How Mario Kelly Turned $27 into Millions

This is a Inspiring journey of Mario kelly how, a homeless man made millions with just $27. His unwavering determination and a heart for service to his community made him what he is now , If you want to know how he rise from rock bottom to remarkable success , Read Full Story.

Full Story of Mario Kelly

In 2020, Mario Kelly had only few dollars in his pocket , he drive a used Honda Civic, and he was not well known person. Living in a run-down neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, Mario had watched too many of his peers fall into poverty, addiction, or prison. 

This kind of life is common in his community, Drug addition and going to prison for theft is common in young people in their community. 

The community was crumbling - abandoned buildings, trash-lined streets, and boarded-up businesses that once bustled with life. One night, after a local corner store shut down, Mario made a decision: If no one else was going to save this place, maybe he should.

He decide to change his community, His journey to change started with a simple act -He bought a used push broom for $12 and a stack of trash bags with the rest of his money.

On that day onwards , Every morning at 5 a.m., he swept the streets, picked up trash, and cleaned graffiti. It didn't make him any money at first, but people noticed.

 An elderly woman handed him five dollars one morning. A barbershop owner gave him free coffee. A retired contractor offered him his old power washer. Little by little, his act of service became a movement.

Within a few months, Mario created a small side hustle cleaning storefronts and vacant lots. 

Kelly started his business by selling rubber bands inscribed with "Believe 313" (Detroit's area code) for $1 each.

He started by offering janitorial services to small businesses around Detroit, often underbidding competitors just to get his foot in the door. This hustle led to the formation of Believe 313 Cleaning, which quickly built a reputation for reliability and professionalism.

He knocked on doors, offered low-cost cleanups to landlords, and slowly built a network of clients. His honesty, hustle, and commitment to the neighborhood's revival earned him respect. One local developer offered him a contract to clean and maintain several properties he was renovating. That was the break Mario needed.

As Mario built relationships through his cleaning services, he began to notice a serious problem: businesses couldn't find good workers, and many capable individuals - especially returning citizens and people with rough pasts - couldn't find jobs. He realized he could help both sides of the equation.

Mario bought more tools with his earnings and hired two young men from the neighborhood who were recently released from jail. 

He saw potential where others saw problems. "You don't just clean streets," he would say. "You clean slates. You rebuild stories."

In 2021, leveraging his cleaning connections and deep understanding of local workforce challenges, Mario officially launched Believe 313 Staffing. His goal was to create a company that didn't just fill job openings, but restored dignity to people who had been overlooked.

 He started small, recruiting workers directly from Detroit neighborhoods and placing them in roles at construction sites, warehouses, and eventually, high-profile venues.

He bought a house for $6,500 and started a cleaning business, which led to the creation of Believe Cleaning, a company that provides top-notch services and creates meaningful employment opportunities for those often overlooked by traditional hiring practices

 a full-service property cleanup, renovation, and management company. Mario reinvested nearly every dollar he earned into training programs, job placement initiatives, and acquiring distressed properties. He wasn't just flipping homes - he was flipping lives.

His first major break came when he landed a contract to supply janitorial staff for Shinola Headquarters, followed by another with Ford Motor Company's manufacturing locations. These contracts validated his model and proved that people given a second chance could perform at the highest level.

-The $27 Millionaire: How Mario Kelly Turned $27 into Millions by Revitalizing Communities and Cleaning Up the Business World

He partnered with city officials and nonprofits, offering youth job training programs and transforming abandoned properties into affordable housing. 

From there, Mario expanded quickly - scaling Believe 313 Staffing into one of Detroit's leading minority-owned staffing agencies while continuing to grow Believe 313 Cleaning as a trusted vendor for corporate clients. By 2024, he had also launched Card Cage Rage, his nonprofit to help others become entrepreneurs, and earned multiple national awards for his impact-driven business approach.

Mario never flaunted his wealth. Instead, he taught financial literacy classes at local high schools, launched a mentorship foundation, and created a grant fund to help others start their own businesses with just $27 - just like he did.

Today, Mario Kelly is known not only as the $27 Millionaire but as a community architect. His story isn't just about rags to riches; it's about turning pain into purpose, and purpose into prosperity.