How an 18-year-old turned $10 abandoned storage units into a $135,000 business
An 18-year-old entrepreneur has built a $135,000 business by purchasing and reselling items found in abandoned storage units. The venture began as a small side project inspired by reality television and childhood reselling habits.
Why it matters
It illustrates the rise of 'side-hustle' culture among youth and the potential for unconventional business models to generate significant income.
At 18, Michael Haskell has been turning other people's abandoned belongings into a business that brought in about $135,000 in 2025. He buys storage units across the New York tri-state area without knowing exactly what is inside, then sorts through the contents looking for objects that can be resold. The idea grew from a habit he picked up as a child, when he sold books on eBay and held onto discontinued Lego sets in the hope that they would become more valuable.By high school, Haskell was also thinking about college and how he might distinguish himself from applicants with stronger academic records. Then he watched an episode of Storage Wars. According to CNBC, in early 2024, he spent just $10 on his first unit.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in