |
| Sell or Be Sold | 2011 | Sales mindset, closing deals |
| If Youโre Not First, Youโre Last | 2010 | Urgency, visibility, follow-up |
| Be Obsessed or Be Average | 2016 | Motivation, focus, ambition |
| Sell to Survive | 2008 | Selling fundamentals |
What He Proved on National TV
In 2021, Grant Cardone joined Season 2 of Undercover Billionaire on Discovery Channel. The format was simple: start with nothing in a random city and build a six-figure business in 90 days.
He received
- No phone
- No contacts
- No money
- A pickup truck and $100
He ended with
- A new business
- Real customers
- Over $5 million in investment offers
The show gave viewers a front-row seat to his methods under pressure. Though he is not a billionaire, the series showed how he thinks, acts, and scales under extreme limits.
Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard: A Personal and Spiritual Connection
Grant Cardone is an active member of the Church of Scientology. He completed OT 8, the churchโs highest spiritual level.
For years, he credited the church’s structure and teachings for his focus, recovery, and personal growth.
Connection to Scientology
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Church of Scientology |
| Level Completed | OT 8 (Operating Thetan Level 8) |
| Influence on Career | Discipline, clarity, mission-driven work |
| Public Support | Frequent mention in speeches and books |
Luxury Real Estate: Malibu Mansion and Hilfigerโs Golden Beach Home
Grant Cardone lives big. His real estate portfolio includes more than commercial buildings. He has bought and listed some of the most expensive private homes in the country.
Major Residential Purchases
| Location | Price Paid | Status in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Malibu, CA (Carbon Beach) | $40 million | Listed for $65 million |
| Golden Beach, FL (Hilfiger Mansion) | $28 million | Listed for $42 million |
| Los Angeles (former home) | Unknown | Sold to Lionel Richie |
Social Media Empire: Millions of Followers, Maximum Influence
Cardoneโs real reach comes through screens. Social media is how he sells programs, fills events, and keeps attention. He posts videos, livestreams, and pitches daily.
Reach by Platform
| Platform | Followers/Subscribers |
|---|---|
| YouTube | 2.78 million |
| 4.8 million | |
| 600,000+ | |
| X | 1.2 million |
He uses these platforms to drive traffic to his products, build brand authority, and recruit investors.
Controversies, Criticism, and Why He Keeps Pushing Forward
Critics argue that Cardone pushes unrealistic promises, especially in his courses and social content. Some call his style aggressive.
Others question his business model, where high-ticket seminars and investor pitches intersect.
Cardone encourages people to โ10Xโ everythingโeffort, goals, action. Detractors say this advice ignores the reality of personal limits, financial risk, and market unpredictability.
His real estate ventures also draw questions. Cardone Capital manages over $4 billion in assets and allows non-accredited investors to participate.
Though legal, some industry professionals argue that the returns are unclear and the marketing glosses over risk.
Cardone has responded by pointing to his detailed video walk-throughs of every deal and consistent investor updates. He claims his system works because it is backed by real income, not speculation.
Another layer of criticism surrounds his use of the Church of Scientology. Cardone has never hidden his involvement. He often credits Scientology for his mental clarity and business structure.
That affiliation draws strong opinions, especially since he openly supports L. Ron Hubbardโs teachings in business talks. For some, this association is a red flag. For others, it adds depth to his personal story.
He also draws fire for his social media tone. Many videos show Cardone confronting employees, bragging about earnings, or issuing direct calls to โstop being soft.โ Some see it as unfiltered motivation.
Others view it as toxic bravado. Still, engagement stays high. His followers buy into the messageโresults matter more than comfort.
Lawsuits have appeared too, although no major case has dismantled any part of his empire. Complaints range from refund disputes in training programs to disagreement over real estate disclosures. His team handles these cases quietly, often settling fast.
Final Thoughts
Grant Cardone built his wealth through focus, volume, and repetition. His journey moved through setbacks, risks, and sharp decisions. Every part of his business follows structure, and every move aims at growth.
His real estate, training programs, and public voice all reflect one mindsetโgo bigger, move faster, stay visible.
He may face criticism, but he keeps showing results. That is what keeps his name strong in business.
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