In 26.14 seconds, Isaac Caldiero climbed 75 feet of rope — and six tax brackets.
The 33-year-old rock climber had never earned more than $10,000 a year until Monday night, when he hustled and muscled his way from crags to riches and earned a $1 million payday as the first-ever winner of NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior.”
For those unfamiliar with the show, hundreds of incredibly fit competitors attempt to jump, climb and swing their way across insanely challenging obstacles on a course that looks like a giant Erector set co-designed by Rube Goldberg and the Marquis de Sade.
The prize money should end Caldiero’s career as a busboy and working odd jobs to support his rock climbing and ninja training, Caldiero tells MarketWatch, but he insists he won’t be adventurous with his newfound wealth.
“You’re not going to see us driving around in a brand-new Ferrari,” Caldiero says. “I’m going to be smart with the money and invest it.”
Though he wouldn’t get into specifics, beyond saying he’s still talking to trusted friends in the financial industry, Caldiero suggests he’ll be far more risk-averse in stocks than he is on rocks.
Though it’s more money than he’s ever seen, after taxes he won’t exactly be a millionaire, Caldiero notes. But other than the $3,000 he owes on his Subaru, he doesn’t really have any debt. So he plans to share his winnings with his family, replace the motor on his 1978 Dodge Jamboree RV, and invest the rest to support an ascetic lifestyle centered on traveling and climbing across the country with his girlfriend.
“For the past six years, my girlfriend and I have lived on less than $10,000 a year,” says Caldiero, who has had “home bases” in Utah and Nevada. “There have been times I’ve had less than $20 to my name — there were times I’d eat cereal and water for breakfast and live on ramen noodles and potatoes, and sleep in the front seat of my car or in the RV.”
Caldiero says he’s learned to strategize with his limited means. “Who needs all that consuming, anyway?” he asks. “It’s a lot of sacrifice, but it’s worth it to have the ultimate freedom we have.”
Aside from climbing and traveling, Caldiero says he’d also like to work to increase awareness of the ninja sport. Along with rock climbing, parkour and ninja gyms have surged in popularity as people search for fitness alternatives to more traditional workouts.
Pressed to name one item he might splurge on, Caldiero concedes he’s long overdue for some new clothes. “I might buy myself a nice shirt,” he says, which may surprise fans who’ve only seen him topless on the show.