Dreaming Of Early Retirement? Learn How Nathanael Farrelly Did It By 29 With $14 Million Net Worth

What comes to mind when you hear the word 'retirement'? You might imagine an older version of yourself quietly sitting on a sofa watching television, or lounging in a hammock, gazing at the sunset while sipping a cocktail.

However, a Florida man has turned this idea on its head by achieving retirement at just 29 years old. Surprised? Let's explore how he did it.

Nathanael Farrelly's story was recently shared on CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series. His path to early retirement began when he met his then-girlfriend and decided to build a future with her. He left school midway through 10th grade and earned a General Educational Development (GED) diploma, compressing two years of coursework into less than one. After receiving her father's permission, the couple got married just two days after her 18th birthday.

With his GED in hand, Farrelly enrolled in summer classes at a local community college to become a nurse. At the same time, he began pursuing a bachelor's degree - often a requirement for advancement in the field.

In 2017, at just 21 years old, Farrelly became a registered nurse. His first job was in a hospital step-down unit. Despite only receiving a week of training, he was immediately responsible for a full patient load due to a staffing shortage. Though he dreaded going to work, he persisted. That experience ultimately inspired him to take a different route within the nursing profession.

In March 2020, he launched his own company, Revitalize Specialty Infusion, which specialized in administering medications and fluids directly into patients' bloodstreams via intravenous (IV) or other methods, all in the comfort of their homes. The company also offered enteral feeding services through catheters inserted into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Farrelly funded the business using personal savings and profits from a house he and his wife bought for $140,000 and later flipped for $310,000.

Launching the startup during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Farrelly focused on hiring local nurses and empowering them with flexible schedules. As the business gained momentum, he avoided relying heavily on outside loans or debt.

Before long, acquisition offers began pouring in. While initially hesitant, Farrelly later realized that the company could not scale further without external support and that a larger organization could better serve both patients and nurses. He also wanted to spend more time with his growing family.

In May 2023, Farrelly sold Revitalize to Illinois-based Option Care Health, one of the nation's largest providers of infusion therapy, for $12.5 million. He remained with the company for a year to ensure a smooth transition.

Today, Farrelly lives in Pensacola, Florida, with his wife and three children - with a fourth on the way. The family is now supported by a net worth of nearly $14 million, which includes over $5.6 million in cash, $2.77 million in stocks, $2.5 million in real estate, and $500,000 in cryptocurrency.

The family funds their monthly expenses from the interest generated by their cash savings, which is about $30,000 a month, spending roughly half and reinvesting the rest.