My parents thought I was wasting my life playing video games. I became a millionaire by 27.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Dima Beseda, cofounder of Spiry.

It has been edited for length and clarity.

I was only 3 when my dad brought our first computer into the house, but it changed my life.

At a very young age, I realized that video games had clear-cut rules.

I liked learning how to achieve something in the games and ultimately beat them.

When I was 13, World of Warcraft came out.

This was a whole new type of game: a world waiting to be discovered.

My successes in the game paid off in the real world: boys from older grades at school started to show me respect because of how well I could play.

I always kept good grades in school, but every moment when I wasn’t at school or asleep, I was thinking about the game.

My parents tried to limit my computer time, but once I was at university, I would skip class to play 24/7.

Not surprisingly, I ended up dropping out of university.

My dad was very frustrated: I had good grades and a scholarship, and my parents felt like I was throwing it all away.

My dad threatened to send me to rehab.

At 17, I couldn’t see their point; now that I’m 35, it makes more sense.

I had a lot of respect in the world of the game, but the real world didn’t make sense to me.

After about two months in that job, a professional hockey player in Russia, where I’m from, reached out.

He wanted me to play using his World of Warcraft character in order to boost his ranking in the game.

I played for him over two nights and earned my entire month’s salary from the fast food job.

That was the end of my McDonald’s career.

I also began selling action items within the game, for real money.

I might make $2,500 a month, which at the time in Russia was big money.

I met my wife through the game, started a family, and was able to provide for them financially.

That’s when my dad stopped worrying so much.

I eventually grew those two ways of making money into gaming businesses: Overgear and LF Group.

I wanted to build something from my passion for gaming, because I knew it was the most obvious way for me to become rich.

I couldn’t do anything else with this skillset and network.

I was never focused on my net worth.

Having enough money to support my family each month felt much more important.

But by the time I was about 27, I realized I was a millionaire.

Before you earn enough to feel stable, you think money is success.

But it turns out, money doesn’t equal happiness.

Having a family helped keep me grounded.

Recently, I talked with my therapist about whether I was addicted to gaming as a teen.

I was always doing well in school, taking care of myself, and getting enough sleep.

I can see now that my parents were worried because they didn’t see how computers could lead to success.

They wanted me out in the real world more.

I don’t think my path is an easy one to replicate.

So many things fell into place for me to be where I am today.

But I do think it’s important for parents to follow their children’s curiosity.

As long as it’s not ruining their life, let them pursue their interests: it just might lead them somewhere unexpected.