In 2011, at just 12 years old, Erik Finman received $1,000 from his grandmother and decided to invest it in Bitcoin, priced at $10 per BTC back then. How did he know about Bitcoin at such an early age? During a protest at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC, which he attended with his brother, he saw someone wearing a Bitcoin T-shirt. When Erik asked his brother about it, his brother replied, "Itโs gonna end Wall Street."
๐ So, Erik bought BTC using that $1,000. For three years, his life revolved around Bitcoin trading and school. He didnโt perform well in school, though. One of his teachers even scolded him, "He might as well drop out and work at McDonaldโs, as he wouldnโt achieve anything greater in life."
๐ At 15, Erik left high school and made a deal with his parents. If he earned a million dollars before turning 18, he wouldnโt have to return to school or attend college.
๐ He promptly cashed in $100,000 worth of Bitcoin and launched Botangle from his bedroomโan educational venture providing video chat lessons, such as connecting an Australian student with a private tutor in Tokyo.
๐ In 2015, an investor offered to buy his company, either with $100,000 or 300 BTC. At that time, BTC was only around $200. However, Finman believed in the future of cryptocurrency and chose the 300 BTC. And boy, he was right! ๐ฏ
๐ At the age of 17, Erik officially became a millionaire when Bitcoinโs value soared past $2,700, fulfilling his bet before his 18th birthday. His deals paid off, and he didnโt go to college. Instead, he went on global travels, visiting cities like Dubai, Hong Kong, and Stockholm. He also bought a luxury Audi R8 as his car. ๐๐จ
๐ Now, Erikโs Bitcoin investments have significantly increased, establishing his net worth in the eight-figure range. Heโs an influential investor in a Silicon Valley cryptocurrency startup and played a role in advocating for the Crypto-Currency Act of 2020. ๐ฆ
