The power of total ownership: How Gurhan Kiziloz built $1.7B net worth

Gurhan Kiziloz's personal net worth has reached $1.7 Billion, a figure that places him amongst the wealthiest entrepreneurs in the gaming sector. But what makes his wealth particularly striking isn't just the amount - it's that he owns every penny of it outright.

Unlike most tech billionaires whose fortunes are diluted across multiple funding rounds and investor stakes, Gurhan Kiziloz maintains 100% ownership of Nexus International. Every pound of the company's $1.2 Billion in annual revenue flows through a business he controls entirely.

"I own it all," Gurhan Kiziloz tells me with characteristic directness. "No shareholders, no board telling me what to do, no investors demanding their returns. The business is mine, the decisions are mine, and yes, the profits are mine too."

This level of ownership is virtually unheard of at a billion-dollar scale. Most entrepreneurs at this revenue level have sold equity stakes to investors multiple times, diluting their ownership to perhaps 20-30% of the company they founded.

Gurhan Kiziloz chose a different path. He built Nexus International through retained earnings, reinvesting profits back into the business rather than taking investor capital. It meant slower initial growth, but it also meant he never had to give up control.

"Could I have grown faster with outside money? Maybe," he acknowledges. "But I would have spent half my time in board meetings justifying my decisions instead of actually running the business. And at the end of it, I'd own a fraction of what I've built. That's not a trade I was willing to make."

The $1.7 Billion valuation reflects Nexus International's operating performance and growth trajectory. With $1.2 Billion in annual revenue and strong margins, the company generates substantial cash flow that Gurhan Kiziloz can deploy as he sees fit.

He's already committed $200 Million to expanding Spartans.com, the company's casino platform. That investment comes directly from his own capital - there's no need to pitch investors or negotiate terms. He decides, the money moves, and the expansion happens.

"That's the beauty of owning everything," Gurhan Kiziloz explains. "When I see an opportunity, I don't need anyone's permission. The capital is there, it's mine, and I can deploy it immediately. Try doing that when you've got a dozen investors all wanting their say."

Complete ownership means complete risk. If Nexus International stumbles, there's no diversified portfolio to cushion the blow. Gurhan Kiziloz's entire $1.7 Billion fortune is tied to the gaming company's performance.

He's remarkably sanguine about this concentration. "I built this business from nothing," he says. "I understand every aspect of it - the technology, the markets, the regulations, the risks. Why would I want to diversify into businesses I don't understand as well? I'd rather have all my wealth in something I can control than spread it across investments where I'm just another shareholder."

It's a philosophy that runs counter to conventional wealth management advice, but it's hard to argue with the results. Gurhan Kiziloz's net worth has grown in lockstep with Nexus International's expansion, and both show no signs of slowing.

Beyond the obvious material benefits, Gurhan Kiziloz's wealth provides something more valuable: complete strategic freedom. He can pursue long-term objectives without quarterly earnings pressure, invest in opportunities that might take years to pay off, and run Nexus International according to his vision rather than investor demands.

"Money is just a tool," he tells me as we wrap up. "What matters is what it lets you build. And with $1.7 Billion, I can build whatever I want, however I want, without asking anyone's permission. That's worth more than any amount sitting in a bank account."

This article was written in cooperation with Nexus International