Top 10 Rags-To-Riches Success Stories Of All Time
They say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. These inspiring figures had less than a lemon to start out with – and are now known for their sheer tenacity as they climbed to the top.
MensXP brings you the top 10 rags-to-riches success stories of all time.
1. Henry Ford
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Henry Ford was a farm boy who went on to revolutionize transportation industry in America. Ford was very interested in mechanics from a young age, when he dismantled and reassembled a pocket watch at the age of 15 his father had given him. A self-taught watch repairman who graduated to being an apprentice machinist, Ford started his personal experiments on gasoline engines which was the beginning of his vast Ford empire. And his net worth, as per Forbes in 2008, is a cool $188.1 billion.
2. Walt Disney
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Our childhood would have been dreary without this genius of a man. Walt Disney was also another boy brought up in a farm – and used to draw pictures for his neighbors for money. He used to be the cartoonist for the school newspaper, Disney went through the jobless phase where no one hired him, and his brother had to help him out with his job search. He went from rags to riches by starting out with advertisements and going on to animating his own cartoons.
3. Ralph Lauren
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Born in a strict Jewish family with a house painter for a father, Ralph Lauren grew up with big dreams. He used to sell ties to his classmates to earn some cash, and he mentioned in his yearbook that he wanted to be a millionaire. His interest in ties went on help his put his foot through the door of bigger achievements in the fashion world. When he was signed on to design the clothes for ‘The Great Gatsby’ in 1974, he was catapulted into the fame which he commands today.
4. Steve Jobs
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This Apple founder is now a household name. Jobs was given away for adoption by his biological parents and he became interested in electronics after his foster dad showed him the joys of technical tinkering in their garage. He had to drop out of college, because his education was costing his foster parents a lot. He used to return Coke bottles for money and live on free meals at the Hare Krishna temple. A hippie who used to trip on LSD, Jobs went from a technician in Atari, Inc. to becoming the CEO of Apple Inc.
5. Richard Branson
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Branson went from being a dyslexic kid who performed badly in school to a British business magnate with a net worth of 4.6 billion. There was a time when Richard Branson started his record business from the crypt of a church – and now he is the fourth richest citizen of the UK. This entrepreneur is an example of how one can be eccentric and yet rake in the moolah. He had his finger in many pies – record label, airways and telecom.
6. John Paul DeJoria
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Born to Italian and Greek immigrant parents, this billionaire had to sell newspapers when he was nine to support his family. He has lived in a foster home, been part of a street gang and jumped through a number of jobs. With a loan of $700, he began what is now known the world over as the Paul Mitchell line of hair products. He went on to own 70% of The Patron Spirits Company, the world’s ultra-premium tequila brand. If this is not a rags-to-riches story, we do not know what is.
7. Oprah Winfrey
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Born to a housemaid and a coalminer, Oprah definitely did not grow in the lap of luxury. Living the life of poverty, where she used to have to wear dresses made out of potato sacks and was molested by relatives. She entered the world of media after getting the job of a news-reader in a local black radio station. After she got her first talk-show in Chicago, there was no looking back for this TV personality.
8. J.K. Rowling
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Born in a lowly English family, Rowling battled depression, suicidal tendencies and poverty to become one of the most loved British authors in the world for her hugely popular Harry Potter series. Highly imaginative as a kid who thrived on stories, she drew from her surroundings and the people in her life as inspirations for the books which have now become one of the biggest movie franchises. From her humble beginnings, she has gone on to become one of the most powerful women in the United Kingdom.
9. Daymond John
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A black boy growing up in Queens – one would not have pegged John as a potential entrepreneur who would go on to become the CEO of the hip-hop clothing brand FUBU. But that he did, with an entrepreneurial instinct that he honed from his school days. Selling popular wool hats at half their market price, he mortgaged their house for future business expansion. It paid off well – and he now is one of the most influential motivational speakers in America.
10. Chris Gardner
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This is the man whose life has inspired the Will Smith-starrer ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’. Physically abused by his stepfather as a child and placed in a foster home, Gardner’s woes did not leave him even as he grew up to marry and be a father. As shown in the movie, Gardner struggled with homelessness while raising his kid. It was the strength of the lessons he learnt from his mother that he went from rags to riches by tenaciously building himself to be the CEO of his own stockbrokerage firm, Gardner Rich & Co.
There is no disadvantage these personalities did not suffer on their journey from birth to where they stand today – but sheer tenacity, confidence and hard work led them to the inspiring figures they are today.
