The stock market was thrilling, yes — but it wasn't the only battlefield I needed to prepare for.
As I started preparing for my exams, I realized something crucial: knowledge itself was capital. The more I knew, the safer and stronger I would be. Finance was obvious — balance sheets, market cycles, valuation models, the language of money. But there was another shield I couldn't ignore: law.
I had seen too many stories of fortunes undone not by bad investments, but by loopholes, lawsuits, and betrayals. With my mother as a lawyer, I had the perfect tutor. Slowly, I began to study business law and finance-related regulations. Not as deeply as her, of course, but enough to understand contracts, ownership rights, and how to protect myself in an emergency.
It was a different kind of investment: an investment in survival.
Time flew by. It was May of 1987 already, and while my schoolwork kept me busy, the family's business reached its peak. After years of sweat and maneuvering, my father finally began negotiating a sale. Samsonite came knocking — and they came with a big number.
Seventy million dollars.
The deal went through. Just like that, the company that had started with one million was sold for seventy. A massive win. My parents were ecstatic, and truthfully, so was I — but I also knew this was only the beginning.
My share, at 10% ownership, came to seven million dollars. Yet, my father was cautious, determined not to spoil me too early or give me too much freedom. So we broke it down carefully.
One million was given to me directly. My war chest, my tool for the future.
One million I gave to my baby sister. A gift, my way of saying she was more valuable to me than numbers on a ledger.
The remaining five million was placed into property under my name. Rental income, a safety net. Something that would stand tall even if the markets burned.
"Think of it as insurance," my father told me. "If everything else goes wrong, you'll never be without shelter or income."
I understood. He was right. This wasn't about greed — it was about foundations.
My sister's arrival reminded me of what really mattered. I wasn't chasing wealth just for the thrill; I wanted to build a fortress where my family could always feel safe. And as I held her tiny hand, I felt something stir in me that billions could never buy.
The game of wealth was just beginning, but now, I had my first fortune and a family I wanted to protect.
That made me richer than I had ever been before.