<P> Christopher Paul Gardner ( born February 9 , 1954 ) is an American businessman , investor , stockbroker , motivational speaker , author , and philanthropist who , during the early 1980s , struggled with homelessness while raising his toddler son , Christopher Gardner Jr . Gardner 's book of memoirs , The Pursuit of Happyness , was published in May 2006 . The 2006 motion picture The Pursuit of Happyness , directed by Gabriele Muccino and starring Will Smith is based on the book . He was CEO of his own stockbrokerage firm , Gardner Rich & Co , which he founded in 1987 , based in Chicago , Illinois until he sold his share in 2006 to found Christopher Gardner International Holdings . Then in 2012 , just before his wife 's death , she challenged him to find true happiness and fulfillment in the remainder of his life . He now travels all over the world 200 days a year as a motivational speaker . Gardner has spoken in over 50 countries . </P>
<P> Christopher Paul Gardner ( born February 9 , 1954 ) is an American businessman , investor , stockbroker , motivational speaker , author , and philanthropist who , during the early 1980s , struggled with homelessness while raising his toddler son , Christopher Gardner Jr . Gardner 's book of memoirs , The Pursuit of Happyness , was published in May 2006 . The 2006 motion picture The Pursuit of Happyness , directed by Gabriele Muccino and starring Will Smith is based on the book . He was CEO of his own stockbrokerage firm , Gardner Rich & Co , which he founded in 1987 , based in Chicago , Illinois until he sold his share in 2006 to found Christopher Gardner International Holdings . Then in 2012 , just before his wife 's death , she challenged him to find true happiness and fulfillment in the remainder of his life . He now travels all over the world 200 days a year as a motivational speaker . Gardner has spoken in over 50 countries . </P>
who is the movie the pursuit of happiness based on
who is the movie the pursuit of happiness based on
Christopher Paul Gardner
Christopher Paul Gardner