9 Inspirational Stories of Success and Overcoming Great Obstacles
9 Inspirational Stories of Success and Overcoming Great Obstacles
Life is challenging for so many of us right now, so we put together some inspirational stories of success to give you encouragement and hope. We selected stories that will give you the courage to push past challenges and overcome obstacles. Be encouraged if you are in a tough spot. Overcoming struggle is a part of every good story.
Your story can be one of overcoming too. And we hope you are inspired by these stories of others who overcame obstacles and rose to success.
Inspirational Stories About Famous People Overcoming Failure and Struggle
This post contains affiliate links. We earn commissions at no extra cost to you to support our charity for homeless foster youth if you shop through the links on this page. You can read our full affiliate disclosure here.
Looking at famous success stories can make it hard for you to imagine that they ever experienced failure. But the truth is that every success story involves failure. In fact, most successful people attribute their success to failure. You can read in more detail in each of their own words or biographies as referenced below.
This Sports Icon Didn’t Make the Team
If there’s one name you would not associate with failure, it’s probably Michael Jordan. But Michael Jordan’s story is one of overcoming, too. His path to success wasn’t easy and straightforward.
“I have missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the game-winning shot, and I missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” Michael Jordan
When Michael Jordan’s high school cut him from the basketball team his sophomore year. He worked hard and moved his way up over the years, but he stayed humble. In fact, he attributes his success to failure.
Read more about Michael Jordan’s life, from the perspective of his friends, coaches, family, and Michael Jordan himself.
This Emmy Award-Winning Comedian Was Living in Her Car
Tiffany Haddish, the hilariously gifted comedian and actress, has overcome great obstacles on her rise to success. You may know her from Girls Trip or perhaps you’ve seen one of her uproarious stand-up shows.
This Emmy Award Winner and published author spent years in foster care, separated from her siblings. She experienced assault, homelessness, and divorce. Even as she performed her stand-up, she was living in her car.
Despite all this Tiffany has risen to the top and is giving back. Now she’s giving back and has started her own charity helping foster youth in need.
Learn more shocking details about Tiffany Haddish in her own words.
Tiffany is especially close to our hearts, following the same mission to take action to care for foster youth.
Kristina Kuzmic is arguably the most famous, inspiring, and funny mom on Facebook. Her videos have more than one billion views. Kristina is on a mission to get us to be honest with each other and to encourage us along the way.
Kristina’s overcome great obstacles and multiple failures which she attributes to helping shape her path to success today. Kristina immigrated from Croatia as a kid during the war. She experienced the devastation of bombings and loss. As a young mom, she experienced divorce, poverty, and depression.
In 2011 Kristina won “Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star,” and was on her way to having a successful cooking show when it fell apart. Kristina was disappointed but brushed herself off and found a new way to authentically connect with and inspire others that launched her to where she is today.
Learn more about Kristina’s journey to gain hard-won wisdom and success through resilience and self-acceptance.
True Motivational Stories From People Like You And Me
Some of the most powerful stories of overcoming come from people who aren’t household names. Their battles and successes are just as inspiring and motivational if not more. Check out their inspirational stories of success!
She Went From Teenage Homelessness to MD
Sheryl Recinos struggled through her dysfunctional upbringing in foster care, detention, and eventually to the streets of Hollywood. She even made an appearance on the Jerry Springer show, sharing her experiences as a homeless teen.
Today Dr. Sheryl is a mom, writer, physician, and activist. She advocates for youth in need through her writings and philanthropy. Read more about her real and inspiring story.
She Escaped Human Trafficking and Got A PhD
Katarina Rosenblatt was lonely, abused, and neglected as a young girl. At 13 she was targeted by a child trafficking ring. She escaped trafficking, her attempted murder, and poverty.
Dr. Kat went on to get a law degree and a Ph.D. As an advocate and national speaker, she became the First and Only known US Survivor of Sex Trafficking to be included in the National Center for Civil and Human Rights Museum in Atlanta, GA.
Read Dr. Kat’s story of faith and escape in her own words.
Michael Oher grew up as one of 13 children, in a rough neighborhood in Tennessee. As a teenager, he bounced around between foster care and life on the streets.
Through the support of an adoptive family, Ohr broke out of the cycle of poverty, addiction, and hopelessness that trapped his family.
Michael’s story is the basis for the well-reviewed inspirational movie starring Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side. But you can also read his story in his own words here.
