A Wall Street Banker Turned to Comedy for Happiness and a Career Change
If you’re looking for proof that comedy can transform people, look no further than the career of Scott Auerbach.
In 2015, a Wall Street banker from Connecticut decided to sell his soul and quit his life of debt in order to pursue a career in standup comedy. His transition from one world to the other was both sudden and surprising.
“I was just like, damn, this is a funny business,” Auerbach says of the decision.
His story is a great example of why it’s important to support the arts and to recognize their value. After all, it’s not just an entertaining way to pass the time; it can also mean the difference between a successful life and not.
Auerbach has been a part of a network of the world’s top comedians, including Bill Burr, John Mulaney, Dave Chappelle, Jim Gaffigan, Aziz Ansari, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Kevin James, and Patton Oswalt. He has appeared on and hosted some of the most popular reality shows on TV, including The State vs. Dr. Drew, and starred in an upcoming Comedy Central special. But this is the first time that he has considered a career move outside of comedy.
Auerbach moved from New York to Los Angeles in 2015 to launch his own business. He started by selling his home—his wife’s family still lived there—and selling his furniture to recoup his belongings. He then leased a warehouse to store his equipment.
It wasn’t until he was sitting in this warehouse that he realized his career was on the rocks.
“I thought, ‘This is what I do for a living. I’ll go out and entertain the world.’ I thought things would be great and the world would thank me and then suddenly they started getting mad at me again and saying I just can’t do it,” Auerbach says.
His first job out of his home was a little different than he expected. After he opened his storefront, he had to turn around and leave because he got a call from the bank, telling him he’d never been a good credit risk.
