Understanding generational wealth and financial literacy, in general, can help many people escape poverty. That’s the message that investment coach Leon Howard, better known as Wall Street Trapper, preaches to his online following. He is an ex-convict who learned lessons the hard way. As of 2023, Wall Street Trapper has a net worth of $6 million.
Early Life
Leon Howard was born on July 9, 1962 and was raised in an urban neighborhood in New Orleans, Louisiana. At nine years old, he tragically witnessed his mother get shot, sadly she passed away. Later on, he got involved in pulling robberies and other sketchy dealings to get by.
When he turned 17, he was convicted of a murder-related charge, which gave him a 10-year prison sentence. While in jail at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, he met an unnamed white man who changed the way he viewed money.
The man revealed that when his sentence was over, he would still have $2 million in the bank. He also told Leon that he wasn’t on the right track, educating him about the importance of investing and building businesses.
Achieving Freedom
As an inmate, Howard spent a lot of his time learning about the stock market by reading books and watching CNBC. He was also chosen to be a prison laborer, cutting down trees and earning eight cents per hour.
After his sentence ended, Leon landed a job as an ironworker, setting up structural frameworks and installing support pieces for buildings. The New Orleans native decided to invest 70% of his income into stocks.
Despite being a free man, he still had several financial setbacks. However, Leon was persistent and kept on learning. In the end, he became a full-time entrepreneur and investor.
Becoming an Educator
Leon launched his company, From the Trap to Wall Street, to teach financial literacy to the average person. In 2018, he created the Wall Street Trapper YouTube channel to reach a larger audience.
He also created WallStreetTrapper.com to sell online courses, e-books, and merchandise. Apart from making his own content, he was a frequent guest on podcasts like The Breakfast Club, Lewis Howe, and Earn Your Leisure.
In interviews, the businessman became known for his teaching style, which was developed to be more relatable to African-Americans living in urban areas. This helped him attract over 320,000 YouTube subscribers to his channel.
Net Worth and Earnings
Though he keeps his portfolio private, it is likely that Leon’s biggest income source is through investing in stable stocks such as Google and Apple. He also earns a considerable amount of income through brand deals, YouTube ad revenue, merch and courses.
Although he has an estimated fortune of $6 million, Howard has indicated via social media that net worth details can be hidden through trusts and LLCs. This means that his fortune might be bigger than expected.
Personal Life
After meeting at a cafe in Alaska, Leon started dating fellow social media star, Maria Gloria. They have a son together, but both influencers also have a child from previous relationships. The couple takes care of the three kids in Citrus Heights, California.
