Gatsby was born James Gatz and was born poor. While he was 17 he used to work on lake superior as a fisherman for salmon and he used to dig clams. He one day sees a man named Dan Cody and rowed to him in the middle of a storm. After that he takes him on board and makes him his assistant and gives him the name Jay Gatsby. Cody was an alcoholic who soon after dies and leaves Jay with 25 thousand dollars. But Gatsby had not inherited the money due to Cody's wife not allowing it. He then pursues a life of being a successful businessman. He actually came from a simple life and didn't have it easy. Like the rumors stating he had gone to Oxford. He didn't have the money to even go to England. Jay Gatsby and James Gatz have a small difference between them. One had a luxurious life and the other had nothing. A reason Tom also hates Gatsby is because of how he makes his money. His money is new money and he thinks that the money he makes comes from bootlegging. But he just owns a lot of Pharmacy's. And also they both love the same women.