Ronald James Read (October 23, 1921 – June 2, 2014) was an American philanthropist, investor, janitor, and gas station attendant.

He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, serving in Italy as a military policeman.

Upon an honorable discharge from the military in 1945, Read returned to Brattleboro, Vermont, where he worked as a gas station attendant and mechanic for about 25 years.

[2] During World War II, he enlisted in the United States Army[2] and was deployed to North Africa, Italy, and the Pacific Ocean theater.

[6] He frequently drove his car to his family's homestead and stored firewood he chopped there,[2] and looked for tree branches on the ground to use for the wood-burning stove at his house.

[15] The Wall Street Journal noted that his roughly $2,380 purchase of 39 Pacific Gas and Electric Company shares on January 13, 1959, grew to $10,735 by the time he died.

[9][16] When he died, he had no fewer than 95 stocks that were diversified in many industries such as healthcare, telecommunications, public utilities, rail transport, banks, and consumer goods.

[16] In a safe deposit box at his bank,[16] Read stored his stock certificates, which when piled together reached five inches high.

[17] Read used a safety pin on his fraying khaki denim jacket so he could continue wearing it[7][9] and put on shabby flannel shirts.

[4] Writing in The Boston Globe, Nik DeCosta-Klipa called Read "the epitome of Yankee frugality, according to those who knew him".

[7][18] Barry Ritholtz of The Washington Post praised Read, writing, "How a man of modest means accumulated so much wealth contains exemplary lessons for saving that apply to all of us.

"[16] He noted that lessons could be learned from Read's experience: "But there is also a cautionary tale about recognizing the value of your finite time here on Earth.

"[16] The Wall Street Journal said, "Besides being a good stock picker, he displayed remarkable frugality and patience—which gave him many years of compounded growth.