How This 81-Year-Old Gives Away $70K Monthly (And Still Profits)

Timestamp 05:39 - "Giving is very selfish because it feels so good."

Did you know that 40% of the entire US economy consists of free money, resources, and assistance that most entrepreneurs never tap into?

While most business coaches tell you to charge premium prices and focus on maximizing profit margins, 81-year-old Matthew Lesko has built a thriving business doing the exact opposite—charging just $20 for his membership community and giving away between $50,000-$70,000 monthly back to his members.

And here's the kicker: he's still tremendously profitable.

In this eye-opening episode of The Nathan Newberry Show, Matthew Lesko—known for his eccentric suits and decades of bestselling books about government programs—reveals the counterintuitive business model that allowed him to build a 15,000-person community and create more wealth by focusing on giving rather than taking.

Who Is Matthew Lesko?

You might recognize Matthew Lesko from his colorful question-mark suits on late-night TV infomercials or his frequent appearances on shows like Larry King and David Letterman. At 81 years old, Lesko has:

• Published over 20 books about free government money
• Built a YouTube channel with 300,000+ subscribers
• Created an Instagram following of 300,000+
• Established a 15,000-person membership community
• Appeared on major television shows including Letterman and Larry King

But Matthew's journey wasn't always successful. His first venture—a computer software company in the 1970s—failed miserably. "I wasn't having fun. It was costing money, didn't have much. So I was going broke. Nothing was working," Lesko explains.

That's when he discovered the secret that would transform his life and business forever.

Timestamp 13:16 - "I couldn't do personal help because you have to charge lots of money... But I wanted to charge $20. So that's why I created a community."

The 40% Economy Most Entrepreneurs Never Access

According to Lesko, nearly half of the US economy operates on a completely different model than what most entrepreneurs focus on:

"Our society is made up of government and nonprofit organizations on one side, and capitalism on the other. Government and nonprofit organizations make up 40% of our economy. They're the part of our economy that gives to members."

While most business owners struggle to compete in the capitalist marketplace—where everything costs money—Lesko discovered an untapped goldmine of resources in this "giving economy" that most entrepreneurs ignore.

"Every fat cat lives off this stuff," Lesko explains. "This is why when Trump had his swearing-in ceremony, he had three billionaires behind him. Every fat cat lives off this stuff. And they know this is the best place to get free money and information for anything."

The Two Hidden Resources Every Entrepreneur Should Know About

Lesko points to two specific resources that have transformed countless businesses:

1. SBA.gov/local-assistance - By entering your zip code, you'll discover dozens of nonprofit organizations in your area that provide free consulting, mentoring, and resources to help you start or grow any type of business.
2. FindHelp.org - This database contains thousands of nonprofit organizations giving out free money and assistance for everything from rent to business expenses.

Timestamp 21:57 - "Every fat cat lives off this stuff. And they know this is the best place to get free money and information for anything."

The Heart-First Business Model That Transformed His Life

Perhaps the most counterintuitive aspect of Lesko's business philosophy is his insistence that success comes from focusing on your heart first—not tactics, strategies, or even market demand.

"High performance to me now is going from your heart," says Lesko. "Everybody has a thousand ways to make money. That may or may not work, but there's a way I believe, you know, being 81 is man, the key to anything is your heart."

This philosophy emerged after years of failure and struggle:

"When I first started dressing like this or whatever, I lost millions of dollars. They wouldn't let me on TV anymore. You can't talk about financial success and look like a f***ing clown."

But Lesko discovered something profound: when he started being authentic and focusing on having fun first, the success followed naturally.

"I started having fun. Then I started being successful," he explains. "That fun comes from you and your heart."

Timestamp 07:36 - "If you look at your work as giving...I never want work to be work. I think we're all here to work. We're all here to give. We're all here to give to other people, otherwise, what are you giving up the space for?"

Why Giving Is "Very Selfish" (And More Profitable)

One of Lesko's most provocative claims is that giving is actually "very selfish"—but not in the way you might think.

"Giving is very selfish because it feels so good," he explains. "And actually maybe it's my age. So don't trust me. At 81, you know, I'm different than whatever you are. But at your age, and until really pretty recently, men in this society worked on getting stronger, faster, smarter. Well, at 81, none of that shit's going to get better."

"All that's going downhill," he continues. "But I can love harder. And that's what it is. So that's why my work now, it's all about love. How much can I love you today?"

This heart-centered approach to business has allowed Lesko to create a thriving community where the focus is on mutual support rather than extraction or transaction.

"Our community, we have a community of 15,000 people that just try to love each other as much as possible, helping them get the money and help they need to succeed in life. And that's what I do. I wake up every day. Now, how many people can I help today?"

The $20 Membership Model That Generated Millions

Against all conventional business advice, Lesko chose to price his membership at just $20—a decision that raised eyebrows among business experts.

