Suze Orman’s First Job — and the Money Lessons You Can Learn From It
Written by
Catherine Collins
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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Suze Orman is a well-known personal finance expert who has published several bestselling books, had her own TV show and now has a top money-focused podcast. However, she didn’t start out as a successful multimillionaire.
Several of her first jobs included working in the dish room in her college dorm, clearing dead trees for a tree service and waitressing. The valuable lessons she learned in these jobs are still relevant today.
According to recent Federal Reserve data, total U.S. household debt in 2025 was nearly $19 trillion, underscoring the importance of learning money management principles and applying them to improve people’s financial lives. Here are some examples of money lessons people can learn from Orman’s early years.
Be Intentional With Money
When Orman started college, she worked washing dishes in the dish room at her college. She also had other jobs, like working for a tree company and waitressing. Because Orman worked physically demanding jobs, she learned the value of a dollar, which made her less wasteful. Even as a multimillionaire financial expert today, Orman said she has never bought a Starbucks coffee in her life.
Don’t Invest in What You Don’t Understand
As a waitress, Orman dreamed of owning her own restaurant, as shared on her website. Her regular customers raised money to help her get started. She tried to do the right thing by investing the money.
However, the broker she worked with placed her money in extremely risky investments, and she lost it all. This experience made Orman determined to understand investing to the point where she became a broker herself. The money expert learned that people shouldn’t invest in what they don’t understand or sign financial documents without understanding the impact.
Setbacks Are Opportunities To Learn
One of Orman’s biggest financial losses changed the course of her life. Not only did she become a licensed broker because of it, but she went on to be a successful financial expert with millions of listeners. Her experiences teach others that people shouldn’t dwell on their financial mistakes, as they are bound to happen. Instead, people should use challenging financial experiences as an opportunity to learn and grow.
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