The Millionaire Next Door

Blue Car and Sky, Metairie LA 1995 from Homefront

All reproduction rights reserved Wm. Greiner

No, I am not talking about the book , The Millionaire Next Door ,
by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko , which taught us how to live below our means and not try to keep up with the Jones.

I am speaking about a New Orleans man, John Marque , who died in March at the age of 79, leaving $20 million to the Greater New Orleans Foundation (www.gnof.org). $20 million is a remarkable sum but the surprise was that it was made by just the kind of guy Stanley and Danko speak about in their book.

John Marque ate breakfast at the local diner and drank at his neighborhood bar. He drove a used Saturn sedan. Marque also still lived in the same house that he had for over three decades and wore thrift store clothing. You get the picture of his modesty?
I am always fascinated by these stories about wealthy people who choose to live quietly and modestly, but this one gave me a small sense of pride, since this story was about a New Orleanian