On a Friday morning, what began as a small act of kindness blossomed into an a story of generosity and connection. Nine-year-old Kelvin Ellis Jr., a Louisiana native, had always dreamed of helping someone less fortunate. That dream came true when he encountered Matt Busbice, a local Baton Rouge man, during a routine morning.

Matt, shaken awake by a fire alarm in his condo, dashed outside, dressed in whatever clothes he could grab. As the commotion settled, Matt decided to grab a coffee across the street. While he waited for his drink, he took a moment to pray on the café’s patio.

Meanwhile, young Kelvin was nearby with his father. Seeing Matt standing on the corner in his mismatched clothes, Kelvin assumed Matt was homeless. With a heart full of kindness, Kelvin approached him, dollar in hand.

Nine-year-old Kelvin Ellis Jr., tries to hand millionaire Matt Busbice a dollar, after mistaking the business owner for a homeless man. Photo from WBRZ

“Excuse me, sir, are you homeless? Because if you are, here’s a dollar,” Kelvin said he asked. Matt said he was taken aback by the boy’s compassion, and immediately felt gratitude for the young boy. “No, I’m actually not homeless,” Matt told him. “I live across the street in that condo.” Though Matt wasn’t in need of the dollar, he was deeply touched by the gesture.

“I haven’t had that much faith in humanity in a very long time,” Matt said. He declined the dollar, but to show his appreciation, he invited Kelvin and his father to join him for breakfast. Over their meal, the trio talked about life, love, and heartbreak. Kelvin, who had just gone through his first breakup, found comfort in the conversation with Matt.

Nine-year-old Kelvin Ellis Jr., right, talks about meeting Matt Busbice a dollar. Photo from WBRZ

Unknown to Kelvin at the time, Matt wasn’t just any ordinary man. He was actually a multimillionaire and co-founder of Wildgame Innovations, a successful hunting brand, with appearances on reality TV shows. Matt’s success, however, was the last thing on his mind that day.

I never felt richer than when I was offered that dollar,” Matt said.

When WBRZ, arranged, arranged for a meeting between the two, Kelvin was shocked to learn about Matt’s true identity. “You’re on Google? You’re that famous?” Kelvin exclaimed, blown away by the revelation.

Amused, Matt joked, “If I’m the first millionaire you’ve met, you can lend me a couple of bucks, right?” The exchange sparked laughter, but Matt’s generosity was far from over. To reward Kelvin for his kind heart, Matt arranged a 40-second shopping spree at his store, BuckFeather, where nothing was off limits. Kelvin’s grand prize? A brand-new bike worth $2,000. But for Matt, the true reward was witnessing Kelvin’s selfless spirit.

Nine-year-old Kelvin Ellis Jr., bottom, talks with millionaire Matt Busbice, after mistaking him for a homeless man. Photo from WBRZ

“You gave the only money in your pocket to me, thinking I was homeless,” Matt told Kelvin. “That speaks volumes of your character.” Matt went on to say that Kelvin’s generation has the power to change the world.

If more kids are like you, they’re gonna give, they’re gonna be filled with joy, and they’re gonna change the community, the state, the world,” Matt said.

Kelvin left the experience not with wealth or fame, but with something far more valuable: the joy of giving. “If you give, you actually get more out of it,” Kelvin said. His simple act of kindness turned into a lesson that even the smallest gestures can have the biggest impact.

In a world often focused on material wealth, Kelvin’s story reminds us that true riches lie in compassion and generosity. Matt’s parting words to Kelvin ring true for us all: “You have that power. You can do that.”

Sources: CBS News | Daily Mail