This Cincinnati-based McDonald’s worker doesn’t want your tips. Here’s why.
In a viral video with more than 325,000 views, personal finance content creator Drew (@dollarswithdrew) shares why he doesn’t like it when customers tip him.
“When customers at McDonald’s tip me, but they don’t know I’m worth $715k,” the text overlay on the video reads.
Assuming Drew is younger than 35, his self-reported net worth is more than 18 times the median net worth for someone in his age group, according to NerdWallet.
What’s Up With The McDonald’s Job?
Now why would a man worth that much money be working at McDonald’s?
In a follow-up video with more than 200,000 views, Drew explains that he used to be an engineer but quit because he hated the job.
“Money allowed me to leave that career behind,” he says. “I realized I didn’t have to stay stuck in a job I disliked. I could take a risk and pursue something I actually care about: creating content that helps people learn about personal finance and investing.”
Drew emphasizes that his McDonald’s job isn’t about the paycheck.
“This is about curiosity, about learning new things, and yes, about creating content that can reach more people,” he says. “I genuinely enjoy exploring different jobs, and the fast-food industry is fun to me. Plus, I have the freedom to do it because of my financial position.”
He also stresses that his net worth, which he shares openly, is not a boast.
“I want to show people exactly what I did to get here and how money can give you options,” Drew says. “It’s not about mansions or cars. It’s about having the freedom to make choices with your time and pursue your passions.”
Even though Drew isn’t financially independent enough to retire fully (he estimates $2.5 million as his target), he has enough to step away from corporate life for a year and focus on his goal to grow as a content creator.
He’s already been banging out McDonald’s-related content, showing everything from his first free employee meal to recaps of each shift (with ratings).
How To Increase Your Net Worth
Your net worth, which is the value of what you own minus what you owe, is one of the clearest snapshots of your financial health. You don’t necessarily have to make dramatic changes to see an improvement.
Here are some tips as recommended by NerdWallet:
- Track your spending: Understand where your money goes and focus on paying down high-interest debt first.
- Automate savings: Set up automatic transfers into savings or investment accounts so you’re building wealth without thinking about it. Even small amounts—$20 or $200 per month—add up over time. Deposit directly into savings or investment accounts rather than keeping it in a checking account. If your employer offers a 401(k) match, contribute at least enough to capture it—free money accelerates growth.
- Boost your income: If your cash flow is tight, explore ways to earn more. Side hustles, freelance work, or upskilling in your career can give you extra money to save or invest.
- Be patient and consistent: Net worth grows slowly over time. Market fluctuations, unexpected expenses, and income changes are normal. The key is consistent saving and investing. Compound interest will do the heavy lifting if you remain disciplined.
- Forget about the quick wins: Wealth-building isn’t about quick wins—it’s about creating habits that steadily increase your assets, reduce your debts, and give you more financial freedom over time.
@dollarswithdrew I feel bad. I want to tell them to give it to another worker tbh
Commenters React
“Tipping at McDonald’s is insane work. america is cooked,” a top comment read.
“715k+tip now,” a person said.
“715k is not a lot for your age unc,” another wrote.
“If you have so little that you need to include the 15k you don’t have enough to be flexing on people kind enough to give you a tip,” a commenter chimed in.
BroBible reached out to Drew for comment via email and TikTok direct message.