A wealthy old man disguises himself as a homeless person to find a worthy heir
As he approached his 90th birthday, Charles Beaumont realized he had never written a will. One day, an unusual idea struck him: he would pose as a homeless man in his own supermarket, hoping to find someone worthy of inheriting his fortune. But his search turned out to be more complicated than he had imagined. Find out more in the article below 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇 👇
Beaumont, the owner of the largest supermarket in Oklahoma, was a man of considerable wealth. At 90, he still had a kind face, with mischievous hazel eyes and neatly combed silver hair. He had dedicated his entire life to building his business empire. Too absorbed in his work, he had never taken the time to start a family.
One question constantly haunted him: What will happen to everything I’ve built once I’m gone? He wasn’t inclined to donate his fortune to charities, nor did he trust his business associates enough to leave it to them.
Unable to find an answer, he called his longtime lawyer, Richard Collins.
— What would you do in my place, Richard? he asked. I’ve considered every option, but none of them feel right.
— I know you don’t want to donate your wealth to charity, the lawyer replied. Do you have any distant relatives?
— None, Charles said. I grew up an orphan. I built everything I have with my own hands. I want to pass it on to someone who understands what that means.
— I understand, sir. It’s a difficult choice. Let me think about it. Let’s meet again on Friday.
But Charles knew that no miracle solution would appear by then. The next day, he sat at his desk and tried to list potential successors. After hours of effort, the page remained blank.
Then, an unexpected thought crossed his mind: What if I put my employees to the test? Maybe one of them shares my values.
The next day, he dressed in dirty clothes, grabbed an old cane, and stuck on a fake beard. In disguise, he discreetly entered his supermarket.
As soon as he stepped inside, a cashier named Chloe snapped at him:
— Get out of here, old man! We don’t need people like you here!
— Please… I just need some food. I haven’t eaten in days, Charles pleaded.
— Not my problem, Chloe replied coldly. Go beg somewhere else!
Saddened by such cruelty, Charles continued walking, hoping to find some kindness among the customers. Instead, he found only scorn.
— Who let this tramp in? a woman sneered, stepping back. He smells awful—disgusting!
— Just give him some coins and get him out of here, a man added.
As Charles tried to explain that he was simply hungry, a security guard approached him:
— You need to leave immediately! Our customers are complaining! Who let you in?
Charles was about to walk away, disappointed, when a voice called out behind him:
— Leave this man alone!
He turned around and saw Marc, one of the store’s young supervisors. Marc was 25, had dropped out of college due to financial difficulties, and had been working at the supermarket for a few years.
— Chloe, that’s not how we treat people, Marc said firmly. Get back to your register.
Then he turned to Charles.
— I’m sorry, sir. Come with me—I’ll help you.
Marc took a cart, filled it with essential groceries, paid for everything himself, and handed the bag to Charles.
— Here you go, sir. No one deserves to go hungry.
Charles’s eyes filled with tears.
— Why are you doing this? he asked in a trembling voice. You could have thrown me out like the others.
— Because, Marc replied, a few years ago, I was in your shoes. I knew hunger and homelessness. One day, someone reached out and gave me a chance. I never forgot that kindness.
At that moment, Charles knew he had found the person he was looking for.
Seven years later, when Charles Beaumont passed away, Marc was summoned by Richard Collins. To his great surprise, he learned that the old man had left him his entire fortune and business, along with a letter explaining his decision.
This story reminds us that genuine kindness and respect for others can change lives. Marc’s selfless act resonated with Charles, who saw in him the perfect heir.
