Gurhan Kiziloz’s journey into business has rarely followed convention. A British entrepreneur who left university before completing his degree, he began his career in sales and corporate training, work that took him across Europe and the Middle East. Those early years were more practical than headline-worthy, but they laid the groundwork for what would later become a growing business portfolio.
In 2019, Kiziloz founded Lanistar, a digital finance company that aimed to simplify money management through a single, multi-account payment card. The product gained attention for its focus on younger users and heavy reliance on influencer marketing, rather than traditional financial advertising. However, the platform’s early years faced hurdles, from compliance questions to the challenge of getting the idea to stick, especially in a space as saturated as the UK’s fintech market.
Rather than middling attempts to be an also-ran, Kiziloz took a risky step; he took Lanistar to Brazil. The move made sense, the Latin American country’s gaming market is one of the fastest growing in the world, with high mobile usage and a growing demand for digital entertainment. But it was not smooth sailing either, questions were raised about how Lanistar could crack a new market in an entirely new domain.
In Brazil, Lanistar is one part of Nexus International, the broader holding company Kiziloz created to manage and scale ventures in the gaming sector. A high point for the company came when it secured one of the first gaming licenses from the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), Brazil’s federal gambling regulator.
Megaposta, Lanistar’s stablemate under Nexus International, had generated over $400 million in revenue in 2024. The platform’s strong showing eased concerns about Lanistar’s move to a new market and was also billed as another instance of Kiziloz’s business acumen.
Forecasts for Nexus’s 2025 performance suggest continued growth, with revenue projections exceeding $1.4 billion. These numbers are based largely on expansion within the gaming sector and plans to enter new international markets. While projections can change, they offer a sense of the scale Kiziloz’s ventures are now approaching. His personal net worth, according to estimates adjusted for company valuations and revenue, has passed the $700 million mark in 2025. And with current momentum, Kiziloz could well be on his way to join the ranks of the world’s billionaires.
With growing stature, the curiosity around his life has also grown, with the scant details available feeding into the interest further. Kiziloz has occasionally spoken about being diagnosed with ADHD and how the condition shapes his daily routine and management style. His interviews shed light on regimented schedules and long work hours across different time zones, reflecting grit and determination. Another lesser-known side of Kiziloz’s image has come from his philanthropic initiatives. With the building of water wells in Gambia being a case in point. These efforts have not been the centerpiece of his public image, but they help piece together the Gurhan Kiziloz story.
Piecing together the bits, what emerges from Kiziloz’s story is not one of overnight success, nor one of deference to tradition. Instead, it’s a case study in dealing with adversity, moving from fintech into gaming, from the UK to Brazil, from challenger status to a leader of the status quo. Whether or not he crosses the billionaire mark this year, his trajectory offers a lens on how there is an upside to every storm, from life incidents to the regulatory kind.