Payam Zamani and his family at a restaurant, sitting in a booth and smiling at the camera.
Payam Zamani arrived in the US with only $75 and is now a multimillionaire.
  • Payam Zamani is the founder and CEO of One Planet Group, a tech company.
  • He is a refugee from Iran and arrived in the US in 1988 with $75.
  • He doesn't plan to leave his two children a substantial inheritance.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Payam Zamani, author of "Crossing the Desert: The Power of Embracing Life's Difficult Journeys." It has been edited for length and clarity.