The entrepreneur recently published the book “It’s better to be a startup than never to be rich”. He supports the thesis that anyone can get rich. A conversation about ten fateful years, independence and the potential of youth.
Dirk Kessemeier invites you to an interview in his office in Ballindam, a stone’s throw from the Jungfernstieg. The elevator takes you to the seventh floor. It opens to a bald man wearing a leopard print shirt. “Come in,” Kessemeier says. There are two desks in the room. In one of them, a young man, also bald, is sitting at the computer. “My oldest son,” Kessemeier says. There’s a bar in the corner with three Lamborghini sports-seat-style stools. “Money never sleeps” is depicted on the wall, we sit on the red sofa near the window. In the background you can hear the whistle of the ship Alster.
MOPED. Mr. Kessemeier, can anyone get rich?
Dirk Kesemeyer. In theory, yes. At a young age, one should have some discipline and avoid consumption. But at some point it will pay off.
What exactly does that mean?
It depends on 20 to 30 years. If you position yourself well, you won’t have to work for 50 years. If you step on the gas a little over the years, do without, save and invest your money properly, you can really make your life easier.
What do you mean by “on gas”?
For example, go to work part-time. When you are young, you are resilient. For example, if I had your job (points to the MOPO reporter sitting in front of him) and I would like to accumulate capital, then I would work as a bartender on weekends.
How did you become a millionaire?
I gave everything for ten years. I was a high school student and apprenticed as an auto mechanic. Then I worked as a croupier in a casino. Roulette and Blackjack. And at the same time I was renting cars. So I saved a million marks over ten years. Then the car rental company got bigger and bigger, I started my own company and at one point I was one of the biggest truck rental companies. Europe. I am the owner of the company VW: Sold and never worked properly since. I am lazy by nature. Frankly said. But I started thinking about money a long time ago. I have had a compound interest chart in my drawer for 45 years.
The millionaire is sure. “You don’t have to be very talented to do that”
For many, it is not even possible to “put on the gas” at a young age. Take the example of a 16-year-old high school student in Steilshoop, who lives with five siblings in a four-room apartment. He probably won’t be able to become a millionaire in ten years with a little effort.
That’s right. But this young man can still start an apprenticeship and become a master. You don’t have to be very talented to do this. And then he saves something because he has a part-time job and takes over the business. And if all goes well, he may take over another business, then another. And he invests in index funds and makes good money.
To do this, he must first know what an index fund is.
That’s right. That is why I call for economics to be introduced as a compulsory subject in high school. I think it’s a shame when young people don’t use their potential.
But our society is not at all such that everyone becomes self-sufficient. We need nurses, hairdressers, garbage collectors…
Not everyone should become self-employed. But even as a young nurse, I can work part time to save something.
Respectfully, you can’t tell a nurse to please start another part-time job.
This is, of course, an extreme example. But as a croupier I also had to work with great concentration, ten hours a day, six days a week. After the shift, I was really exhausted, but I still went out in the morning, I had 50 cars at the Eppendorf market square and rented them out. If you want, everything is possible. Of course, now you can say. Oh, capitalist! But it would be better if I remained a mechanic. Then I would not be able to build social housing. And I would not pay a few hundred thousand euros in back taxes. I think it is wrong to say that capitalism is anti-social.
Why do you think so?
To me, social is when you really do something for the community. And I do it by building social housing. Always demanding that something be taken from the top ten percent does no one any good. You don’t have to love this capitalism, but you have to at least use it.
“There is social inequality. But it’s not unfair.”
In your opinion, is there social injustice?
No, there is social inequality. But it’s not unfair. It’s not unfair that I worked very early and that’s why I’m financially independent now.
Well, but part of the social injustice is that many people don’t have the opportunity to go this way from birth.
Yes, everyone in Germany has this opportunity. Of course, if you have parents who don’t speak German at home, things are more complicated. But these are isolated cases. Basically, everyone in Germany can step on the gas, save something and be financially independent. But, of course, luck always comes.
Are you still worried?
Nah. “Your children are bothering you.” Or a woman who bites once in a while. ( is laughing ) But I don’t care about finances for a long time.
Wouldn’t life be boring then?
No. I’m busy with many things. I read a lot. Always a specialist book and a novel in parallel.
What are you reading at the moment?
I’m re-reading “The Psychology of Money” and some chivalrous book where they beat themselves up a bit.
As you sit here above the rooftops of Hamburg and let your gaze wander over the Inner Ulster, you think “I did it”.
No, not anymore. I once thought so when I was 30. When I’m here, I’m in a good mood. My son has a large circle of friends, and I am happy when many young people come to my office and tell me about their friendships. It’s a meeting place, which is why we also have a Lamborghini Bar. Sometimes we watch football together. This is life.
This is life?
Yes, if you get together and spend time with young people. That’s great.
Would you like to be young again?
Everyone probably wants to be young again. But I am happy that my beautiful years can no longer be taken away from me. And at some point you have to make room for those who come after you. You can’t always be a senior teacher.
