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How I made my first million

How I Made My First Million, from Fortune Success: The inside scoop on how entrepreneurs, investors, and CEOs built their fortunes—and how you can too.
Philippines’ first male Olympic gold medalist in history was given a fully furnished $550,000 condo and a lifetime supply of ramen to go with his medals
SuccessPhilippines’ first male Olympic gold medalist in history was given a fully furnished $550,000 condo and a lifetime supply of ramen to go with his medals
By Orianna Rosa RoyleFebruary 4, 2026
Photo of Alexis Ohanian
SuccessAlexis Ohanian walked out of the LSAT 20 minutes in, went to a Waffle House, and decided he was ‘gonna invent a career.’ He founded Reddit
By Preston ForeJanuary 31, 2026
Fitness mogul Kayla Itsines
SuccessKayla Itsines became a millionaire at 22 and sold her fitness app for $400 million—buying a gas station paid her rent
By Emma BurleighJanuary 30, 2026
Hinge CEO says he bribed students with Kit Kats to get the $550-million-a-year business off the ground: ‘I had to beg and borrow a lot‘
SuccessHinge CEO says he bribed students with Kit Kats to get the $550-million-a-year business off the ground: ‘I had to beg and borrow a lot‘
By Orianna Rosa RoyleDecember 12, 2025
Meet Luana Lopes Lara: The 29-year-old ex-ballerina spent college summers working for Ray Dalio and Ken Griffin—now she’s the youngest female self-made billionaire
SuccessMeet Luana Lopes Lara: The 29-year-old ex-ballerina spent college summers working for Ray Dalio and Ken Griffin—now she’s the youngest female self-made billionaire
By Orianna Rosa RoyleDecember 4, 2025
Alex Bouaziz, Deel's CEO
SuccessDeel’s CEO was told to sack his entire leadership team—he ignored other founders, kept the original $0 crew and is now running a $17 billion giant
By Orianna Rosa RoyleNovember 19, 2025
After selling his business for $532 million, this millennial says a life of leisure was surprisingly ‘boring’, so he’s choosing to go back to work
Arts & EntertainmentAfter selling his business for $532 million, this millennial says a life of leisure was surprisingly ‘boring’, so he’s choosing to go back to work
By Orianna Rosa RoyleNovember 9, 2025
Alexis Ohanian speaks holding a microphone
SuccessReddit cofounder once walked away with $10 million—He returned and helped lead the company to a $40 billion market cap today
By Preston ForeOctober 28, 2025
Big Bang Theory star had an existential crisis after his big break—despite making $1 million an episode: ‘I was in my early 30s, and I had everything… but you feel empty’
SuccessBig Bang Theory star had an existential crisis after his big break—despite making $1 million an episode: ‘I was in my early 30s, and I had everything… but you feel empty’
By Orianna Rosa RoyleOctober 20, 2025
This millennial went from being a builder on $5 an hour to launching (and selling) Wingstop UK for $532 million—with zero restaurant experience
SuccessThis millennial went from being a builder on $5 an hour to launching (and selling) Wingstop UK for $532 million—with zero restaurant experience
By Orianna Rosa RoyleOctober 12, 2025
Kenn Ricci and people drinking champagne on jet
SuccessFlexjet’s chairman was living with his parents—then he borrowed $500 from his dad to help buy a company, and became a billionaire
By Emma BurleighOctober 1, 2025
Multimillionaire Big Bang Theory star says he scrubbed toilets, waited tables and played a terrorist before finding fame on the show—‘any job I could’
SuccessMultimillionaire Big Bang Theory star says he scrubbed toilets, waited tables and played a terrorist before finding fame on the show—‘any job I could’
By Orianna Rosa RoyleSeptember 27, 2025
Self-made millionaire behind $4 billion Skims says it all began with a cold call to Kris Jenner: ‘I have no delusions of who gets to run a business’
SuccessSelf-made millionaire behind $4 billion Skims says it all began with a cold call to Kris Jenner: ‘I have no delusions of who gets to run a business’
By Orianna Rosa RoyleSeptember 23, 2025
Steve Jobs’ intern went on to sell his company to Google for $625 million—he now advises grads to pay to work for impressive people
SuccessSteve Jobs’ intern went on to sell his company to Google for $625 million—he now advises grads to pay to work for impressive people
By Orianna Rosa RoyleSeptember 22, 2025
Robert Herjavec sitting on the set of Shark Tank
SuccessThis Shark Tank star became a millionaire by 26—he tells Gen Z to be great at just one thing because ‘the world doesn’t reward general talent’
By Preston ForeSeptember 21, 2025
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Economy
The U.S. government is spending $88 billion a month in interest on national debt—equal to spending on defense and education combinedplaceholder alt text
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
AI
A Meta employee created a dashboard so coworkers can compete to be the company's No. 1 AI token user—and Zuckerberg doesn't even rank in the top 250placeholder alt text
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
Success
Gen Z doesn't want your full-time job. They want several part-time roles, and it's reshaping the entire workforceplaceholder alt text
By Fortune EditorsApril 9, 2026
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