R.G. LeTourneau built some of the largest earth-moving machines the world had ever seen. His company supplied nearly 70% of all earthmoving equipment used by the Allied forces in World War II. He held nearly 300 patents. But the thing that made him genuinely remarkable had nothing to do with engineering.
A Promise Made in Desperation
In his early years, LeTourneau's business nearly collapsed. Debts piled up. Creditors circled. He made a commitment that most financial advisors would call reckless: he would give 90% of his income and live on the remaining 10%.
Not 10% giving, 90% keeping — the reverse.
He later said, "I shovel it out, and God shovels it back — but God has a bigger shovel."
What Actually Happened
Instead of going bankrupt, his business exploded. The more he gave, the more contracts came in. The more he invested in others, the more innovation flowed through his engineering teams. By the end of his life, he had given away over $100 million (equivalent to well over a billion in today's terms) — and he was wealthier than when he started the commitment.
Not a Formula — A Relationship
LeTourneau was careful never to present this as a formula. He didn't say, "Give 90% and you'll get rich." He said that generosity was how he stayed connected to what mattered. The money was never the point. The freedom was.
He funded technical schools, mission projects, and community developments across multiple countries. His Longview, Texas campus trained thousands of young engineers and missionaries.
What This Means for You
LeTourneau's story isn't a prosperity formula. It's a picture of what happens when someone holds their resources with open hands. Most of us aren't called to give 90%. But all of us can ask the question: am I holding what I have with a clenched fist or an open palm? The answer changes everything.