Curt Degerman: the story of the Swedish tramp who gambled in the stock market
Curt Degerman is a shining example of how appearances can be deceiving. This Swede broke the stereotype that a rich man must have expensive real estate and a prestigious car, and must dress only in branded clothes. Despite the fact that Curt was a millionaire, it was always easy to confuse him with a homeless man.
Degerman was born in 1948 to a wealthy family, and from an early age, his parents planned a brilliant career for him. The boy did well in school, but as a teenager, an unknown drama occurred, after which Curt stopped studying and dropped out of school. The young man began begging, left home, and his relatives stopped communicating with him. The only one who supported him all his life was a cousin.
In his hometown of Shellefteo, Curt was known to many people. For almost 40 years he rode his bike around town in the same clothes, collecting garbage and taking the contents to the recycling station. Yet he did not drink or do drugs, did not seem unhappy, was affable, and left the impression of an intelligent and adequate man. He lived in a house, but the place was very neglected and untidy.
However, Degerman had a secret. He traded on stock exchanges, investing in Swedish companies and precious metals. To do this, Curt visited the library every day, where he looked through newspapers. This activity allowed him to study thoroughly the rules of the stock market and track its dynamics. Degerman bought stocks with the money he got from recycling. Despite the fact that things were going great on the stock exchange, Curt did not spend the money he earned, although he accumulated considerable capital during his life. He was able to collect a million euros on his own only by his own efforts and correct steps in trading. Almost all of Degerman’s income was reinvested, thanks to which his savings grew.
In 2008, Curt died of a heart attack and was found in his own bed. It turned out that while still alive he had made a detailed will, according to which he owned shares worth 1.1 million euros, and 124 bars of gold. In addition, in the name of Degerman a deposit was opened in the bank in the amount of 6.5 thousand euros, and 450 euros were found at home. All of his capital Curt bequeathed to his cousin, the only close person with whom he communicated all his life.
However, upon learning about the capital, other relatives were immediately found who wanted to appropriate part of the money for themselves. The lawsuit lasted several months, and eventually, the relatives managed to come to an agreement.
