A college dropout who pursued his passions has revealed stunning details about his wealth-driven lifestyle.
At just 24, Trey Colley has lived a life filled with experiences many his age could only imagine.
By the time he turned 21, Trey, who has garnered over 600,000 followers online, was residing in a sprawling 7,000-square-foot mansion in Las Vegas, accompanied by his exotic jungle cats that cost him £15,000 each.
He cruised around in a £115,000 BMW i8 and mingled at exclusive events with celebrities like rapper Famous Dex and actresses such as Sarah Snyder and Mel Maia.
READ MORE: Woman juggling three jobs and 70-hour work weeks to avoid flatsharing
This opulent lifestyle is a world away from Trey’s modest beginnings in Virginia, USA, where he grew up as the captain of his high school soccer team and seemed destined for a conventional career path.
That was until he decided to roll the dice on a career in social media.
“I noticed that the people who always seemed to be living their dreams were celebrities and influencers,” Trey explained.
“They had the money, the connections, the freedom, they traveled the world, and they got paid to do it.
“I realized that if I could get close to these celebrities, I could create a similar path for myself.
“I learned how to grow brands, eventually transforming not just myself into an influencer but also helping many others achieve the same.
“The money naturally followed as my platform expanded.”
Trey immersed himself in learning how to generate income through social media.
This was a stark departure from his daily farm chores, where he would rise early to feed chickens and horses before embarking on a 45-minute drive to school.
A sense of frustration began to build within Trey as he longed for a more thrilling life.
At the age of 20, despite having a full college scholarship, he chose to drop out and focus on his digital future.
“I had a full ride to college, I was the soccer team captain, I had a 4.0 GPA, yet I still decided to drop out to chase my dreams,” he said.
“I quickly became arguably the most successful self-made individual of my age from my hometown of Virginia Beach.
“I had my dream car, I was living between LA and Las Vegas, and I was eyeing a luxurious oceanfront property.
“Living with exotic jungle cats in mansions, partying with influencers and stunning women, enjoying the freedom to travel the globe, and never hesitating to dine out or shop – it felt like I was living in a movie.
“My dad always believed in me, but other family members thought I was in over my head, especially since I’d be the first in our family not to attend college.
“I always felt like I had something to prove.
“So going all in on my dreams and placing all that pressure on myself was the ultimate test to see who was truly right – and that gamble paid off.”
For several years, Trey relished the perks of being an influencer.
But then, everything “came crashing down.”
“Making money from my phone and running my own businesses allowed me to generate income from anywhere in the world, at any time,” Trey said.
“I could create wealth at will.
“But being so young and successful, I was naive, and I never thought the high of being on top would end.
“I was about to receive a harsh reality check.”
In 2023, Trey faced a significant setback when his social media accounts were deactivated in the same week he closed on his oceanfront property.
Not only did he have to start over from scratch, but he also had the burden of a massive mortgage hanging over him.
The experience taught him the importance of diversification, leading him to start his own company, Brandosaur, which helps clients worldwide build their brands.
“At first, it felt like a decade of hard work had gone down the drain,” Trey said.
“But I managed to rebuild my brand’s image and operations, this time on a stronger foundation.
“I also began focusing on YouTube, sharing videos of my journey.
“Young people today are eager to make their mark on the world.
“I’m passionate about helping others achieve their dreams, just like I did.”
Trey is documenting his journey on YouTube in a series titled ‘$0 to $1m in 365 days,’ aiming to showcase how he built his PR firm and inspire others to keep pushing towards their goals.
“Anyone can create an online business with determination and consistency,” he added.
“I want to be transparent and show the highs and lows of building a business because most entrepreneurs only highlight the positives.
“It’s not all smooth sailing – this career can be incredibly stressful, but it’s worth it in the long run.
“I turned my dreams into reality through faith, action, and the relentless pursuit of my goals.”
Looking ahead, Trey plans to savor the fruits of his labor but has shifted his focus from spending on material possessions to creating new experiences and memories.
He also continues to travel extensively – he recently attended a business event in Amsterdam and has plans to visit Croatia, Prague, and the Czech Republic before the year ends.