David Goggins is quite an inspirational figure! His beginnings were shrouded in adversity and challenges, yet he never let those drawbacks get to him! Goggins continues to show the world that his spirit is more than just resilient.
Today, we’re looking at David Goggins’ early life, athletic achievements, and impressive net worth (estimated to be a whopping $2.5 to $5 million!). He’s a self-made millionaire with an incredibly humble and ordinary start to his life, so be prepared; Goggins’ feats of endurance are about to flip your world!
David Goggins: Early Life and Challenges
New York, where dreams are made, is the birthplace of David Goggins. He was born on the 17th of February, 1975, in Buffalo. That makes him almost 50 years old as of writing and means he’s an intense Aquarius with strong world views.
Throughout his early life, Goggins faced many challenges at school and home. Even his health was compromised at a young age. Take a look at those adversities in detail below:
Home Life
Goggins grew up relatively poor. His father was a physical and verbal abuser as well, which made home a problematic place for David to be. His mother was the one source of light there he could count on. David states that she taught him to get up when knocked down and that he owes his strong mentality to her.
Besides his traumatic upbringing, Goggins was an overweight kid (ballooning over 300 pounds/137 kgs). He was also born with a congenital disability, namely ASD (atrial septal defect). In layperson’s terms, it means Goggins had a hole in his heart.
Next to his obesity and asthma, Goggins had many health problems that could’ve easily discouraged him from the life he later on created for himself. Add to that the extreme prejudice and racial aggression he had to experience growing up, too.
Education
Goggins, much like many of you reading this, was bullied throughout his school years. Not only that, but he also battled with multiple learning difficulties, including ADHD, that made learning exceptionally hard for him.
And yet, he persevered. Goggins made it through high school, leaving the educational system without being able to read or write. The soon-to-be millionaire didn’t pursue the traditional education path, like attending college, afterward.
Instead, he decided to enlist in the United States Air Force. There, his journey toward self-improvement and personal development began.
David Goggins: Life in the Army
More challenges awaited Goggins in the army, stopping him from pursuing his dream of becoming a Navy SEAL. He became the only soldier to finish all three induction programs set forth by the military.
For starters, Goggins failed the entrance exam (ASVAB) quite a few times due to his lack of academic preparation. Sadly, after being accepted into the Air Force Pararescue Team, Goggins was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia and had to drop out.
He moved on to serve as a TACP (Tactical Air Control Party) instead from 1994 to 1999. Then, he left the Air Force to join the Navy finally. It took him three tries to pass the Navy’s BUD/S (essential underwater demolition/seal) training program in 2001.
He didn’t stop there. He went through Hell Week, one of the army’s most brutal training programs, three times in the same year. His health was the one reason that held him back the first two times. He suffered double pneumonia and stress fractures (a broken kneecap), yet still came back and succeeded on his third try.
Goggins also completed Army Ranger training later on in 2014. Upon graduation, he proved himself worthy of the ‘Top Honor Man’ award. The military also nicknamed Goggins ‘the toughest man alive’ or ‘the world’s toughest man.’
David Goggins: Operation Red Wings
Perhaps the most challenging time Goggins went through was in 2005 during the Red Wings operation in Afghanistan.
Following a devastating helicopter crash, 12 Navy SEALs died—all of whom were close friends and personal heroes of Goggins. More SEALs were brutally injured in the fighting, making the news more crushing for David.
The latter went on to run races and raise money (around $2 million) for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. Doing so allowed the kids of his deceased friends to live comfortably and go to college.
Because of his charitable act, the IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America) non-profit organization awarded Goggins the Veteran Leadership award at their 2019 Gala.
The Toughest Man Alive: Goggins’ Athletic Achievements
After retiring from the army as Chief Petty Officer, Goggins achieved remarkable athletic feats, particularly in endurance sports. He thrives on pain and challenges himself to push further beyond his limits. His catchphrases say it all: ‘Stay hard!’ and ‘Force yourself to get it done.’
Below, we take a glance at just some of Goggins’ athletic achievements:
- Ultramarathons: The most grueling ultramarathon Goggins completed was the Badwater Ultramarathon. It’s a 135-mile (217-kilometer) race through Death Valley. It’s also known for its extreme heat and challenging terrain.
- Pull-Up World Record: In 2013, Goggins set the Guinness World Record for the most pull-ups done in 24 hours (4,030 pull-ups in 17 hours). This particular feat showcases Goggins’ mental resilience to endure hours of continuous effort.
- 24-Hour Races: Goggins has run over 100 miles (160 kilometers) daily during such events. This speaks to his endurance and toughness.
Still, Goggins’ daily routine further shows how intense this man is. Take the time, for instance, to hear how he manages to stick to the habit of running about 250 miles a month in this video.
David Goggins: Motivational Speaker and Author
“The pain you are willing to endure is measured by how bad you want it” – David Goggins.
In his life, Goggins has written four books inspiring others with his life story. The following books show people how to take life by the horns and stop making excuses for their shortcomings.
-
- Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds (2018): A memoir and biography of Goggins’ troubling early life and how he overcame it
- Built Not Born (2019): Talks of Goggins’ journey of self-building from the ground up
- Workbook for Can’t Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds (2020): Apply Goggins’ tips to master your life.
- Never Finished: Unshackle Your Mind and Win the War Within (2022): Learn why Goggins hasn’t stopped working on himself despite being rich.
Listen also to Goggins on Andrew Huberman’s podcast as he talks about building inner strength and how he mastered his inner dialogue to motivate him instead of bring him down.
The Self-Made Millionaire: What is Goggins’ Net Worth?
Goggins has successfully cumulated an impressive net worth that ranges from $2.5 to $5 million. As a retired Navy SEAL, his wealth comes from his motivational books and speaking seminars.
When he’s not running or motivating others, he works as an Advanced Emergency Technician and a summer firefighter in British Columbia.
Final Thoughts
We don’t know about you, but we’re more than impressed by David Goggins’ life! His ability to push his limits despite his grand net worth and wealth is a lesson many of us could benefit from.