Gardner Rich & Co LLC is an FINRA-registered, private stock brokerage firm founded by Chris Gardner in 1987, with only $10,000 and one piece of furniture, after he was homeless for several years. It is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices in New York City and San Francisco. The name "Gardner Rich" was chosen for the company by Gardner because he considers Marc Rich, the commodities trader pardoned by President Bill Clinton in 2001, "one of the most successful futures traders in the world". The 2006 movie, The Pursuit of Happyness, is based upon Chris Gardner's life story, struggles and successes.