From zero to hero, from rags to riches, started at the bottom now they’re here… We all love these stories of people crawling out of the dirt and into the sunshine, especially if they’re world-famous celebrities. Their stories inspire us to do and create something! We find comfort in know that hard work will get us out of almost any bad situation, and with a bit of luck we’ll be able to overcome the worst circumstances.
Just like that, these 9 hard-working celebs have made it to the very top. Would you be surprised to find out that DiCaprio is one of them? Seems like he’s in everything these days, so why don’t we start with good old Leo…
Leonardo DiCaprio
As you may have guessed Leo didn’t come from money. His mother had to work several jobs just to keep everyone fed and warm. He got his first role when he was 5 years old, and after that things started to look up for him and his family. A few commercials here, a sitcom there, then his first movie, and boom! – Leonardo DiCaprio gets his well-deserved Oscar!
Oprah Winfrey
Before she was giving away cars on the show and talking to all sorts of celebs like they’re just people, Oprah had to endure and overcome some of the worst situations a teen girl can imagine. Raised by her grandma, assaulted by her uncle, her cousin and a family friend, got pregnant at only 15, and lost her infant son. This kind of life would have broken most of us, but not Oprah. Today she’s said to be worth $3 billion dollars.
Mark Wahlberg
Hey look, it’s Marky! Did you know he used to be a rapper with a cocaine addiction and a criminal record by the time he was 15? What a busy boy he was. I don’t know how he did it, but he’s one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood now.
Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey is one of my favorite comedians of all time. Ever since I saw Ace Ventura, his rubber face always managed to put a smile on my face. Either way, Jim is on this list for a reason, and that reason is – yup, you guessed it, he used to be poor. He even dropped out of high school, to be able to support his family. Unfortunately working as a guard and a janitor was not enough to pay the mortgage, and the whole family was forced to live in their van. Lucky for Jim he eventually did manage to crawl out of that mess and become a world-class actor.
Eminem
Basically, just go watch the “8 Mile” to see what his youth was like. His father abandoned him, so Marshal had to participate in the rap battles, until he was discovered by Dr. Dre, who later became his producer.
Jay Z
Would you believe me if I told you Jay Z used to be a pusher? And what about that time he shot his brother? Relax, it was only a flesh wound. Either way Jay Z was a bad-bad boy, and look at him now!
J.K. Rowling
Before Rowling wrote any “Harry Potter” books, she was a single, jobless, and depressed mother, with enough income to not starve to death and pay the rent. But it’s all in the past, she’s now worth at least $650 million dollars, according to Forbes.
Carmen Electra
Can you believe one of Carmen’s boyfriends stole all her money and valuables? Because of that she had to start working as a dancer (hopefully exotic) in night clubs. She didn’t give up and finally got that sweet “Baywatch” role, making every teen boy’s dreams just a little bit more colorful.
Sylvester Stallone
Long before his movie debut as the face-punching boxer Rocky, Sly was a foster kid, who one day decided to move to the Big Apple – the city of opportunities. He always wanted to be an actor, but was forced to work odd jobs for years until that fateful day in 1976 when “Rocky” finally started production, and a new action star was born!
