Celebrities enjoy massive wealth and privilege because of their successes in television, at the box office, on the music charts, or on the bestseller lists. While some celebrities were born into wealth and later became famous, others came from extreme poverty and reached the top of their respective fields. Their stories of going from broke to bankable show that anything is possible.
1. Hilary Swank
Academy Award-winning actress Hilary Swank found her Hollywood dream by starring in movies like Million Dollar Baby. But her life wasn’t always so golden. Growing up, she and her mom lived in a trailer park. When her mom lost her job, they had to live in their car for a time. It’s safe to say she’s come a long way since then.
2. Jay-Z
Before becoming a musician, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Jay-Z was living the hard-knock life he rapped about. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in the Marcy Houses, a public housing project, by his single mom after his dad abandoned the family. Jay-Z is open about his past life as a street dealer, but he was able to turn his life around and become the husband and father he is today.
3. Jim Carrey
Many people know Jim Carrey as s slapstick-style comedian and acclaimed actor for his roles in movies like The Truman Show, The Mask, and Bruce Almighty. Many do not know that years before he became one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, he grew up in an impoverished family. As a teenager, his family of six became homeless and lived in their van until his father could find a steady job.
4. Demi Moore
Demi Moore is one of the most recognizable actresses in Hollywood today. Still, her road to success took a lot of work. She grew up in an unstable home, alternatively living with her mother and siblings and living with her grandparents. The family moved a lot, and her mother struggled with alcoholism. She left home at age 16 and never looked back.
5. Sarah Jessica Parker
She may be best known for her role as the shoe and fashion-obsessed Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City and its sequel And Just Like That…, yet Sarah Jessica Parker is no stranger to living less than glamorously. She grew up in a family of eight children. Money was so tight that the family couldn’t afford to celebrate holidays or birthdays. It also wasn’t unusual for the electricity to be shut off.
6. Chris Pratt
The star of Jurassic World, The Guardians of the Galaxy franchise, and not to mention his breakout role as Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation, has enjoyed great success in film and television. Before becoming a household name, Pratt endured some tough times. After dropping out of community college, he became homeless in Hawaii, living in his van and a tent on the beach in Maui.
7. Mariah Carey
When you think of powerhouse singer Mariah Carey, it’s often in the context of the glamorous, worldly life that she’s led for the past three decades. It’s hard to imagine when she was down and out broke. She moved to New York in her late teens to land a record deal, and while she waited for her big break, she worked waiting tables and slept on a mattress on the floor of her apartment.
8. Shania Twain
Country singer Shania Twain grew up in humble beginnings in Canada. Her parents didn’t earn much money and sometimes had difficulty putting food on the table. To help support the family, she started singing in bars after their last call when she was only eight. She put her voice to good use because today, she’s a superstar in the music industry.
9. J.K. Rowling
As a financially struggling single mother, J. K. Rowling supported herself and her kids by working odd jobs and relying on government assistance. Since writing the immensely popular Harry Potter books, which have become a global sensation along with feature films, Rowling has enjoyed unprecedented success. She’s become a millionaire many times and has donated a substantial fortune to numerous charities.
10. Celine Dion
Celine Dion grew up as the youngest of 14 children in a home where her father barely earned enough money at his piano bar to support his large family. Fortunately, her immense talent has made her wealthy beyond anyone’s imagination. With albums selling in the millions and a highly successful Las Vegas residency under her belt, she never has to worry about money again for the rest of her life.
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