"Everybody told me I couldn't make money at $20," he reveals. "I did. I made so much money now."

So much, in fact, that after covering his expenses, he gives the majority of profits back to his community members:

"We give back like every month we give out maybe $50,000 to $70,000 back to members and grants with our profit. That's what we do with our profit. So long as we pay ourselves and after that, we give the money back to people."

This approach has created a virtuous cycle: the more value he gives, the more his community grows, and the more profitable his business becomes—allowing him to give even more.

Timestamp 33:50 - "I've never dreamt in my wildest imagination that I'd be able to do something like that. I thought you had to be Jeff Bezos or his ex-wife or something to be able to do that. And a little schmuck like me in a little business can do that. And you can."

From Market Research to Giving Economy

Lesko's journey to discovering government resources wasn't planned. He initially started helping Fortune 500 companies access government funding:

"I was in Washington and I would help them [Fortune 500 companies], when they wanted to start or grow a business, I'd find a government office that would help them, give them money, them anything they want. These are billionaires, millionaires."

After three years of success with this model, Lesko had an epiphany:

"Jesus, am I helping millionaires become billionaires with free money? And I grew up in a little town called Wilkes-Barre of Pennsylvania, it was a coal mining town... We didn't know anything about government programs."

This realization led him to shift his focus to helping ordinary people access the same resources that wealthy individuals and corporations were already leveraging.

Five Key Insights for Entrepreneurs

Based on Matthew Lesko's experience and philosophy, here are five actionable insights for entrepreneurs:

1. Access the 40% Economy: Visit SBA.gov/local-assistance and FindHelp.org to discover free resources available to your business that most of your competitors aren't utilizing.
2. Build Heart-Centered Communities: Consider how you can create a community around your business where members help each other, rather than just being passive consumers.
3. Focus on Having Fun First: As Lesko discovered, "I started having fun. Then I started being successful." Consider what aspects of your business bring you joy and lean into those.
4. Experiment Constantly: "The secret is doing something," Lesko emphasizes. "You don't know what is right to do. The only thing you have to know is what's right not to do is nothing."
5. Consider Lower-Priced, Higher-Volume Models: While conventional wisdom pushes high-ticket offers, Lesko's $20 membership proves that a lower price point with the right value can create massive success.

Timestamp 30:09 - "The experts and our loved ones, particularly loved ones are worse than experts because they don't want to see you hurt. They stop you from failing because that's the only way you're going to learn if you fail."

Why Most Entrepreneurs Give Up Too Soon

According to Lesko, the biggest difference between success and failure isn't strategy—it's persistence through inevitable challenges.

"That's why if your heart is not in it, you'll leave because you're going to get bad stuff," he explains. "Once you try, there's always going to be bad parts to it."

"So that's why you have to dig into you. What's important to you. So what the f*** happens? You're going to get your ass off the ground and start swinging again. That's the only key to success is longevity."

This perspective comes from decades of experience and multiple failures. When Lesko first adopted his eccentric persona with question-mark-covered suits, he lost millions in potential business because "You can't talk about financial success and look like a f***ing clown."

But by staying true to his authentic self and persevering through the criticism, he eventually built a brand that's instantly recognizable and has helped millions of people.

Your Heart Is Smarter Than Your Brain

Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from Matthew Lesko's interview is his closing statement:

"Remember, your heart is smarter than your brain."

At 81 years old, after building multiple successful businesses, appearing on national television, and helping countless entrepreneurs access resources they never knew existed, Lesko has distilled his wisdom into this simple truth.

While conventional business advice focuses on strategies, tactics, and metrics, Lesko suggests that the most reliable compass for entrepreneurial success is within you already—if you have the courage to listen to it.

How to Apply Lesko's Approach to Your Business

Ready to implement Matthew Lesko's unconventional wisdom in your own business? Here are three immediate steps you can take:

1. Audit Your Business Model: Are you charging premium prices because "experts" told you to, or because it truly aligns with your values? Consider whether a more accessible price point with higher volume might better serve both your audience and your business.
2. Explore Free Resources: Visit the websites Lesko recommended (SBA.gov/local-assistance and FindHelp.org) to discover what free resources are available to your business. You might be surprised by how much support exists that you weren't aware of.
3. Build a Community-Based Model: How can you transform your customer base into a community where members support each other? This shift can dramatically increase retention and word-of-mouth growth.

Ready for a Business Transformation?

If Matthew Lesko's approach to business resonates with you—focusing on heart-centered service, leveraging free resources, and building community—then you're likely ready for a transformation in your own business.

Nathan Newberry helps elite business owners implement these principles alongside cutting-edge AI and automation systems to create rapid growth while buying back their time.

Ready to explore how these principles could transform your business? Schedule a free Business Growth Strategy Session with Nathan to discover the untapped potential in your business model.

SCHEDULE YOUR FREE STRATEGY SESSION

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