Banker tells how he gave up the high-life of in London

Banker tells how he gave up the high-life of in London

Fast cars, fresh suits, flashy parties and control over multi-million dollar hedge funds.

In his 20s, investment banker Chris Glebatsas was living the life of the rich and the famous.

Based in London, he worked for one of the world's banking giants, doing hedge fund valuations during from Monday to Friday before painting the town red on the weekend.

Somewhere along the line, as he enjoyed his success and played with his lavish boys' toys, Mr Glebatsas admits he became a 'banker wanker'.

Chris Glebatsas (pictured, left) was living the high life as a London investment banker, partying hard and driving fast cars

Mr Glebatsas (pictured) turned into what he calls a classic obnoxious high-end banker, a 'banker wanker'

But after beating a life threatening disease, Mr Glebatsas (pictured, left with partner Anthony McDonough) he decided to make major life changes

Mr Glebatsas (pictured) quit his job as soon as he was released from hospital and moved back to Australia

'I was your classic high-end banker... I suppose I was obnoxious,' Mr Glebatsas told Perth Now.

'I was definitely a different person, but it's hard not to be in that bravado-driven environment.' 

His life of luxury and business success came to a sudden halt when he fell ill with what he thought was a cold - but that was actually life-threatening Meningococcal Meningitis.

He was hospitalised as he grew steadily worse. His organs began to fail, his brain swelled up to dangerous levels and doctors gave him less than 10 per cent of surviving.

One of the first things Mr Glebatsas (pictured) did after returning home tell his parents that he is gay

A week later Mr Glebatsas (pictured, left) met his partner, Anthony McDonough (pictured, right)

Mr Glebatsas (pictured, left with partner Anthony McDonough) then became a fitness model and started his own skincare brand

As he lay ill in hospital, his business world also collapsed.

In his absence, the hedge funds he controlled took a substantial dive - so much that the boss paid his star Australian employee a visit in hospital.

Mr Glebatsas, who was fighting for his life, realised the visit was for business when he had a phone put in his hand and was told to close some crucial deals.

'I was in a bed, not sure if I would survive, told if I did that I'd almost certainly lose a few limbs, and that happened,'

After starting his new life Mr Gelbatsas (pictured) became a model and won Mr Gay Australia 2014

The last straw came when Mr Glebatsas' (pictured) boss came to visit him in hospital, but only to ask him to make business phone calls

'I thought, something is wrong with this picture. If I survived, I decided I had to change my life.'

And so he did. After fighting off the illness, he quit his job as soon as he was released from hospital, and moving back to Australia.

At home, he came out to his family and told them he was gay. A week later he met the man who would become his partner Anthony McDonough.

But moving beyond his life as a banker, Mr Glebatsas was not only crowned Mr Gay Australia 2014 and became a fitness model, but also started a skin care brand.

The experience made him reconsider his life choices - 'I thought, something is wrong with this picture,' said Mr Glebatsas

The Melbourne based couple (pictured) then started 'Lqd' which is now stocked in Harrods and David Jones

'Lqd' has gone from the brainchild of the Melbourne-based couple to being stocked in Harrods, David Jones, Sephore and Bloomingdale's.

Its success - the brand already brings in $5 million annually - is due largely to its big following on social media, Mr Glebatsas told the Australian Financial Review. 

'People are over the gimmicky ingredients and big claims in skincare,' he said.

But while Mr Glebatsas has well and truly left his banking days behind, he admitted the tough lessons he learnt have again proved a catalyst for success.

But while Mr Glebatsas (pictured) has left his banking days behind, he says the tough lessons he learnt have again proved a catalyst for success

Mr Glebatsas (pictured, left with partner Anthony McDonough) says surviving illness was a 'powerful motivator to chase my passions in life'

'On one side of my bed was my mother, on the other was my boss, saying we're losing millions on the desk, we need you to come back in and unwind some trades,' he told the AFR.

'Surviving all of that was a pretty powerful motivator to chase my passions in life.' 

قالب وردپرس

Tweet

Subscribe to receive free email updates: