The three orphaned boys were sold as slaves: Antonios, aged thirteen, to Constantinople; Emmanouil, fourteen, and the younger Andreas, to Alexandria, Egypt, where both converted to Islam.
After graduating in 1833, Antonios worked in Sturdza family estates where he cultivated land and also learned how to organize, maintain and trade livestock.
Living a simple life, he acquired large tracts of land and real estate to become a very wealthy man.
In 1848, settled permanently in Athens, Antonios acquired Greek citizenship and continued his profitable import-export and trade activities, where his assets increased enormously.
His will bequeathed to the University of Athens all of his tangible and intangible assets: real estate properties, including his homes and buildings, bonds, bank shares and accounts along with very large sums of money, all of which was invested to produce revenues which are still used for scholarships given to outstanding students every year and for the entire period of their studies in the University of Athens.
The University of Athens, in honor of its greatest benefactor, erected a marble bust and a plaque in two of its historic buildings and the name of Antonios Papadakis has been engraved under that of its founder, King Otto.