From homeless to millionaire: the story of a refugee, today “pizza queen” in America

Hakki Akdeniz arrived in New York many years ago. Once homeless now a millionaire, 39-year-old doesn't forget to go back to the street to help where his American story started.

Millioner Hakki Akdeniz is always busy. He lives in a small apartment in New York even though he can afford without difficulty an apartment and an expensive car.

My dreams are not about money. I dream of what I want to leave as an inheritance, or the purpose of living and this has nothing to do with how much money I have. I'm a very simple person who believes it or not. My watch is about $100. Can I buy a Rolex? Absolutely! But why would I do that?

Hakki Akdeniz, 39, is one of 17 children of a Kurdish family.

In his search for opportunities, he first moved to Canada as a teenager and in 2001 to New York, in search of a better life.

An American friend told him that he would help him, but when he arrived in New York, his friend did not open his phone.

I don't forget that day because it was the most important day of my life”, says Hakki Akdeniz.

A cheap motel or a bench at a train station... Next stop a shelter for homeless people called the “Büery” mission where Hakki Akdeniz spent a total of three months.

About 25 or 30 people slept where I slept. People think it's easy, but it's not like living in a shelter for the homeless. There are people who think living there is freedom, but it's not like that”, he says.

Hakki Akdeniz managed to find a dishwasher's job on a pizza. Besides, he learned how to cut pizza and then do it. He worked 19 hours a day and tried to save every penny. Years later he spared enough to buy his pizza, but advertising business in a city where hundreds of such businesses thrive would not be easy.

Hakki Akdeniz later won a pizza contest, and one magazine published an article with his photo.

People start talking about it and then go to his pizza.

I'm suddenly famous. People started coming, they brought the magazine with them took pictures of us. Then I see there's a line outside the restaurant. And then God blessed me and I opened up a second pizza! ”, says Hakki Akdeniz, philanthrop.

His nickname “Champion” became the name of his restaurant chain, currently 14.

Hakki Akdeniz became famous. He has given a speech to the UN.

On his website at Instagram he has four million followers and a video where Hakki Akdeniz appears feeding the homeless has been seen by 400 million people.

He will never forget what it means to be homeless in New York so and every Wednesday he comes back to help.

We have a beautiful smile, we should never let it go. I tell them they're homeless, smile! Give me another hug! ”, adds Hakki Akdeniz, philanthropy.

Hakki Akdeniz says money goes and comes and their value is measured by what remains after it is spent.

He already knows what to do with his wealth. Hakki Akdeniz plans to build a six-story building for the homeless, where they can live and study because sometimes everything a man needs is just someone who believes in him. / VOA/