Glenn Stearns

Our Own Undercover Billionaire

Glenn Stearns of ‘Undercover Billionaire’ speaks onstage during the Discovery Channel portion of the Discovery, Inc.’s Summer 2019 TCA Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on July 25, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery)

Glenn and Mindy Stearns may have moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming from Newport Beach a few years ago, but they return often to visit. Glenn, renowned for founding Stearns Lending, one of the largest mortgage lenders in the U.S., was the youngest person to receive the prestigious Horatio Alger Award in 2011 for representing the ideals of the American dream. He had come a long way as a teenage father and school dropout. His philanthropy and mentorship activities for young people are legion. Following a recent cancer scare, Glenn wanted a new business challenge and Discovery Channel proposed making him its central character in a new show titled Undercover Billionaire. Glenn’s mission was to turn $100 into a million-dollar business in 90 days (or pay $1 million to the business if not successful). He was dropped in Erie, Pennsylvania in winter with a cell phone (he cannot use previous contacts) and an old pickup truck and, as of this moment, with half of the episodes shown, it’s up in the air. With this man’s business acumen, sincerity and love of people, I think I know the answer!