An entrepreneur has shared his journey from homelessness to becoming a millionaire, living a life of luxury that most people can only dream of.
Umar Punjabi isn’t your average 22-year-old.
The influencer and trader, who lives in Dubai, is an expert on how to make your money work better for you – with one million followers online hanging onto his every word, in the hopes of replicating his success.
READ MORE: ‘I make £20,000 a year with TikTok side hustle even though I don’t have many followers – here’s how’
But while things may appear glossy on the outside, the high school dropout had a very tough upbringing.
Umar and his brother were raised by a single mum, who tried her best to care for them, but for several years the family were forced to sofa surf and at one point were homeless.
Eager to pave his own path and provide for his loved ones, Umar used his natural skills in numbers and math to teach himself how to become a trader.
Now, he and his family want for nothing.
“For years, I clung onto the hope of creating a better life for myself and my family,” said Umar, who runs The Alpha Trader.
“My mum tried her best, but we would bounce from door-to-door looking for shelter.
“We were homeless for a long time – often we had to rely on the kindness of family members or friends by crashing on sofas or in spare rooms.
“It was a vicious cycle and the emotional turmoil is very difficult to describe.
“I felt isolated and vulnerable.
“I quickly realised that financial independence was the only way to escape and secure a future on my own terms.”
Umar, who is originally from Bhiwandi, India, worked hard to get good grades, with the hopes of becoming a chartered accountant.
While this promised “financial stability and growth”, he craved independence.
He ultimately decided to drop out of school before achieving his qualifications, as he didn’t like the idea of having to work for someone else following graduation.
At age 19, though, a friend of his uncle’s spotted the savvy accountant’s YouTube channel and invited him to Dubai to discuss his future.
It became the start of Umar’s new life – he ended up moving there permanently.
He said: “Given my love for numbers, it was only natural for me to venture into trading.
“It gave me freedom and I was my own boss.
“It was lonely at times but I was making tons of money with just a simple internet connection.
“I am self-taught.
“At the start, I used money from my savings and my brother also kindly loaned me some of his savings.
“I also worked as a fitness coach on the side to push my capital up even further.
“I felt a mix of excitement and uncertainty about moving to Dubai but deep down, I knew it was the right step to transforming my life.
“Soon after arriving, I set up my own company.”
Just three years since his initial move, Umar now employs 24 people and says his company “educates and empowers traders”.
He was able to grow his business so quickly by building capital from his own trading success and reinvesting the profits in the company.
Umar has well and truly realised his dream of having a secure financial future.
He added: “Supporting my mum and brother has always been my primary goal, and I’ve worked hard to ensure they never experience hardship again.
“My relationship with them has always been incredibly close, especially during the tough times.
“We’ve always shared a deep bond, supporting each other emotionally and practically, no matter what we were facing.
“My brother, Musa Punjabi, is actually a qualified dentist but recently quit to join my company as a trader.
To Umar, this isn’t just about money.
He wants to offer people from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance to do what he did and turn their lives around through trading.
Umar said: “In the next five years, I hope to help more people transform their lives through trading – but steering clear of get-rich-quick schemes.
“To succeed, you have to embrace risks, keep learning and surround yourself with the right people.
“Now, my life is peaceful, driven by purpose and focused on continuous growth.
“I spend my money on experiences, travelling and luxury, and I feel honoured to be able to provide for my family – they give me a purpose.
“I feel a deep sense of gratitude for everything I’ve overcome.”
Umar has also shared five quick tips for anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps:
- Always be a student, listen more speak less.
- Always be a risk-taker.
- Always say yes to meeting new people.
- Always keep self-reflecting and giving yourself feedback.
- Always surround yourself with more successful people.
READ MORE: Woman, 25, who funded unemployment with ‘side hustles’ earning extra £200 a month on top of 9-5
