From Frying Burgers to Making Millions Gaming – But One Thing’s Still Missing!

A teenager’s journey from the drive-thru window to gaming stardom sounds like a dream come true, but for Jose Hinostroza, the transition from McDonald’s employee to Fortnite millionaire has come with a unique downside: a nonexistent love life. Despite the fame, fortune, and fanbase, this young Miami native finds that his unconventional schedule and work demands make finding a relationship nearly impossible.

Jose, now 18, began his gaming career humbly. He worked minimum wage at McDonald’s by day and gamed online by night, putting in long hours to improve his skills in popular games like Fortnite and Call of Duty. As the pandemic unfolded, Jose’s livestreams gained traction, drawing hundreds of thousands of viewers on YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch who were captivated by his gameplay and personality. Quickly, the teenager found himself gaining fans – and significant earnings – through donations and tournament winnings.

“I was a millionaire by 18. I didn’t grow up with a lot of money, so it means more to me,” he shared. “It’s huge that I went from earning $8 an hour to six figures monthly. I feel proud of myself.”

The newfound financial success was life-changing. Jose was able to leave his job at McDonald’s, upgrade from the grill to a gaming chair, and soon enjoyed luxuries he had once only dreamed of. Now, he owns a four-bedroom house in Miami, drives a Mercedes-Benz, and even has a jet ski for those rare moments of relaxation.

However, this young millionaire’s lifestyle, focused heavily on late-night gaming sessions, has left him struggling in the romance department. His long hours mean his “clocking-off time” is around midnight, and anyone wanting to date him would need to be available in the wee hours – a commitment that feels “like dating a vampire,” Jose joked.

“This career definitely affects my dating life as I’m only free at night time. I get off at 12 at night, I don’t really have time to go see anyone,” he explained. “It would be amazing to find someone who shares this passion with me and is free at the same weird hours I am, but I imagine it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

Jose’s rise to fame happened almost by chance. Working long shifts at McDonald’s, he’d go home and dive into gaming tournaments, where he quickly realized he had a knack for competitive play. Winning tournaments daily, he started recording his sessions and posting them on YouTube, where they took off, earning him even more attention.

“I really liked sniping and I was pretty good, pretty fast. I would spend eight or more hours a day playing these games after school,” he said. His passion soon paid off as the pandemic boosted the demand for online entertainment, catapulting his popularity on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.

The Fortnite phenomenon was booming, and Jose quickly capitalized on this momentum. He quit his McDonald’s job and committed full-time to streaming and creating content. His follower count skyrocketed, reaching 200,000 on Twitch, 280,000 on YouTube, 450,000 on TikTok, and 80,000 on Instagram, proving that his success was anything but a fluke.

“I didn’t expect to reach the figures I did,” he admitted. “Fortnite was popping at the time, so everybody wanted to watch videos about it. From there, I just kept going and never looked back.”

While his father had hoped he’d pursue a stable career in medicine, Jose’s success in gaming has won over his family. “My dad wanted me to be an anesthesiologist, but I didn’t like school at all. My family is super proud of what I’ve achieved,” he said.

Despite his wealth and fame, Jose acknowledges the social sacrifices of his unusual job. Meeting new people, let alone potential partners, is difficult. “If I wanted to meet someone in the wild, I’d have to go out to places like bars, and by the time I’ve wrapped up the working day, they’re long closed,” he said. “If only dating was as straightforward as gaming.”