May 28, 2025
While we adhere to strict editorial guidelines, partners on this page may provide us earnings.
For anyone questioning the continued relevance of the American dream, the story of Sammy Poori serves as a powerful testament.
Poori arrived in the U.S. as an Iranian refugee in the late 1990s, supported by a church that helped him secure a janitor job at a Nashville hospital. With little money, he managed to save up $1,000 to buy a 1989 Toyota Camry, which became his home.
Advertisement
“I parked at Wal-Mart, which was the only place at the time that was open 24 hours. I parked where employees parked so I could sleep safely. I went to a gym to take a shower and clean up and go to work,” he told USA Today via The Tennessean.
Starting his own business
Poori met his wife Ana, also an Iranian refugee, in May 2000. When she became pregnant, he decided to become his own boss, buying a "junk tow truck" and partnering with his brother-in-law to start a business.
After working many 14- to 15-hour days moving cars, this entrepreneurial drive led him to launch BBB Auto Sales in 2005.
Poori has also amassed an impressive multimillion-dollar roster of exotic sports cars. For example, the 2022 Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport in his collection starts at well over $3 million, according to Car and Driver.
Real estate investing options
Earnings from the car dealership enabled Poori to venture into real estate investments. He says he now allocates 60% of his time toward real estate and 40% to managing the dealership.
You may not have the capital to be a real estate tycoon or a luxury car dealer, but you can tap into this market by investing in shares of vacation homes or rental properties through Arrived.
Backed by world-class investors including Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of vacation and rental properties, earning a passive income stream without the extra work that comes with being a landlord of your own rental property.
Advertisement
To get started, simply browse through their selection of vetted properties, each picked for their potential appreciation and income generation. Once you choose a property, you can start investing with as little as $100, potentially earning quarterly dividends.
For accredited investors who are looking to make a larger investment in this sector, First National Realty Partners (FNRP) offers access to institutional-quality commercial real estate deals that can allow you to passively collect distribution income.
Commercial real estate has long been touted as a wise investment for adding stability to your portfolio, outperforming the S&P 500 over a 25-year period.
As a private equity firm, FNRP acts as the deal leader and offers white-glove service to investors, providing expertise and doing the legwork. The team has developed relationships with the nation’s largest essential-needs brands, including Kroger, Walmart, and Whole Foods, and provides insights into the best properties both on and off-market.
While the FNRP takes care of sourcing new deals, you can engage with experts, explore available deals and easily make an allocation, all on FNRP’s secure platform.
Must Read
- Dave Ramsey warns nearly 50% of Americans are making 1 big Social Security mistake — are you doing the same?
- Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how
- Robert Kiyosaki says this 1 asset will surge 400% in a year and begs investors not to miss this ‘explosion’
Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
Better ROI than real estate?
Reflecting on his passion for exotic cars, Poori remarked to USA Today, “I don't do drugs, I don't gamble, I don't do anything.”
Advertisement
“My only hobby is cars.”
His investment in this hobby surpasses that of the typical car enthusiast. And while cars are generally seen as depreciating assets, Poori claims the exotic models in his collection have proven to be financially advantageous.
“A lot of my cars have a better return on investment than my real estate or my business,” he said. “I don't think I have a car in my entire collection I have ever lost money on.”
If you have enough passion, you can find a way to invest profitably in what you love, too.
Take fine art, for instance – it has long been the secret weapon used by the richest 1% to safeguard and compound their wealth. In fact, with over $67 billion in annual transaction volume and a total estimated global value of $1.7 trillion, art represents a massive asset class, according to Deloitte.
Advertisement
But you no longer need to spend millions at auctions to invest in art.
With Masterworks, more investors can gain access to this prized asset.
Instead of buying a single painting for millions of dollars at auction, you can now invest in fractional shares of blue-chip paintings by renowned artists, including Pablo Picasso, Basquiat and Banksy.
Masterworks investors have realized representative annualized net returns like +17.6%, +17.8%, and +21.5% (among assets held for longer than one year).
New offerings often sell out quickly, but you can skip the waitlist here.
- See important Regulation A disclosures at Masterworks.com/cd
You May Also Like
- Turning 50 with $0 saved for retirement? Most people don’t realize they’re actually just entering their prime earning decade. Here are 6 ways to catch up fast
- Inside a $1B real estate fund offering access to thousands of income-producing rental properties — with flexible minimums starting at $10
- Vanguard’s outlook on U.S. stocks is raising alarm bells for retirees. Here’s why and how to protect yourself
- Here are 5 easy ways to own multiple properties like Bezos and Beyoncé. You can start with $10 (and no, you don’t have to manage a single thing)
The Moneywise Editorial Team is a group of passionate financial experts, seasoned journalists, and content creators who are deeply committed to providing unbiased, relevant, and accurate financial information. With years of combined industry experience, our team is dedicated to maintaining the highest journalistic standards and delivering informative and engaging content. From personal finance and investing to retirement planning and business finance, we cover a broad range of topics to suit the financial needs of our diverse readership. You can trust the Moneywise Editorial Team to empower you with the knowledge and tools necessary to make wise financial decisions.
