My parents thought I was wasting my life playing video games. I became a millionaire by 27.

Dima Beseda became a millionaire by age 27. Courtesy of Dima Beseda Dima Beseda loved how games like "World of Warcraft" gave him clear goals and objectives. He skipped university to play games constantly, and his parents were worried. He's created gaming companies worth millions, and now is investing in AI. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dima Beseda, cofounder of Spiry. It has been edited for length and clarity. I was only 3 when my dad brought our first computer into the house, but it changed my life. At a very young age, I realized that video games had clear-cut rules. I liked learning how to achieve something in the games and ultimately beat them. When I was 13, World of Warcraft came out. This was a whole new type of game: a world waiting to be discovered. My successes in the game paid off in the real world: boys from older grades at school started to show me respect because of how well I could play. My parents, however, were worried. I always kept good grades in school, but every moment when I wasn't at school or asleep, I was thinking about the game. My parents tried to limit my computer time, but once I was at university, I would skip class to play 24/7. I made my monthly salary in 2 nights of gaming Not surprisingly, I ended up dropping out of university. My dad was very frustrated: I had good grades and a scholarship, and my parents felt like I was throwing it all away. My dad threatened to send me to rehab. At 17, I couldn't see their point; now that I'm 35, it makes more sense. I had a lot of respect in the world of the game, but the real world didn't make sense to me. I started working at McDonald's. After about two months in that job, a professional hockey player in Russia, where I'm from, reached out. He wanted me to play using his World of Warcraft character in order to boost his ranking in the game. I played for him over two nights and earned my entire month's salary from the fast food job. That was the end of my McDonald's career. I also began selling action items within the game, for real money. I might make $2,500 a month, which at the time in Russia was big money. I met my wife through the game, started a family, and was able to provide for them financially. That's when my dad stopped worrying so much. My friends were rich, but not happy I eventually grew those two ways of making money into gaming businesses: Overgear and LF Group. I wanted to build something from my passion for gaming, because I knew it was the most obvious way for me to become rich. I couldn't do anything else with this skillset and network. I was never focused on my net worth. Having enough money to support my family each month felt much more important. But by the time I was about 27, I realized I was a millionaire. Money is interesting. Before you earn enough to feel stable, you think money is success. But it turns out, money doesn't equal happiness. Having a family helped keep me grounded. I wish my parents had followed my passions sooner Recently, I talked with my therapist about whether I was addicted to gaming as a teen. I don't think I was. I was always doing well in school, taking care of myself, and getting enough sleep. I can see now that my parents were worried because they didn't see how computers could lead to success. They wanted me out in the real world more. I don't think my path is an easy one to replicate. So many things fell into place for me to be where I am today. But I do think it's important for parents to follow their children's curiosity. As long as it's not ruining their life, let them pursue their interests: it just might lead them somewhere unexpected. Read the original article on Business Insider

Dima Beseda became a millionaire by age 27.Courtesy of Dima Beseda Dima Beseda loved how games like "World of Warcraft" gave him clear goals and objectives. He skipped university to play games constantly, and his parents were worried. He's created gaming companies worth millions, and now is investing in AI. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dima Beseda, cofounder of Spiry. It has been edited for length and clarity. I was only 3 when my dad brought our first computer into the house, but it changed my life. At a very young age, I realized that video games had clear-cut rules. I liked learning how to achieve something in the games and ultimately beat them. When I was 13, World of Warcraft came out. This was a whole new type of game: a world waiting to be discovered. My successes in the game paid off in the real world: boys from older grades at school started to show me respect because of how well I could play. My parents, however, were worried. I always kept good grades in school, but every moment when I wasn't at school or asleep, I was thinking about the game. My parents tried to limit my computer time, but once I was at university, I would skip class to play 24/7. I made my monthly salary in 2 nights of gaming Not surprisingly, I ended up dropping out of university. My dad was very frustrated: I had good grades and a scholarship, and my parents felt like I was throwing it all away. My dad threatened to send me to rehab. At 17, I couldn't see their point; now that I'm 35, it makes more sense. I had a lot of respect in the world of the game, but the real world didn't make sense to me. I started working at McDonald's. After about two months in that job, a professional hockey player in Russia, where I'm from, reached out. He wanted me to play using his World of Warcraft character in order to boost his ranking in the game. I played for him over two nights and earned my entire month's salary from the fast food job. That was the end of my McDonald's career. I also began selling action items within the game, for real money. I might make $2,500 a month, which at the time in Russia was big money. I met my wife through the game, started a family, and was able to provide for them financially. That's when my dad stopped worrying so much. My friends were rich, but not happy I eventually grew those two ways of making money into gaming businesses: Overgear and LF Group. I wanted to build something from my passion for gaming, because I knew it was the most obvious way for me to become rich. I couldn't do anything else with this skillset and network. I was never focused on my net worth. Having enough money to support my family each month felt much more important. But by the time I was about 27, I realized I was a millionaire. Money is interesting. Before you earn enough to feel stable, you think money is success. But it turns out, money doesn't equal happiness. Having a family helped keep me grounded. I wish my parents had followed my passions sooner Recently, I talked with my therapist about whether I was addicted to gaming as a teen. I don't think I was. I was always doing well in school, taking care of myself, and getting enough sleep. I can see now that my parents were worried because they didn't see how computers could lead to success. They wanted me out in the real world more. I don't think my path is an easy one to replicate. So many things fell into place for me to be where I am today. But I do think it's important for parents to follow their children's curiosity. As long as it's not ruining their life, let them pursue their interests: it just might lead them somewhere unexpected. Read the original article on Business Insider