More Foster Youth Success Stories
You may have noticed more than one of our inspiring stories has a history in foster care. We like to share those stories in particular since helping transition age foster youth succeed is our mission. There are so many amazing stories of overcoming from youth who came from foster care. We just had to share a few more incredible stories of hope. Hope’s Boy Andrew Bridge made himself into a gateway of hope for foster children. A former foster youth himself, Andrew spent 11 years in the foster system, While in foster care, he was confined to the MacLaren Children’s Center in Los Angeles County, a facility criticized for its harsh treatment of children and ultimately closed by order of the court.
Harvard Law School and even cancer could not keep this man from becoming everything he was created to be. Andrew Bridge is a New York Times Bestselling author, lawyer, and executive director of the California-based Alliance for Children’s Rights.
Winner of the 2013 Miss California pageant. Christina Meredith is best known for her tireless work to advocate on behalf of abused children and foster care reform. But life wasn’t always a fairy tale for Christina, that’s why she calls herself Cinder Girl.
Despite enduring the worst this world has to offer, including abuse, foster care, and homelessness, her faith in Christ brought her into honorable service in the Lord’s army. And she also serves in the U.S. Army.
She founded the Christina Meredith Foundation to advocate for foster care reform and meet the needs of at-risk children.
Destini’s case file began when she was only seven months old. She experienced child abuse, kinship care, foster care, and struggled through childhood. Destini was adopted at 17.
Destini McAlister is now an author, wife, and homeschooling mother of 3. And now, Destini shares her story of hope for trauma survivors… hope that through consistent love, support, and faith in Christ, we all can be set free.
What Makes A Success Story
While these inspirational stories are exceptional, it’s important to remember that success is subjective. Just because someone hasn’t written a book (or been written about) doesn’t mean they aren’t a success story.
Here at Finally Family Homes, we don’t measure success by degrees, titles, fortune, or fame. We believe success in life starts with achieving your goals, whatever they may be. Maybe you want to write poetry, become an accountant, or learn how to garden. Each of these goals has its barriers and challenges to overcome. It’s in pushing past barriers, persevering, and growing personally, and helping others that you will achieve true success.
Celebrate the small victories. Own your failures. Keep going. Those who don’t give up win.
20 Famous Success Stories to Inpire You
If you find yourself feeling like giving up on pursuing your dream these famous success stories will give you the inspiration you’re looking for!
If you are like most people, I’m sure you sometimes find yourself feeling like giving up on pursuing your dream.
But its important to remember that some of the most famous success stories started out as complete failures.
So today I’d like to share some true stories with you to consider before you give up.
My intention in sharing these is that they will inspire you not to give up at all, but to persevere in the face of the natural process of achieving any worthwhile success.
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1. Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg was rejected three times when he applied to the USC School of Theater, Film and Television.
He ended up going to Long Beach State. After directing and producing such blockbuster hits as Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T., Jurassic Park, The Color Purple, Saving Private Ryan, and Lincoln, he now sits on the Board of Directors of the USC film school, and donates a million dollars a year to the school.
2. General Douglas MacArthur
Another person who was rejected by the school of his choice was the famous World War II general—General Douglas MacArthur, who might never have gained power and fame without being persistent. When he applied for admission to West Point, he was turned down, not once but twice. But he tried one more time, was accepted, and marched into the history books.
3. Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss’ first children’s book, And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, was rejected by twenty-seven publishers. The twenty-eighth publisher, Vanguard Press, sold six million copies of the book. And all of his children’s books went on to sell a total of more than 100 million copies.
4. Richard Hooker
Richard Hooker worked for seven years on his humorous war novel, M*A*S*H, only to have it rejected by twenty-one publishers before Morrow decided to publish it. It became a runaway bestseller, and then spawned a blockbuster movie and a highly successful television series.
5. Peter J. Daniels
When Peter J. Daniels was in the fourth grade, his teacher, Mrs. Phillips, constantly said, “Peter J. Daniel, you’re no good, you’re a bad apple and you’re never going to amount to anything.” Peter was totally illiterate until he was 26. A friend stayed up with him all night and read him a copy of Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Now he owns the street corners he used to fight on and has written and published 10 books, including Mrs. Phillips, You Were Wrong!
6. Michael Jordan
Basketball superstar Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. He once said, “I have missed over 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take the gam winning shot, and I have missed. I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
7. John Grisham’s
Fifteen publishers and thirty agents turned down John Grisham’s first novel, A Time to Kill. More than 60 million copies of his books are now in print.
8. Star Wars
The movie Star Wars was rejected by every movie studio in Hollywood before 20th Century Fox finally produced it. It went on to be one of the largest grossing movies in film history, and created a series of 10 films that have won a total of 7 academy awards and 9.2 billion dollars in revenue.
