Entrepreneur who grew up sharing a bunk bed with his mother reveals how setting up the first ever Rich Kids of Instagram accounts launched his career and can now earn '£1 million commission' from property deals
- James McLeod Ison, 27, from Leicestershire, shared a bunk bed with his mother at his grandparent's home until the age of 14
- As a young teenager, the entrepreneur started buying and selling used goods at car boot sales, but admitted he would sometimes make as little as £5
- James noticed that the social media platform's content was mainly food related, and decided to set up 10 accounts documenting glamorous lifestyles
- In 2012, Rich Kids of Instagram, now named Rich Kids of the Internet, took off in just six weeks
- James now provides a concierge service for VIPS, as well as dealing with high end property
The founder of the original Rich Kids of The Internet account, which boasts 371,000 followers, has revealed how he went from earning just £5 at car boot sales to brokering multi-million pound property deals.
James McLeod Ison, 27, from Leicestershire, told LADbible how his humble beginnings sharing a bunk bed with his mother at his grandparent's home until the age of 14 in the Midlands spurred him on to build a better life.
As a young teenager, the entrepreneur started buying and selling used goods at car boot sales, but admitted he would sometimes make as little as £5 - while he would earn £100 on 'a good day'.
After studying economics at university when Instagram was just a year old, James noticed that the social media platform's content was mainly food related, and decided to set up 10 accounts documenting glamorous lifestyles.
In 2012, Rich Kids of Instagram, now named Rich Kids of the Internet, took off in just six weeks, and James now provides a concierge service for VIPS, as well as dealing with high end property.
James McLeod Ison, 27, from Leicestershire, told LADbible how his humble beginnings sharing a bunk bed with his mother at his grandparent's home until the age of 14 in the Midlands spurred him on to build a better life
The founder of the original Rich Kids of The Internet account , seen, which boasts 371,000 followers, has revealed how he went from earning just £5 at car boot sales to brokering multi-million pound property deals
Speaking to Ladbible, he said: 'I shared a bunk bed with my mum until the age of 14 - in a two-bedroomed bungalow with my grandparents - so it was an interesting start.'
Recalling the light bulb moment he decided to set up a range of luxury accounts, James explained: 'I remember just sitting there thinking, 'Oh okay, maybe it'd be cool to have a couple of profiles that are something that people are interested in'.
'And I must have created about 10 profiles, all to do with luxury - I did really random things like watches, dogs - just trying anything I could to just see if it would go viral and see if I could get followers out of it.
'I never thought it would actually become almost a job or its own market or career.'
After studying economics at university when Instagram was just a year old, James noticed that the social media platform's content was mainly food related, and decided to set up 10 accounts documenting glamorous lifestyles (RKOI pictured)
In 2012, Rich Kids of Instagram, now named Rich Kids of the Internet, pictured, took off in just six weeks, and James now provides a concierge service for VIPS, as well as dealing with high end property
Within six weeks, the Rich Kids account - set up with two anonymous American partners - was trending across the world, with various TV shows picking up the concept.
James then set up a luxury travel business and concierge service for VIPs, providing private jets, exclusive designer bags and booking out the Eiffel Tower's restaurant for an eye-watering sum of £25,000.
But his biggest deals remain in property, and while he keeps his client's names confidential, he is currently working on a London penthouse deal worth almost £60 million, which would net him the handsome sum of £1 million in commission.
And the Rich Kids account continues to flourish, capturing the imagination and dreams of followers with glamorous insider pictures of the world's young and rich splashing out on shopping sprees, taking luxury holidays and showing off their fast cars, super yachts and private jets.
The Rich Kids account continues to flourish, capturing the imagination and dreams of followers with glamorous insider pictures of the world's young and rich splashing out on shopping sprees, taking luxury holidays and showing off their fast cars, super yachts and private jets
James set up a luxury travel business and concierge service for VIPs, providing private jets, exclusive designer bags and booking out the Eiffel Tower's restaurant for an eye-watering sum of £25,000
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