In 1981, Chris Gardner was a struggling salesman in little needed medical bone density scanners while his wife toiled in double shifts to support the family including their young son, Christopher. In the face of this difficult life, Chris has the desperate inspiration to try for a stockbroker internship where one in twenty has a chance of a lucrative full time career. Even when his wife leaves him because of this choice, Chris clings to this dream with his son even when the odds become more daunting by the day. Together, father and son struggle through homelessness, jail time, tax seizure and the overall punishing despair in a quest that would make Gardner a respected millionaire. Written by Kenneth Chisholm.
已近而立之年的克里斯·加德纳(威尔·史密斯)，早已经厌烦了作为一个普普通通的医疗器械推销员的职业。如今，则面临着来自家庭、社会等等的压力。况且，从他自己内心出发，克里斯·加德纳也不甘心这样庸碌一生而终。于是，克里斯·加德纳终于不顾妻子的反对，在这一年下定了转行的决心。投入到奉献颇高却也回报不斐的股票行业。并准备凭借自己的灵活头脑大展拳脚一番。然而，瞬息万变的股票业的风险岂是经验单薄的克里斯·加德纳可以应付的。他的成功梦很快就遭受了沉重的打击——多年来积累的家底被迅速耗尽，连自己的房子也被银行抵押，伤痛的妻子琳达(珊迪·纽顿)更是甩手离去。留下加德纳只有五岁的儿子克里斯托弗(杰登·史密斯)与其共同艰难度日。除了可爱的小儿子加德纳一无所有。从此，小克里斯托弗便跟着爸爸开始了颠沛流离的漂泊生活。最潦倒时，父子俩甚至要跑到火车站的澡堂里捱过漫长的黑夜。但如此惨淡的磨难却从未摧毁父子间的亲情与他们的信念，在小儿子的不断鼓励下，加德纳愈发地坚强起来，并迸发出了惊人的斗志。在历经多次挫折之后，终于再次拥有了属于自己的事业——一家以自己名字命名的证券公司。终于从一个穷困潦倒、济济无名的投资经纪人变成了世人瞩目、人人景仰的百万富翁。
