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Panhandler Boasts About Making $200 An Hour On NYC Streets, Here’s The Secret Behind His Lucrative Hustle

By Meaghan Ellis
Published on: 07:20 PST, Nov 13, 2015

A panhandler has revealed he makes a staggering $200 an hour outside Grand Central Terminal on the streets of New York City. According to Opposing Views, the man with the cash is Will Andersen. It has been reported that Andersen, a former theater stagehand, fell on hard times and found himself homeless. But, after three years of homelessness, he stumbled upon a lucrative hustle that’s afforded him the opportunity to turn his life around. Panhandling is the name of the game.

During an interview with New York Post, the profitable panhandler shared details about his everyday life, revealing how he makes a living off donations from generous, sympathetic New Yorkers going about their day.

According to Fox News, Andersen spends most of his time on East 42nd Street, between Vanderbilt and Madison Avenues. Although some days aren’t as profitable as others, Andersen still makes much more than most people would imagine.

“On a Friday morning, I make $400 in two hours,” Andersen said.

Even though Andersen is just one panhandler among thousands in the city, he insists there’s one thing that gives him an edge over others — his dog. “People are more generous because I have a dog, 100 percent,” he said, while sitting next to a duffel bag full of food people have given him. “They throw me a dollar and say, ‘That’s for the dog.'”

He also revealed there are a number of “regulars” who give him money each day. Some of those people may give $5.00 each day, which also adds up to a substantial amount by the end of the week. Thanks to panhandling, Andersen has been able to rent a place to stay and maintain the $300 monthly rental payment.

“I get people who give me five bucks each day,” Andersen explained. “…that’s five days a week, two people — that’s $50 a week right there. I get dog food, I put away for rent. I pay $300 a month, that’s nothing.”

But, surprisingly, he insists the amount he pays for rent is actually very little money compared to what he makes on a daily basis as a panhandler. “I have gotten $80 or $100 from a single person,” he said. “And they will say, ‘Just do something good tonight.’ They mean go to a hotel or a hostel.”

The panhandler has garnered mixed opinions from social media users following the reports about his shocking panhandling admission. While some find the story behind Andersen’s profitable panhandling relatively interesting, an overwhelming number of hard working Americans who work vigorously to make an honest living aren’t very happy. NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton has offered a bit of advice to generous New Yorkers and others who regularly donate to panhandlers.

“My best advice to the citizens of New York City: If this is so upsetting to you, don’t give. One of the quickest ways to get rid of them is not to give to them,” Bratton said. “New Yorkers who are complaining so much about it, well, one of the things they can do is stop contributing to it.”

Bratton also echoed Andersen’s sentiments by confirming that an experienced panhandler may “use pets to lure people,” but unfortunately, the laws in place make it difficult for law enforcement to force vagrants off the streets. In most cases, a panhandler may sit on the street but since they don’t harass people, there isn’t much that can be done about their presence.

Surprisingly, there’s now one panhandler who’s mysteriously disappeared from the streets of New York: Will Andersen.

According to a recent report published by the New York Post, Andersen has disappeared in the wake of his rise to fame. Since the riveting reports about his profitable panhandling, he hasn’t been seen on East 42nd Street. However, it has not been confirmed whether the publicity from the panhandler report influenced his disappearance.

What do you think about a panhandler making more than most working Americans make in an hour? Share your thoughts.

[Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images]

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