9. Woody Allen
Academy Award-winning writer, producer and director Woody Allen flunked motion picture production at New York University and the City College of New York. He also failed English at New York University. And yet he went on to write and direct 54 films, for which he won 4 Academy Awards.
10. Tyler Perry
In 1992 actor, playwright and filmmaker Tyler Perry wrote, produced, and starred in his first theater production, I Know I’ve Been Changed, which was somewhat informed by his difficult upbringing.
Perry put all his savings into the show, and it failed miserably; the run lasted just one weekend and only 30 people came to watch.
He kept up with the production, working more odd jobs and often slept in his car to get by. Six years later, Perry finally broke through when, on its seventh run, the show became a success.
He’s since gone on to have an extremely successful career as a director, writer, and actor. And in 2011 Perry was named Forbes’ highest paid man in entertainment, having earned 130 million dollars that year. He now has an estimated net worth of $800 million.
11. Howard Schulz
When Howard Schultz was raising money to start Starbucks, Charles Schultz, the founder of Starbucks, was turned down 217 times. If he had given up after 200 rejections, there’d be no Starbucks.
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12. Robert Frost
Robert Frost, one of the greatest poets that America has produced, labored for twenty years without fame or success. He was thirty-nine years old before he sold a single volume of poetry. Today his poems have been published in twenty-two languages, AND he won the Pulitzer Prize for poetry four times.
13. Louis L’Amour
Louis L’Amour, the successful author of more than 100 western novels with more than 200 million copies in print received 350 rejections before he made his first sale. He later became the first American novelist to receive a special congressional gold medal in recognition of his distinguished career as an author and contributor to the nation through his historically based books.
14. Bill Bradley
Former U.S. Senator and former NBA Hall of Famer New York Knicks basketball star Bill Bradley practiced relentlessly. He had five spots on the basketball court from which he would shoot 25 times. If he didn’t hit 22 baskets out of 25 shots, he’d start over.
15. King Camp Gillette
King Camp Gillette dreamed of a cockeyed invention that caused investors, metal engineers and experts at MIT to snicker.
They all believed that there was no way a razor could be made sharp enough to provide a clean shave and yet be cheap enough that it could be thrown away when it was dull.
Gillette labored four years to produce the first disposable razor and another six years to get it placed on store shelves. Although only 51 blades sold during the first year, 90,844 were purchased in the second year and Gillette’s risk-taking innovation was on its way to revolutionizing the shaving industry.
16. Herschel Walker
When NFL running back Herschel Walker was in junior high school, he wanted to play football, but the coach told him he was too small. He advised young Herschel to go out for track instead. Undaunted by the lack of encouragement and support, he ignored the coach’s advice and began an intensive training program to build himself up. Only a few years later, Herschel Walker won the Heisman trophy.
17. Walt Disney
Did you know that Walt Disney was once fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas? And he also went bankrupt several times before he built Disney Studios, Disneyland and later Disneyworld.
18. Henry Ford
Another person who went broke and bankrupt was Henry Ford, who failed and went broke five times before he finally succeeded in creating the successful Ford Motor Company.
19. Clint Eastwood & Burt Reynolds
And think about this: A Universal Pictures executive dismissed both Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds at the same meeting with the following statements. To Burt Reynolds: “You have no talent.” To Clint Eastwood: “You have a chip on your tooth, your Adam’s apple sticks out too far and you talk too slow.” As you no doubt know, Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood went on to become big stars in the movie industry, Eastwood with 13 Academy Awards and Reynolds with numerous golden Globe and Emmy Awards.
20. Soichiro Honda
Think about this, sometimes what seems like a terrible rejection can be a huge gift. One example of this is the story of Soichiro Honda, who wanted to work for Toyota, but was rejected; however, he didn’t give up his dream of building cars and later he went on to found the very successful Honda Motor Company.
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What will your Success Story be?
It’s okay to recognize that sometimes Achieving your dreams can feel like a daunting task and like it is never going to work out.
Whether it is giving up on finding a publisher for your book, getting enough funds to launch your own business, losing the weight you want to lose – sometimes the journey to reach your goal can feel like an uphill battle.
It’s important to remember that we all face obstacles and that when we overcome those barriers, you can achieve the success you so desperately want.
So the next time you think of giving up or quitting, remember these stories of the people who didn’t and went on to create great success in their lives.
Are you willing to persevere to achieve your goals, no matter what?