Curtis Carroll


Curtis "Wall Street" Carroll is a prisoner in California’s San Quentin State Prison, Northern California, serving a sentence of 54 years to life, for murder. He has earned the nickname "Wall Street".

Early life

Carroll grew up in East Oakland. He left school at an early age and, seeking refuge and security in the streets providing for himself with petty crimes like boosting quarters from video games. He drifted through his early teens engaging in petty crimes on the streets. In 1996, when 17 years old, he murdered a man. Carroll turned himself in and received a 54 years-to-life sentence.

Education and investing in prison

Carroll was illiterate when he was imprisoned and after learning to read and write in prison at the age of 20 the stock market captured his attention and started studying it. Carroll's role models quickly changed from criminals, drug-dealers and sports figures to Bill Gates and Warren Buffet.

Transfer to San Quentin Prison

Collaboration with Troy Williams

After being transferred to San Quentin Prison in 2012, Carroll along with fellow inmate Troy Williams, started the Financial Literacy Program.Together they created F.E.E.L.

Collaboration with Zak Williams

Along with Zak Williams, the son of comedian Robin Williams and a graduate of Columbia Business School, the duo teach a financial literacy class. The class educates inmates on how inmates can develop skills applicable to life outside prison.

Philosophy

Carroll's philosophy is that most crime is attributed to a lack of financial security, which has led him to teach other San Quentin State Prison inmates about the stock market.
Carroll is known as “The Oracle of San Quentin.”