Indians around the world are known for their sincerity and hard work. We have a staggering presence in a number of fields including mathematics, science, software technology and medicine. As yet another feather in the cap of Indians abroad, a teenager of Indian origin has been named UK’s youngest millionaire.
At an age, when most of the teenagers are playing soccer and having fun, 19-year-old Akshay Ruparelia made 12 million pounds (₹ 103.4 cr) by selling houses.
The teenager was busy negotiating huge property deals on his mobile during his school lunch breaks. He hired a call centre service to answer calls on his behalf while in class and rang clients back after the school bell rang.
Both of Akshay’s parents are deaf, so he learnt sign language at an early age. His father, Kaushik, is a care worker. His mother, Renuka, is a teaching assistant for deaf children.
Akshay launched his website Doorstep.co.uk by taking a loan of £7,000 from his relatives. Within 16 months of going live, it has become the 18th biggest estate agency in the UK. Akshay has now sold £100 million worth of homes.
Ruparelia’s business acumen has earned him the moniker of “Alan Sugar”, named after Baron Sugar, the business tycoon and Apprentice star.
The teenager said he was on a mission to put traditional High Street estate agents out of business because they charge thousands of pounds in commission to sell a house – and he does it for just 99 pounds.
