Samuel Leeds, 33, says the condition made school life difficult but propelled him to achieve his business dreams.
Now, he wants UK schools to embrace pupils who think differently and focus on producing entrepreneurs as well as academics.
Mr Leeds also encourages those with ADHD to see it as a ‘gift that can keep on giving.’
He said: “School was a terrible experience for me and turned my ADHD into a very negative force.
“I was not a good pupil and got in a lot of trouble because I was so frustrated.
“I’ve gone on to achieve so much as a property entrepreneur, but I sat on the remedial table at times and it made me feel like a complete failure.”
Despite being written off academically, Mr Leeds showed early signs of his entrepreneurial spirit.
He said: “I started selling sweets at school and washing cars for money in my spare time.
“I felt a burning passion to build up a pot of cash.”
At 16, he became interested in property, seeing it as an asset that could stand the test of time and generate a passive income.
He bought his first buy-to-let property shortly before his 18th birthday, starting a multi-million-pound property empire.
By 19, his income from rents was more than the average salary.
Mr Leeds said: “If I had been a good student at school, I’d probably be working in an insurance company, and I’d have a mortgage like everyone else.
“But because my brain works differently, I was able to see the bigger picture.”
He believes ADHD is a gift, saying: “People with ADHD can join the dots much faster than others.
“Our emotional intelligence is way better than a neuro-typical person’s.”
However, he acknowledges the downsides, including a terrible sense of direction and forgetfulness.
Mr Leeds wants schools to recognise that success is not just about turning people into professionals with university degrees.
He said: “Instead of just pushing traditional subjects, I want to see business and entrepreneurialism become equal partners in the curriculum.”
He has already achieved this in Uganda, where he has financed two school buildings.
The Samuel Leeds School Hall at the Bulubandi Primary School in Iganga and the Samuel Leeds School, which opened in 2024, teach financial literacy and other business skills alongside traditional subjects.
Looking to the future, Mr Leeds is keen to see all UK schools becoming more business-focused.
He said: “I feel schools need to do much more to nurture future company owners and drive innovation.”
