My Parents Put Me On This Path

How my childhood experiences shaped the course of my entire life...

Author

Mikkel Thorup
November 13, 2026

Hey guys, Mikkel here, 

I didn't grow up wealthy.

My father was a letter carrier, and my mother was a real estate broker.

Some of my earliest memories involve spending weekends with my mother at open houses.

As I got a little older, my parents began buying, renovating and selling homes. 

Our family called this practice "fix-and-flip."

My Mom and Dad's understanding of our local market, and their willingness to take risks and work hard, changed our financial situation.

There is literally no saying whether I would have the deep involvement in international real estate investing and development I have today if I didn't grow up the way I did.

Watching my parents take calculated risks, recognize opportunities and build their business inspired my own love for real estate, and I've spent most of my adult life putting those same principles into practice in markets around the world.

Of course, operating internationally comes with its own set of challenges.

One reality I've had to contend with throughout my career is that many markets offering compelling opportunities are also places where the political environment doesn't align with my personal values.

As a libertarian, government intervention directly opposes my most foundational principles.

No matter the policies, principles or persona they present to the world, I am far from a supporter of politicians and the governments they represent.

However, if I refused to do business in every country whose political leadership I disagreed with, my world would be pretty small… as would the opportunities I would be able to unlock.

Brazil is a perfect example.

Brazil’s recent presidential election did not produce the political outcome I would personally have preferred. 

I didn't miss a wink of sleep over the outcome. 

I have major investments in Brazil, have helped countless families and investors secure high-upside, cash-flowing real estate in the country, and I intend to continue doing exactly that regardless of any politician or political party. 

Operating against political headwinds is not new territory for me.

I've spent more than 25 years investing, building businesses, and helping families establish themselves in jurisdictions where political headwinds are part of the operating environment.

Would I prefer tailwinds at my back in the markets where I do business? Sure.

However, I don't make decisions based on whether I like the man "running the country".

I make decisions based on the fundamentals.

I look at the underlying economy, demand for what we're considering building or acquiring, the strength of my relationships on the ground, and whether there's a compelling business case beyond the logical reach of policy.

One man, no matter how powerful he believes himself to be, doesn't erase the economic importance of an entire country and its dependence on foreign private investment.

Socialist economic policies can create headaches, absolutely, but even governments with the most aggressive “wealth redistribution agendas” have to contend with economic reality.

There's a limit to how aggressively any government can pursue its ideological ambitions without undermining the very economic activity it depends on.

… hence why I remain so bullish on the opportunities I have and am actively pursuing in Brazil.

This coming Saturday, I am going live at 10:00 a.m. Panama Time, to discuss my latest venture into Brazil. Here are the full details you’ll need to be there live with me in the presentation room:


Now, no matter how personal (or how excited I am about any idea), before committing my time or capital to any development, I need to understand who will use the property, why they'll use it, whether they can afford it, and what supports demand beyond the usual fluctuations in tourism or the local economy.

Those questions matter a great deal more to me than who's occupying the highest political position. 

This Saturday at 10:00 a.m. Panama Time, I'll walk you through the concept, the market dynamics and the project I have waited literally decades to bring to life. 

Operating in markets where you disagree with the political leadership can be negated by recognizing opportunities that make sense regardless of who’s “in charge”. More on this Saturday. 

Speak soon,
Mikkel