Real $tories Episode 79: SIMON KOMLOS

Simon Komlos’ life has followed a winding road that began in a Hungarian orphanage. At six years old, he told his parents he would become a millionaire one day. When they laughed it off, their reaction only fueled his determination. Against the odds, he achieved that dream before turning 30—but reaching the top wasn’t what he expected, and the experience inspired his next chapter. 

That next chapter reflects Simon’s passion for financial literacy. He co-founded a popular financial education app and recently wrote his first book, Start Young and Build Freedom, which teaches entrepreneurship to teens. 

Drawing on his own experiences, Simon shares money and life lessons throughout the book—including how moments of greed derailed his finances. He also explains why practicing gratitude has become central to his view of a successful life. 

Ready to explore Simon’s lessons on entrepreneurship and financial freedom? Discover the book.

For listeners interested in entrepreneurship, GreenPath recently released the Small Business BootcampSmall Business Bootcamp, a free series of online courses that support new small business owners in building a strong financial foundation.  

Key Moments

2:56 Simon reflects on his childhood and his dream to become a millionaire. 

5:31 He struggles in school but develops other valuable life skills, like coding. 

10:24 He considers the cultural differences between Germany and the U.S. and how they shaped attitudes toward money. 

13:54 He learns a powerful lesson as a young entrepreneur. 

19:00 He gets caught up in the cryptocurrency bubble. 

24:58 He details the story of how he cofounded a successful financial education app. 

31:28 After achieving his childhood dream, Simon experiences “arrival fallacy.” 

33:39 He shares the story of how his book came to life. 

43:41 He shares practical advice from the book. 

46:17 He discusses the role gratitude plays in pursuing financial goals. 

51:50 Simon offers his perspective on debt. 

55:55 Our cohosts reflect on the themes from Simon’s story.