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LAD Tried To Raise $20,000 To Help Family But Became A Multi-Millionaire Poker Player

LAD Tried To Raise $20,000 To Help Family But Became A Multi-Millionaire Poker Player

Farid Jattin's parents moved the family from Colombia to Miami for a better life - but lost their jobs as doctors in the process

Rebecca Shepherd

Rebecca Shepherd

Most people would happily go out of their way to give their family the best life possible, and ensuring their future is as secure as can be.

This is a very familiar feeling indeed for Farid Jattin. His parents moved his family to Miami from Colombia - which at the time was one of the most dangerous countries in the world.

As Farid's parents were influential doctors, the family had been a regular target in their home country, and his early teens were marked by numerous kidnapping threats from corrupt military officials.

But after reaching the US, they discovered that his parents' license to practice medicine was void, meaning they had to take on multiple jobs in order to survive.

Speaking to LADbible Farid, now 31, says: "My parents had to start from 0. It was a very rough beginning as we went from being very comfortable in Colombia with a life that included private schools, a personal driver and doing better than average financially, to us five sleeping in the same room."

Farid and his mum.
Instragram/farid_jattin

At just 16, Farid was introduced to poker but as he was too young to attend casinos and official tournaments, he spent the next two years poring over hands and perfecting his craft. At 18, he set out to change his family's lives forever.

Farid knew that poker was a means to an end and endeavoured to raise $20,000 (£15,400) for his family. Furthermore, he wanted to start his own business and knew he could raise the capital through tournament poker.

Now, 13 years on, he has earned over $5.5 million (£4.23m) in tournament poker - not including private or cash games - and has been travelling the world playing poker with the world's finest.

He explains: "I would say I was a natural as I picked it up very quickly and started winning very consistently.

"One of my key skills was figuring out why people who I considered good players were playing the way they did and finding good reasons behind all their important decisions."

Instagram/farid_jattin

Reminiscing on his gambles, Farid says: "I always took huge risks at the beginning as I felt like I had not much to lose but a lot to gain.

"One of those risks payed off early when I had $2,000 to my name and I decided to take a shot at a $900 buy-in tournament and I ended up winning it for $40,000.

"Now I am still a very high risk taker because of my big goals in life, but when it comes to poker I try not to ever put myself in a position where my financial freedom is at risk."

But one thing's for sure - Farid has always remained humble and has never taken his success for granted. Despite the early difficulties he says he wouldn't change anything.

"It was a great life lesson, to see my parents struggle so much but never complain and always stay positive," he recalls.

"We had to really learn the meaning of family, it went as far as me having to go deliver newspapers with my dad some days, but those are the things that makes us who we are today and I wouldn't have it any other way."

Farid is currently the Number 1 Poker Player in Colombia and is Ranked 12th Worldwide on the Poker Index.

You can follow him on Instagram here.

Featured Image Credit: Instagram/farid_jattin

Topics: Interesting, Community, Poker