GARY RUSSEL
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From Hustles To Heroes
The Unexpected Journey of Gary Russel
Let’s be honest—no one dreams of becoming a tax guy when they’re a kid. Firefighter? Sure. Astronaut? Maybe. Dinosaur wrangler? Now we’re talking. But somehow, Gary Russel managed to live all of those dreams… sort of.
It all started back in Vacaville, CA, in the 1990s. Gary "knew a guy" who crafted a dollar sign out of tile in the bottom of a pool for rapper Too $hort. It was flashy, fun, and destined for foreclosure. Enter Henry—another guy Gary "just happened" to meet—who scooped the property up at auction and flipped it like a pancake. That wasn’t just a cool story. That was one of Gary’s many 'pivotal pivots': real estate isn’t just about land—it’s about timing, vision, and knowing a guy who knows a guy.
The journey took a serious turn when Gary attended a seminar by Charles J. Givens, a man who made taxes sound almost… exciting? (Hey, we said almost.) Gary got hooked, dove deep, and ramped up a tax business that’s been thriving for over 30 years—because it turns out people like saving money. Who knew?
But Gary wasn’t about to coast on calculators and capital gains. He knew there was more. He found real estate mentor James Smith, who helped him turn curiosity into strategy. And strategy into deals. Big deals.
Then came the twist no one saw coming: Funaticals. Because deep down, Gary never stopped being that wide-eyed kid who loved toys, comics, movie props, and yes—animatronic dinosaurs. (Seriously. Ask him.) He began collecting the weird, the rare, the unforgettable. And then turned that passion into a business that does multimillion-dollar deals with legacy brands like Marvel Comics.
Today, Gary’s not just doing business—he’s creating profitable ways to nonprofit. He teaches others how to turn their own mix of hustle, heart, and childhood dreams into real, meaningful success. Whether it’s real estate, taxes, or pop culture treasure-hunting, life’s too short to play small. And way too short not to own a full-sized dinosaur.
"Whatever you focus on expands.
Let'S focus on the good things in life."
– LETTER TO THE PhilIPPIANS 4:8
In a world where people increasingly confuse virtue-signaling with altruistic action, and good works are interrupted by the noise of feeds and scrolling, FUNATICALS is on mission to tangibly share fun, love and kindness by providing real-world support and resources for individuals and families in need. We believe in the power and strength of kindness in action to provide hope for individuals and unity for communities. Join us on our journey of transforming the world we share, one act of fun at a time.
THOSE WHO POSSESS THE MOST HOPE CARRY THE MOST INFLUENCE.
THOSE WHO LAY THE DEEPEST ROOTS REACH THE HIGHEST HEIGHTS.
RootedToRise.org specializes in bridging the gap between stewards and the asset-based strategies necessary to preserve wealth and build legacies that stand the test of time. It's mission is to empower the legacy-minded with the resources, insights, and inspiration needed to make informed decisions and create a meaningful impact. Gary and his wife Tamara Russel believe in living Rooted To Rise.
Russel
'FUNATICAL' ABOUT LIFE+MONEY
Gary
Gary Russel is a loving husband, father and Funpa. He loves collecting the cool and unusual: toys and comics, movie memorabilia, theme park props, life sized animatronic dinosaurs. He does so for his personal collection while helping others do the same through his nonprofit Funaticals.
He specializes in all aspects of real estate investment, asset protection and wealth management. He has extensive senior level sales and finance experience, as well as three decades of tax preparation and asset management consulting. As one of the top trainers for The Wealth Expo he trained thousands of students under the banner of Tony Robbins, Grant Cardone, Daymond John, Robert Herjavec, Robert Kiyosaki, Flip or Flop, and Good Bones.
Since 2006, he and his wife Tamera have focused their efforts to help other people achieve their potential by understanding the fundamentals of real estate investing, quality relationships and successful life design.
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3 MOVES TO GET 'FUNATICAL' ON
VISIT PAYZEROTAXES.CO
VISIT FUNATICALS.ORG
VISIT ROOTEDTORISE.ORG