An entrepreneur who dropped out of university has gone from cutting grass to running a million dollar business after launching his own company as a teenager.
Kevin Leyes, 20, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, released a jewelery line at the age of 17, when he was still at university, studying for a computer engineering degree.
Within months, he dropped out and a year later, founding another company, a digital marketing agency dubbed Leyes Media.
Kevin, whose businesses currently rake in around $1.2million every year, doesn’t believe that higher education is the way to success anymore, as people can jumpstart their careers online.
Kevin Leyes, 20, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, released a jewelery line at the age of 17 when he was still at university studying for a computer engineering degree
A year after dropping out of university, he founded another company, a digital marketing agency dubbed Leyes Media. Pictured, now
The entrepreneur cut grass in his teenage years to make ends meet and dropped out of university ‘within months’
‘University degrees are no longer as important or worthwhile as they once were,’ he said.
‘Tycoons like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are no longer giving importance to hiring employees with degrees for their teams – that is a clear indication of how the game is changing.
‘Not belonging to a university does not make you more ignorant, less knowledgeable or a “worse” person – I read a lot and am always in the process of learning.’
Kevin himself employees dozens of staff members including an ‘aimless’ friend from school whose life changed dramatically within weeks of employment.
After initially making just $1,000 (£727.00) a month, Kevin now pulls in a staggering $100,000 (£72, 798) a month and says his business is considered a million dollar company.
He has also built a name for himself on social media, with 5.6 million followers on his personal Instagram (@kevinleyes) and 1.8 million on his business page (@leyesmedia).
The entrepreneur’s success is helped by residing in Argentina where the cost of living is lower than the US – although he plans to move to the States this year.
Kevin said: ‘Living in Argentina with an average salary for the United States would allow you to enjoy many luxuries and you would be considered a millionaire.
‘Many people in Latin America have a misconception of money and, if it comes in large amounts, it is always associated with negative things like drug trafficking and illegal jobs.
Kevin, whose businesses currently rake in around $1.2million every year, doesn’t believe that higher education is the way to success anymore, as people can jumpstart their careers online
After initially making just $1,000 a month, Kevin now pulls in a staggering $100,000 a month and says his business is considered a million dollar company
‘But money is a motivator and a material way to measure one’s successes in a certain area.
‘I have always liked to see money as something positive and as a means to play with it, always reinvesting it and getting more, never as an end.
‘My goal is freedom in all aspects – financial freedom, not only to accumulate money, but a flow of it that allows me and my family to be care-free, to travel, have experiences and enjoy life.
‘I’m 20 years old and I’m 100 per cent aware I am capable enough to keep growing my numbers and I will.’
But the entrepreneur is missing one thing – a partner to enjoy his success with.
‘Successful, high-paying careers always affect personal relationships, romance and social lives in general,’ he explained.
‘Those who say that isn’t true are maybe still not wealthy enough to have been impacted.
‘Unfortunately, it is very common for interested people or “gold diggers” to approach you for your material things and the social status you acquire over time, so it’s difficult to establish new relationships with people.
Kevin said: ‘Living in Argentina with an average salary for the United States would allow you to enjoy many luxuries and you would be considered a millionaire’
Kevin (pictured) said: ‘My goal is freedom in all aspects – financial freedom, not only to accumulate money, but a flow of it that allows me and my family to be care-free, to travel, have experiences and enjoy life’
‘I have developed a sixth sense of realizing other people’s intentions without even knowing them.’
As well as struggling to meet genuine people, Kevin is limited by his demanding job.
He said: ‘Entrepreneurs have an instilled concept that time is literally gold and a very limited resource – and I have become a little obsessive about this.
‘Maintaining a relationship requires a lot of commitment, affection, care and concern for the other. It is something that each party must invest their time in to make it work.
Kevin, who is missing a partner to enjoy his success with, said: ‘I have developed a sixth sense of realising other people’s intentions without even knowing them’
As well as struggling to meet genuine people, Kevin is limited by his demanding job and said: ‘Entrepreneurs have an instilled concept that time is literally gold and a very limited resource – and I have become a little obsessive about this.’ Pictured, during a meeting
Kevin said ‘university degrees are no longer as important or worthwhile as they once were’ (Kevin is pictured learning e-commerce as a teen)
‘I think I will be able to do it at some point in my life but won’t force it; it will come when the time is right and maybe when I have more time.’
For now, Kevin’s focus is firmly set on making 2021 his best year yet as a ‘serial entrepreneur’ – despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
He added: ‘Despite having falls and bad days like all people, looking at how far I have progressed so far makes me incredibly optimistic for 2021.
‘I have been able to use offices in the heart of Miami surrounded by the buildings of multi-million dollar companies, listening to Lamborghinis and Ferraris engines roaring and the typical sounds of the city.
‘I can’t complain – our team has grown tremendously well, and right now we are focused on nothing but continuing to grow.’
Kevin (pictured) said: ‘Not belonging to a university does not make you more ignorant, less knowledgeable or a “worse” person – I read a lot and am always in the process of learning’
Kevin (pictured) told how he’s been able to use offices in the heart of Miami surrounded by the buildings of multi-million dollar companies
The entrepreneur’s success is helped by residing in Argentina where the cost of living is lower than the US – although he plans to move to the States this year.