U.S. Snowboard Team member Ryan McDonald didn't want a sleep aid; he needed some financial aid. So he sought out an infomercial and he's turned that late-night viewing into a career that supports his snowboarding. Long after Leno and Letterman, McDonald hunkered down in front of the TV in hopes of learning to become a bonafide real estate giant, thanks to a set of instructional books.

“A friend picked up these books through an infomercial about buying real estate without using any of your own money and it seemed to work for him. So I went over to his house and waited for the show to come on,” explained the 23-year-old McDonald.

“After I saw it, I wanted to see if it was legit. Then I went to the local bookstore and sure enough four of the five books where there – I bought all four and followed the instructions.”

A few months later and he was the proud owner of not one, but two rental properties in his home state of Washington. The first property was a combined purchase with former teammate Anton Pogue, but the second was a solo venture and both have been profitable from the get-go.

“I’m actually looking at a third one,” said McDonald, speaking through his cell phone over the sound of a crescent wrench on a busted sink. “After the success that I had with the house Pogue and I bought together, I bought the second one myself and we’ve both been making money from the start. Anton actually just bought property in South America and he’s down there right now building rental cabins for the surfers.”

So far, so good for the future real estate moguls.

But is possible that Mr. McDonald is susceptible to a persuasive sales pitch?

Here's another example ...

"I went to (the Army) looking for a sponsor and ended up in boot camp," he said.

“I originally went to the Army thinking they’d be a good source for some sponsorship dollars ... they made me a great offer and ended up signing me up.”

McDonald, who placed college and dental school on hold to train to become an Olympian, chose the U.S Army’s World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) and graduated from boot camp just days before heading to Valle Nevado, Chile, this fall for the first World Cup of the season.

“I was literally home for 24 hours before catching a plane to Chile,” said McDonald, who serves as a Combat Engineer.

McDonald spends his time off the snow training with his local unit practicing sweeping mine fields, building bridges and roads. Thus allowing him to maintain his travel and training schedule with the U.S. Snowboard team and fulfill his commitment to the military.

“It’s worked out to be a great deal, the difference that it’s made for me is unbelievable. My level of discipline is much higher – I never say, ‘oh crap, I have to go to the gym’ and my endurance level is way beyond what it used to be," he said. "At first my coaches were scared to death about the entire military thing, but now they’re excited about it because of my shape and the fact that it’s not going to interfere with my regular training and riding."

Now with a career, a steady income and the flexibility to travel the world training for his Olympic dreams, it’s safe to say that he is not an embarrassment. But will we see him anytime soon on an infomercial.

“Not likely,” says McDonald. “But if they get the dollar figure right – it’s all about making enough money to support my snowboard training. Maybe Anton and I will be on 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous' before long.”