Heartbreaking details of millionaire’s death

Kenyan authorities have confirmed New Zealand entrepreneur and teen-millionaire, Jake Millar died by suicide on Sunday, November 28, 2021. The 26-year-old was alone when he passed away at this his cottage in the suburb of Karen in the nation’s capital of Nairobi.In light of his death, his friend and Kiwi scientist and social entrepreneur, Sir Raymond Avery has shared one of the last emails Mr Millar sent while living in Kenya. The former Forbes 30 under 30 lister and Christchurch-man moved to Kenya earlier this year after the controversial sale of his failed second start-up, Unfiltered. Founded in 2015, Unfiltered was worth a staggering $11.47 million at his height, however he was forced to sell the business to consultancy group Crimson Education for a figure closer to $84,000.The email read: “Hi Ray and Anna, “You are two of the most beautiful people in the world.“Thank you for looking after me when I was actively trying to die because of the media tsunami in NZ.“The NZ media can be so nasty and being away from NZ I’m starting to feel more optimistic about the future.“Love to you both“Jake.”‘NZ media literally ran Jake out of town’In a post made on LinkedIn, Sir Avery blasted the New Zealand media for the “killer headlines” and “trial by media” Mr Millar endured before his death. “This was Jake’s major crime - ‘he was a charismatic tall poppy’ - and NZ does not tolerate tall poppies and the NZ media literally ran Jake out of town,” he wrote. “Left alone with just the ‘trial by media’ comments recirculating in his head Jake took the final step to make the pain go away.”In one of the final interviews before his death, Mr Millar defended his risk-taking approach to business. This came days after news of Unfiltered’s sale, in which Mr Millar was brutally criticised by Kiwi press, in reports he himself deemed as “inaccurate”, “defamatory” and “character assassination”. “As a young entrepreneur, some people would probably accuse me of having quite strong defence mechanisms,” he said in an interview with The Spinoff.“I have always stood up for what I have believed in and also against people I have felt wronged by, often even if they have been much wiser and more successful than me.“When I reflect over my journey, I think this is one of the reasons I became, inadvertently, more controversial than I ever set out to be.”Former NZ PM: ‘I knew he was someone special’Since his passing, many people have come forward in touching tributes to Mr Millar, commending him for his ambition and warmth.“From the first time I met him, I knew he was someone special. He had a mixture of courage, warmness, intellect and a maturity and strength to deal with adversity, which is never easy for a young person. I respected him and I will miss him,” former New Zealand prime minister Sir John Key told the New Zealand Herald.Several comments also criticised the backlash Mr Millar experienced, including from the CEO of Crimson Education, Jamie Beaton, who brought Mr Millar’s second start-up in March 2021. “New Zealand too often suffocates ambition in its young people.“I had never met anyone in New Zealand like Jake Millar. Jake had an ability to connect with people that was mesmerising,” he said. “He understood what drove people and could inspire them, drive them and unite them.”Mr Millar first came to prominence when he founded Oopher with his friend, Yuuki Ogino, while they were still students at Christchurch Boys’ High School. The motivation app was sold to Careers New Zealand for an undisclosed six-figure sum in 2015, with the duo then going on to create Unfiltered.His death was confirmed by Nairobi County Police Commander, Augustine Nthumbi “We were informed of a body of the young man at his house and we are now pursuing the matter. We were told it was suicide but investigators are on it,” he said. A statement from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade also confirmed they had been in touch with his family.“The ministry is aware of the tragic death of Jake Millar and is providing consular assistance to his family,” it read.Mental health support Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au