12 Bitcoin Success Stories: Meet Bitcoin Millionaires

Today, we’re diving into some inspiring Bitcoin success stories that showcase how individuals have turned cryptocurrency into life-changing wealth. From a young apprentice who bought a house to a retiree living in luxury, these stories highlight the diverse paths to becoming a Bitcoin millionaire.

Let’s begin with the story of a man who turned his crypto gains into a Bentley.

Table of Contents:

1. 12 Bitcoin Success Stories
1.1 Javed Khan, Trader – Bought a Bentley
1.2 Mr Smith, Anonymous Software Engineer – Quit his job and left on a round-the-world trip
1.3 Daniel Crocker, Business Owner – Bought my house
1.4 Jeremy Gardner – Dedicated his life to crypto assets and blockchain technology
1.5 Heather Delaney, Business Professional – It’s part of her pension plan
1.6 Kane Ellis, Aussie Entrepreneur – cashed out 2–4 Bitcoins for a McDonald’s meal in 2011.
1.7 Terry Proud, Retiree
1.8 Su Zhu, Cryptocurrency Trader
1.9 James Saye, Technology Consultant – Bitcoin paid for a holiday in Iceland.
1.10 Kristoffer Koch, Student
1.11 Kingsley Advani, Software Engineer
1.12 Erik Finman, High School Dropout and Entrepreneur

12 Bitcoin Success Stories

1. Javed Khan, Trader – Bought a Bentley

Javed Khan got into Bitcoin coincidentally. Around the year 2018, when the price was somewhere around $3,000, he was basically using the Bitcoin for money transfer as it was easier than going through the traditional bank. But when he would leave some Bitcoin in his wallet for a while, he could notice an increase in value. He recognized the opportunity.

He began buying more Bitcoin during periods of silence, when there were no headlines and no hype. “When nobody’s talking about Bitcoin, that’s the time to buy,” he advised. Khan made sure never to invest more than he could afford to lose.

In 2020, he cashed out a portion of his profits and bought a Bentley. “I sent a video from the showroom to my mum, and she cried, she was so proud.”

2. Mr Smith, Anonymous Software Engineer – Quit his job and left on a round-the-world trip

Mr Smith, a software engineer who graduated in 2008, began his career at a major tech company in Silicon Valley. In 2010, he invested $3,000 into Bitcoin when it was priced at just 15 cents per coin, acquiring nearly 20,000 BTC.

“I always viewed it as a long-term investment,” he shared. Three years later, when Bitcoin started making headlines again, he sold 2,000 coins at $350 each. A few days later, he sold another 2,000 at $800 per coin. By then, he had already earned $2.3 million.

He resigned and went on an extravagant world tour. At present, Smith fulfills desires of extravagance by flying first class, dining in restaurants of 5-star rating, and visiting elite cities such as Singapore, New York, Monaco, and Zurich. Singh is rated by Forbes in terms of worth anywhere between $100 million and $1 billion.

“He can talk about Bitcoin forever,” says his girlfriend. “Once he starts, he won’t stop.”

3. Daniel Crocker, Business Owner – Bought my house

In 2012, Daniel Crocker was an apprentice in an IT firm. During lunch breaks, teammates and he would mull over potential money-making ideas, and bitcoin was discussed one day. Intrigued, Daniel decided to invest a bit.

He held onto his investment for eight years as its value steadily increased. Eventually, he sold a portion of it to cover half the down payment for his house. “I know people who went all in, but I’m happy with what I’ve gained already,” he said.

4. Jeremy Gardner – Dedicated his life to crypto assets and blockchain technology

Gardner discovered Bitcoin in 2013; its ability to move money across borders with ease and on a peer-to-peer basis thrilled him. The more interested he grew, the more he started immersing himself in the realm of crypto and blockchains.

Gardner helped set up the Blockchain Education Network, a nonprofit geared toward increasing awareness and education about blockchain. He was also involved in the genesis of Augur, a decentralized prediction platform. He then moved to San Francisco to share a home into which six crypto millionaires had already moved: the so-called “Crypto-Castle.”

“We’ve heard time and again that Bitcoin is dead. Yet it keeps proving the critics wrong. For those of us who believed early on and were ridiculed, there’s a real sense of validation,” Gardner shared.

5. Heather Delaney, Business Professional – It’s part of her pension plan

Heather Delaney began her Bitcoin journey with just £5, gradually increasing her investment over time. Unlike others chasing quick gains, she treats Bitcoin as a component of her long-term retirement strategy.

Now part of a growing number of individuals using cryptocurrency as a pension tool, Heather has already seen her investment grow by over 500%. She isn’t fazed by short-term market swings, as her eyes are set on the long game.

“I know plenty of people who’ve made bold moves with their crypto, but for me, it’s simply a part of my retirement plan,” she explains.

