Gold Digger

Suze Orman’s life story has a decidedly made-for-television quality: Waitress (at Berkeley’s Buttercup Bakery) is lent $50,000 by her regular customers to start her own business, gets taken advantage of by a Merrill Lynch broker who loses all her money, then decides to make a career switch from waitress to broker herself to make enough money to repay the loan. The 56-year-old’s accomplishments since then are impressive—she has become a best-selling author, has won two Emmys and five Gracie awards, writes a column for O, The Oprah Magazine and hosts a top-rated show on CNBC. The part-time Pac Heights resident—who claims a personal fortune in the eight figures—is also a frequent guest on The Today Show, Larry King Live, and QVC (where she hawks her Organize and Protect Financial System for the bargain-basement price of $65). Recently, we asked this mistress of money about her successes, sins and satisfaction.

What’s the biggest mistake people make with their finances?
People buy things today hoping they will be able to afford them tomorrow. They live in the future, in a prayer, in possibilities rather than probabilities.

Does your profession make you susceptible to any of the seven deadly sins?
I don’t think I have any sins. I’m honest, I’m generous, I’m ethical, I’m kind. I work harder than almost everyone I know. There’s not one thing I would change. I don’t have any regrets. If I died today, I would be a complete woman. I have exactly the life that I want, on every level—especially in my relationship.

Tell us about your relationship.
I’ve been with my partner, KT [Kathy Travis], for seven years. We met April 16, 2001, when we were introduced by a mutual friend, and I went to [KT’s] house for dinner. The rest is history.

Do you feel frustrated by the way the government denies benefits to same-sex couples?
I feel sad, not frustrated. We deserve those benefits. There are too many gay people in the US to be ignored. Recognize us—don’t punish us. I have to believe that if the Democrats are elected, something will change and we’ll finally be recognized. But if we aren’t, don’t be surprised by what I’ll do—I’m a crazy woman.

What will you do?
I’m building a home right now in South Africa, and I’d think about moving there and giving up my residency. That would get somebody’s attention—me moving all of my money out of the US! But I hope it doesn’t come to that.

You got your start because someone lent you $50,000. Have you ever lent anyone money?
I don’t loan money; I give money. I tell people I give money to that when they become successful, if someone comes asking them for money, they should do the exact same thing—you know, pay it forward.

What one accomplishment has given you the most satisfaction?
Is it that I am a New York Times best-selling author? Or that I am the single most successful fundraiser in the history of PBS? Or that I had a number-one-rated show on CNBC in the first quarter of 2008? Or my column in O magazine? They are all extraordinary accomplishments. But I’d have to say my two Emmy awards. I’m not an actor! I’m a finance person. I got two Emmys for being me. That just blows me away.

You’re known for having only one pair of earrings, yet you also fly around the country on a private jet. Tell us about the things you’re thrifty about and the things that you splurge on.
I have more than one pair! I have two—I finally bought the pair I’d worn to the Emmys after borrowing them so many times. I was trying to prove the point that you don’t have to spend money to keep up. KT and I are thrifty about food. We don’t eat out because we don’t think it’s worth it—she cooks and I do the dishes. We don’t have full-time maids. We hardly vacation anymore because we love our house in Florida so much. We used to spend $20,000 a week on vacation. Even when we fly private, we bring our own food.

Whom would you like to play you in a movie about your life?
I would like to play myself. I don’t think anyone could play me as well as I could. If it wasn’t me, I’d like to have Meryl Streep do it. She’s so real. I have never met her—that’s not my crowd—but she seems great.

What is something the public would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m a recluse. I am much happier—and I’m not talking sexually—when I’m in than when I’m out. I’m very Howard Hughes–like.

Did you watch the spoof of you on Saturday Night Live?
I loved it. I was honored. I want to have her [Kristen Wiig, the actress that played Orman] on my show so I can teach her to
be even more affected, because I think I’m pretty affected.