Hakki Akdeniz
#279,367 Most Popular
About
Restaurateur and philanthropist who rose to fame as the founder of Champion Pizza in New York City. He's been praised for his inspirational rags-to-riches life story and his outreach to New York City's homeless population. His journey to success was recounted in the television documentary Hi I'm Hakki.
Before Fame
He immigrated from Turkey to the United States in the year 2001 and ended up homeless on the streets of New York City. He eventually landed a dishwashing job at a pizzeria before founding Champion Pizza.
Trivia
He has been featured in a number of high-profile publications like the New York Post, the New York Times, and Forbes. He shares highlights from his life in the public eye on his hakkiakdenizz Instagram account, where he has gained upwards of 38 million followers.
Family Life
He has two children.
Associated With
Actress Courteney Cox filmed an Instagram video at Champion Pizza in 2022.
