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A self-made millionaire who went from being homeless to earning $300k (£242k) a month has declared "poverty is a choice".

When Dimitris Vakalis, 24, was kicked out of college he ended up living without electricity and water before failing in his first business venture.

But he claims he was always "destined to be rich" and believes those who struggle with money need to ditch their "broke boy beliefs".

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“You deserve what have and where you are going in life," he said.

“Poverty is a choice and too many people think that they deserve to be rich or that the world owes them a living.

“That bull**** and they’ve only got themselves to blame.”

The Greek national made his fortune working with adult content creators through the social media marketing agency he founded, Upped.

The jet setter now splits his time between the US, Marbella and Dubai, making hundreds of thousands every month and driving his dream car – a Lamborghini Huracán Evo.

"It doesn’t matter from where you start but where you are ending up to be," Vakalis said.

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"I’ve learnt something very important throughout all these years of hustling and that is you deserve to be to the place you are.

"The world doesn’t owe you anything. If you are flat broke and fat with no girlfriend then that is your fault."

But fortune hasn't always favoured Vakalis, who was kicked out of college in his home town of Larissa, Greece.

In 2017 he left mainland Greece for the islands of Paros and Mykonos to try his hand at DJing, but the dream didn't work out and he ended up being paid just $35 (£28.19) to work 10 shifts as a waiter, a salary so low he couldn't afford to eat or pay rent.

He found himself squatting in an abandoned house with no electricity or water before deciding to turn his life around.

In April 2019, he left Greece for the US and picked up a job as a door-to-door salesman in an attempt to improve his English before attempting to make his fortune with popular side hustles such as dropshipping, Forex trading and Shopify.

But while all three made him some money, none led him to the riches he dreamed of, so in December 2021, he decided to give social media management a try.

His firm, which helps adult stars improve their online engagement and reach new fans, now employs 45 staff members and more than 25 models globally.

Vakalis says his success is down to him "outcompeting everyone" in his age group and he sees himself as among the best in terms of his wealth, relationships, boxing skills, social skills and lifestyle.

"I built myself from zero," he said.

“Pain, sweat, tears, and lack of food made the man I am today.

“My advice for young entrepreneurs is that if you’re flat broke then you should focus on how to make money. You should also focus on how to change any 'broke boy beliefs' that are keeping you poor by studying successful people," he added.

“Successful people can outcompete everybody in every metric and not just material wealth.

“Think of things like social skills, fighting ability, body shape, language skills, sharpness, status, smartness, speed and brotherhood.

"You need it all."

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