Tech
Written by Zoë Bernard
2018-03-08T18:10:00Z
Since the creation of bitcoin in 2009, the world of cryptocurrency has seen plenty of drama: huge price increases are followed by sharp drops, all while believers and cynics clash over whether it has a future.
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Still, nine years later, some people have managed to turn an impressive profit on cryptocurrencies like bitcoin, Ripple's XRP, and ether. Some of them are millionaires — perhaps even billionaires.
As these photos show, many of those who profited early from cryptocurrencies are young men. But while an estimated 71% of bitcoin owners are men, there's a concerted effort among many women in tech to engage more in cryptocurrencies and offer resources for women looking to break into the male-dominated culture surrounding it.
While many cryptocurrency investors lie low and avoid flaunting their earnings out of fear of being targeted, there are a few displays of wealth and luxury on Instagram, revealing the newly acquired affluence of the crypto nouveau riche.
Here's an inside look at the lavish lives of six men who made fortunes by investing in cryptocurrencies and showed it off on Instagram.
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Daniel Colosi first invested in cryptocurrencies last year with a friend. He says his initial investment of $5,000 snowballed into $200,000 in just a few short months.
A post shared by Daniel Colosi (@daniel_colosi)
Source: Daily Mail
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Colosi says he expects his cryptocurrency investment will make him a millionaire by 2019.
A post shared by Daniel Colosi (@daniel_colosi)
Source: Daily Mail
Colosi, a former construction worker, has used some of the cash he made though cryptocurrencies to travel the world. In January, he told the Daily Mail he planned to relocate to Thailand.
A post shared by Daniel Colosi (@daniel_colosi)
Source: Daily Mail
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Erik Finman invested the $1,000 he was gifted from his grandmother on his 12th birthday into bitcoin in 2011. His stash is now worth about $4 million at current prices.
A post shared by Erik Finman (@erikfinman)
Source: Business Insider
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Finman ended up dropping out of formal education even sooner — his parents agreed to let him quit high school when he was 15. Since then, he has launched and sold an online education company called Botangle that he created with his original bitcoin investment.
A post shared by Erik Finman (@erikfinman)
Source: CNBC
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Eddy Zillan invested his entire $12,000 savings — from cash he earned teaching tennis lessons and gifts from his bar mitzvah — into the cryptocurrency ether when he was 18. Three years later, Zillan says his investment has yielded a profit of $1 million.
A post shared by Eddy Zillan (@eddy_zillan)
Source: Business Insider
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Zillan, a high-school student, has built a company called Cryptocurrency Financial, offering cryptocurrency investing advice.
A post shared by Eddy Zillan (@eddy_zillan)
Source: Business Insider
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On Instagram, the teen has dubbed himself the "Wolf of Crypto Street."
A post shared by Eddy Zillan (@eddy_zillan)
Source: Business Insider
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The twins could be among the world's first bitcoin billionaires. With bitcoin trading at about $11,000 on Wednesday morning, their hoard could be worth over $1 billion.
A post shared by Tyler Winklevoss (@tylerwinklevoss)
Source: CNBC
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But the Winklevoss twins say they have no intention of cashing in on their gains.
A post shared by Cameron Winklevoss (@winklevoss)
Source: CNBC
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In 2015, they launched the digital-currency marketplace Gemini, where users can trade cryptocurrencies for traditional currencies.
A post shared by Tyler Winklevoss (@tylerwinklevoss)
Source: Investopedia
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Rowan Hill retired at 26 from mining coal in Australia after cashing in on his cryptocurrency profits.
Source: The Financial Post
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Hill recently attended the weeklong Blockchain Cruise, an event hosted by CoinsBank. Hill, a snowboarding enthusiast, frequently travels to pursue his hobbies.
A post shared by Rowan Hill (@rowan__hill)
Source: The Financial Post
Zoë Bernard
Tech Reporter
Zoë Bernard covered startups and tech culture at Business Insider.
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