6. Kane Ellis, Aussie Entrepreneur – cashed out 2–4 Bitcoins for a McDonald’s meal in 2011.

Kane Ellis, a tech enthusiast from South Australia, launched his first tech consulting firm, Nerd Herd, at just 18. He later founded the CarSwap app. But his most impactful financial move came earlier, in 2010, when he started mining Bitcoin at just $1.60 per coin.

Like many early adopters, Kane made a minor misstep: he spent 2–4 Bitcoins on a McDonald’s meal, now worth a small fortune. Fortunately, that was only a sliver of his holdings.

A few years down the road, Kane treated himself again, this time, trading a small portion of his crypto for a sleek yellow Maserati worth $200,000.

7. Terry Proud, Retiree

In 2017, when Bitcoin hovered around $3,000, Australian retiree Terry Proud made a bold move, he sold a portion of his superannuation and invested in crypto through his Self-Managed Super Fund (SMSF).

His leap into digital assets turned out to be highly rewarding. “I can’t wipe the smile off my face,” he told Nine News, highlighting the joy many retirees are now finding in their crypto-invested pensions.

8. Su Zhu, Cryptocurrency Trader

Su Zhu, along with his high school friend Kyle Davies, started Three Arrows Capital in 2012 from their apartment kitchen. Leveraging their experience from Credit Suisse, they quickly found their footing in the crypto market.

Though they initially had to borrow funds in a desperate bid to stay afloat, they swiftly repaid their debts and built one of the largest crypto trading funds globally. They also founded DeFiance Capital, focusing on decentralized finance startups poised to disrupt traditional banking.

Their success even earned them a spot on Fortune magazine’s cover illustration. Today, their firm boasts a multibillion-dollar portfolio, families of their own, and a fleet of Lamborghinis parked outside their office.

9. James Saye, Technology Consultant – Bitcoin paid for a holiday in Iceland.

James Saye hesitated before diving into Bitcoin in 2017 but finally invested around £500. His cautious bet paid off when the value surged by 500%, allowing him to cash out £2,500.

He used the windfall to fund a memorable trip to Iceland. “It’s a beautiful place—but definitely not cheap,” he laughed, grateful for the extra spending money.

Luckily, he reinvested after the 2018 price dip, keeping his crypto journey alive.

10. Kristoffer Koch, Student

In 2009, the Norwegian student Kristoffer Koch was in the process of preparing his master’s thesis in encryption technologies when he stumbled upon the whitepaper written by Satoshi Nakamoto. In the midst of his academic considerations recognizing Bitcoin’s significance, Koch decided to purchase 5,000 bitcoins for $26.60, which was not a big amount back then.

His girlfriend was skeptical, wondering why he’d spend “real money” on what she considered “fake money.” But everything changed in 2013 when Bitcoin made headlines again. Kristoffer checked the market, did the math, and realized he was nearly a millionaire. He sold 1,000 bitcoins and purchased an apartment.

If he held on to the remaining 4,000 coins, his net worth would be well into the hundreds of millions. These days, his partner says, “I guess he should be allowed to buy whatever he wants.”

11. Kingsley Advani, Software Engineer

Kingsley Advani wasn’t just interested in cryptocurrency—he went all in. In 2017, as Bitcoin began one of its most explosive bull runs, Kingsley emptied his bank account and sold everything he owned, including his laptop, to invest $34,000 into Bitcoin.

That bold move paid off. Within months, he became a millionaire.

Today, he splits his time between San Francisco, London, and New York, advising blockchain startups. “This feels like a rebellion against traditional finance,” he said, reflecting on his dramatic leap of faith.

12. Erik Finman, High School Dropout and Entrepreneur

Erik Finman was only 12 when he made his first Bitcoin investment. Using $1,000 gifted by his grandmother, he bought Bitcoin at just $10 per coin in 2011 after hearing about it from a protester at the Jefferson Memorial.

He quickly became absorbed in trading Bitcoin, spending the next few years juggling school and crypto. But Erik never fit in at school. “No one understood what I was trying to achieve. One teacher even told me to drop out and work at McDonald’s.”

So, at 15, he struck a deal with his parents: if he made a million dollars by 18, he wouldn’t have to return to school or attend college.

Soon after, he sold $100,000 worth of Bitcoin and launched Botangle, an education startup designed to connect students with tutors via video chat. Two years later, he sold it for 300 bitcoins.

When Bitcoin reached $2,700, he officially became a millionaire, at 17, winning the bet with his parents. Instead of enrolling in college, he traveled the world, visiting cities like Dubai, Prague, Sydney, and Stockholm.

Now in his 20s, Erik’s net worth sits in the 8-figure range. He’s a major investor in a Silicon Valley crypto startup and played a role in advocating for the Crypto-Currency Act of 2020. His first luxury purchase? An Audi R8.