31-year-old dumpster diver brought in $140,000 in 12 months: I 'did much more than I thought was possible'

Carter Stevens, a 31-year-old dumpster diver in Nashville, Tennessee, generated $140,000 in revenue over 12 months by reselling discarded items, a venture he began in March 2024 after previously living in his car. The result underscores how resale and secondhand commerce can turn low-cost scavenging into meaningful income. Watch for whether Stevens formalizes the operation—through storage, staffing or expanded sales channels—and whether the model holds as volume grows.