A Tumor Changed Suze Orman’s Life—and Her Definition of Wealth (EXCL)

For legendary money maven Suze Orman, true wealth encompasses everything from financial independence to a secure retirement to the most precious resource of all: good health. In fact, the host of the popular Women & Money podcast and author of 10 bestselling books, including The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+, says the principles underpinning our financial wellbeing—like letting go of fear and prioritizing our future self—are also central to our physical health. 

“You cannot take your health for granted, and you cannot take your money for granted—they’re interlinked,” Suze declares. It’s a hard-won truth she learned in 2020, when she was diagnosed with a benign tumor on her spinal cord. “You can have all the money in the world, and that doesn’t mean it’s going to save your health. But it’s sure going to make it a lot easier,” she says. Here, Suze shares the liberating insights that will help you heal not only your finances but your mind, body and spirit.

Keep reading to learn how a harrowing health scare shifted Suze’s perspective on money—and life. 

“Money is nothing more than a physical manifestation of who you are…you and your money are one. So, if you are powerful in life, you attract people and you attract money.”—Suze Orman

Let go of fear

“What is your greatest money fear? Is it that you’re never going to have enough? You’re never going to be able to retire? Write it down,” advises Suze. “Now write a truth directly opposite of that fear. If your fear is, ‘I’m never going to have enough,’ your new truth is, ‘I have more money than I’ll ever need.’ Repeat it to yourself over and over. And make sure what you say to yourself is kind, necessary and true.”

Be your authentic self 

“​​Years ago, I was living a financial lie myself—a big one,” admits Suze. “It’s a long story, but for approximately one year, I couldn’t make any money. However, during that year, because I still wanted to impress my girlfriend at the time, who was wealthy, so I kept spending money like I had when I was making it. And before I knew it, I was a quarter of one million dollars in credit card debt. And I did something I had never done before: I leased a car to impress her.

“One day, I was at Denny’s across from my office, and ​​this waitress was waiting on me, and I looked at her in my Armani suit, my Rolex watch, my leased BMW, and I said to myself, this waitress has more money than I do,” Suze recalls. “I left and I picked up the phone, and I called every person I knew. I said I have something to tell all of you, I’ve been a financial liar for all this time, and now I’m going to stand in my truth.”

Discover the ‘law of money’

Simply put, power creates money—powerlessness repels it, declares Suze. “Money is nothing more than a physical manifestation of who you are. You are the one who goes out and works for it. You are the one who gets a paycheck and decides if you spend it or save it. Money cannot do anything without you. If you’re powerful in life, you attract people, and therefore you attract money.”

Let yourself love and be loved

“I’ve never met a more joyful, amazing person in my entire life than KT, my wife of 24 years,” beams Suze. “Every morning when I wake up to her, my day is filled with joy. Once, I was asked if I could have KT or all the money in the world, which would I choose? I said I’d give up everything for her because with her I could create it all over again. But I could never create another KT.”

Suze redefines success after a rare tumor

Though her financial wellbeing was thriving, Suze’s physical health took a devastating blow in 2020. “My right hand was going numb, and I was having trouble lifting my legs,” she recalls. Tests ultimately revealed a tumor lodged on her spinal cord.

While thankfully benign, its precarious placement posed a serious risk. “It had been growing for 15 years! Doctors didn’t know how I was walking—or even doing anything.”

The day after her diagnosis, Suze underwent a 10-hour surgery to remove the tumor. 

Since then, she admits her recovery has been brutal. “It took three years not to be in excruciating nerve pain.” She credits her resilience to her faith, the support of her wife, KT, and the thousands of people who shared their own inspiring health journeys.

Suze says her ordeal shows in stark relief, that health and wealth are synonymous—and we must be proactive with both. Whether scheduling a physical or whittling debt, “Take your power back!”