Rags-to-riches tramp bags fortune in bottles

Reuters October 14, 2009, 2:33 am

If you are unable to view this video, you may need to install the latest Flash plug-in, available free here.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - A 63-year-old homeless Russian man has gone from street life to stock market trader after collecting thousands of empty booze bottles for cash, a popular Russian tabloid reported on Tuesday.

Pictured in a majestic purple suit and matching violet jewelry, Leonid Konovalov told the Tvoi Den paper he collected around 2,000 bottles a day over the past year since the economic downturn hit Russia last autumn.

What do you think of Leonid's success story? Leave your comments below.

"Russians are drinking a little bit more due to the crisis, and this helped me get out of the rubbish dump," said Konovalov, an ex-engineer from the industrial city of Kemerovo in eastern Siberia who has spent the last 20 years living in a tip.

Russia's many homeless are often seen rooting through rubbish for bottles and tins, which they can trade for money. A glass bottle can fetch about 2 rubles ($0.06).

The bearded former tramp said he was encouraged by his two grandchildren to take risks on the stock market and said his first transaction was a 50,000 euro ($74,120) share-purchase.

(Reporting by Amie Ferris-Rotman, editing by Paul Casciato)

Show:

Newest First

Oldest First

1 - 10 of 69

First Page | < Previous | Next > | Last Page

69 Comments

Post your comment

ton c 06:57am Thursday 15th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
Just suppose that he could have saved all the money he made from the sale of the bottles,at the end of the year he would still be some 20,000 euro short of the 50,000 he invested.Unbelievable!
Kuechie 08:43pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
good on him...........!!
Gary 05:34pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
Marmajuke what are you talking about you sound like a pedofile wake up to yourself
noel 01:55pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
That has to be a misprint...2000 bottles a day! Thats around 80 bottles an hour 24hrs a day...no sleep!
hazza 01:44pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
it is so good to hear a good news story, instaed of all the bad news like rape and assult etc best of luck.to him.
no 01:43pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
good on him if only the world had more people like him who actually do it and less of the greenies crying about doing it this old world might be a better place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alex 01:37pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
Now thats Trailer Park Life! In Russia bottles collect you!.
Dominic 01:35pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
Amarjeet C can you prove allegations you just made? Have you ever seen what a courtroom looks like Mybe you will make slanderous allegation to the wrong person sooner than you think...I then..... you could talk to Sue about it !
rosemary 01:27pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
Well done to him
Casey 01:19pm Wednesday 14th October 2009 EST Report Abuse
Good on him for taking initiative and getting himself out of a bad situation. I hope he makes millions!