SHE may be a powerhouse entrepreneur now, at 48, with a whopping £8.3billion property empire to her name.
But growing up, life looked a little different to Iranian-born Londoner, Becky Fatemi, who spent her childhood in a rough estate and left home at 15.
Born in 1976 just before the Iranian Revolution, Becky’s the daughter of a pilot and a nurse, who was told not to have the baby after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis during the pregnancy.
At just six months, the little baby was sent to a boarding school in London, before travelling the world, as her dad was always on the go ”so much”.
Her mum, whose partner was always having affairs, ended up in the UK too, where she raised her two children and taught Becky English.
”I got myself through school, left home at 15 cause I had quite a lot of domestic violence with my brother and my dad was quite violent towards my mum.”
Ever since then, she’s learned to hustle for herself, landing her first-ever job at 12 and living either in a hostel or with mates.
”A lot of what I do is a reaction to surviving.
”This comes with trauma,” said the property guru in response to those admiring her success.
Becky, whose impressive portfolio boasts a £150million property deal, works with high net worth individuals who own multiple properties across the world.
”I specialise in £2million+,” the property tycoon opened up in a chat with Abbey Clancy on her new podcast series, Exhibit A.
Before the incredible success story, Becky used to work in McDonald’s and found herself cleaning toilets – and the worst was yet to follow.
”My boyfriend killed himself, he died of a drug overdose on Valentine’s Day in front of me,
”We were trying to get him out of this environment. We couldn’t – and he died… at 27.”
Since then, Becky has managed to turn her life upside down – and now, on a mission to cause ”disruption”, the property guru is here to inspire others.
”You might think that what you are and what you’re living can’t make you money.
”But you can,” said the 48-year-old whose ”greatest achievement was staying alive”.
”There’s many times in my life where I should’ve been dead or in prison. Standing here, not having to try to kill myself.
”At the worst times of my life where I’ve had no money, where I’ve had no food, I got the call that my mum’s died, my dad’s died, my boyfriend’s dead.
”Everyone’s dead – none of my family have seen my son grow.”
The serial entrepreneur reminded that no matter how bad things may get, there’s always a glimmer of hope – and Becky’s a living proof of it, going from £0 to an £8.3billion real estate empire.
Starting a business pregnant
”At the time I never thought I was taking a big risk but I think setting up a business on my own, being eight months pregnant, taking a lease on a shop, with no family – that’s pretty risky.”
But although Becky didn’t clarify whether she’d do it all over again, the successful 48-year-old told others that ”it only feels like a risk if you see it as a risk”.
”A risk is only in your brain. So if you feel it in your gut that it’s what you got to do, it’s only a risk because other people are telling it’s a risk.”
These days, Becky chooses to keep her plans to herself and simply acts on them, without informing anyone.
Becoming a mum changed my perspective on life
Before Becky became a mother, it was always about what everyone thought and constantly worrying – but the new role as a mum changed her thinking.
”This is what I’m here to do.
”And for me, I’m maternal, so it was natural. But that was the change that was like ‘Okay, it’s not just for me now – it’s for someone else’ and that changed everything.
”I was relentless after I became a mum – there was no stopping me.”
‘Success is good health’
You could be amongst the richest people on the planet – but in Becky’s eyes, one of the main aspects to measure success is your health.
”But also, I think if you’re a billionaire if you’re happy.
”That’s the key, right? That’s what we’re all trying to get through and get to.”
The single mum, who’s a parent to a ten-year-old, went on: ”People might look at you and think ‘She’s married, she’s got this kid, she’s beautiful, she’s got everything she wants’.
”But you’ve still got 100 thoughts going through your head which verge on unhappiness.
”And it’s even more pressure when you have got everything,” said Becky.