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The stories of 21 people who went from rags to riches will inspire you. — part 1

Many of Silicon Valley’s and Hollywood’s most well-known billionaires and millionaires didn’t always have it so good. Having started out in the slums of Los Angeles, these stars and entrepreneurs have gone on to become household names.

By Cosmin ChildPublished 2 years ago 5 min read
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The stories of 21 people who went from rags to riches will inspire you. — part 1
Photo by De'Andre Bush on Unsplash

Take a look at these remarkable tales of rising from poverty to wealth.

Halle Berry has admitted to having slept in a homeless shelter at one point in her life.

Before her Oscar won, Halle Berry lived in a homeless shelter. Starving for success in Hollywood, the actress sought out low-cost housing options. When it comes to the beginnings of her career as an actress, she claims that the hardships she faced made her a better person in the end.

At the end of the day, “it taught me how to take care of myself and that I could survive any situation, even if it meant going to shelter for a short stint,” Berry told People in an interview.

Halle Berry’s net worth has been estimated to be between $70 and $80 million, according to various sources.



When it came to birthday presents and electricity, Sarah Jessica Parker’s family had nothing.



Sarah Jessica Parker was a small-town girl from Nelsonville, Ohio before she landed the iconic role of New York writer Carrie Bradshaw on HBO’s “Sex and the City.

Finances Online reports that SJP went through a period in her life where her family didn’t celebrate birthdays, holidays, or any other family events. Parker, one of nine children, recalled times when the family couldn’t afford to pay their electric or phone bill. Parker

A Broadway debut at the age of eleven led Sarah Jessica Parker to a 1981 guest appearance on the TV show “Square Pegs” in Hollywood. She has also appeared in numerous films.



Dolly Parton was raised in Appalachia by a single mother and a large extended family.

As the fourth of twelve children, Dolly Parton grew up surrounded by music. Having a large family meant a lot of stress for her parents, Robert Lee and Avie Lee Owens.

In a previous Insider article, Lee was described as a tobacco farmer and construction worker who dropped out of school at a young age and never learned to read or write. The mother of Dolly Parton was the daughter of a preacher who dedicated her life to raising her children and educating them.

Despite her humble upbringing, however, Parton was surrounded by musicians who inspired her to pursue her musical dreams. Bill Owens, Parton’s uncle, got her her first television appearance on “The Cas Walker Show” in Knoxville, Tennessee when she was just 10 years old.

Parton has a six-decade career in show business, numerous №1 singles, and nine Grammy awards under her belt. She has a net worth of $37 million, according to Forbes, but she’s known for her generosity. Covid-19 vaccine research has received a $1 million donation from country music star Dolly Parton recently.



The school was out for Ed Sheeran and he was sleeping in subway stations.



One of the most popular artists in the world today, Ed Sheeran began his career as an aspiring musician in London’s thriving music scene.

Many nights, the singer would be found dozing in London subway stations or atop heating vents.

“I spent a few nights in an arch outside Buckingham Palace that had a heating duct. ‘Homeless’ and the lines ‘It’s not a homeless night for me, I’m just home less than I’d like to be’ were written there.” In his book, “A Visual Journey,” Sheeran penned the following:

He once met a drug-addicted prostitute named Angel while performing at a local homeless shelter. “The A Team” was dedicated to her by Sheeran after hearing her story. One of Sheeran’s first breakout hits, this song would propel him into the limelight.

Sheeran is now a multi-millionaire thanks to his ability to sell out stadiums around the world.



Outside of Los Angeles, Leonardo DiCaprio grew up in a drug-ridden neighborhood.

“Titanic,” “The Revenant,” and “The Wolf of Wall Street” are just a few of Leonardo DiCaprio’s blockbuster films, but they were all made before he became one of Hollywood’s most famous actors.

It was because of these early experiences with extreme deprivation, drug use, and violence that the actor feels qualified to portray the darker aspects of human nature in his films, according to the actor.

To counter critics’ claims that he glorified drug use, prostitution, and other morally questionable behaviors in “The Wolf of Wall Street,” Leonardo DiCaprio compared his character’s upbringing to that of “The Wolf of Wall Street.”

He said this in an interview with The Times: “The question is, who am I to say anything about this? Back to where it all began. As a child, I was fortunate enough to see the other side of the spectrum because my family was poor.”

The net worth of Leonardo DiCaprio is estimated at $260 million.



In the years following World War II, Arnold Schwarzenegger lived through food riots in Austria.

Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t have running water or a phone when he was growing up; he only had electricity when he was in “The Terminator.”

After World War II, the actor grew up in an Austrian town where food shortages and riots were commonplace.

Schwarzenegger, now one of the most wealthy action stars of all time, is said to be worth $400 million.



Celine Dion was one of fourteen children who grew up in poverty in her family.

Celine Dion was born the youngest of 14 children in Canada. Dion and her siblings had to endure a lot of hardships as a result of their parent's struggles.

He said, “We were three, four in the same bed,” Dion explained to CBS. “There was no place for me to sleep. Towards the top of the stairs, there was a small ramp leading to the bedrooms. And my bed was right there, too.”

Eventually, Dion realized that she had musical talent and began performing at small community events. My Heart Will Go On and It’s All Coming Back To Me Now were two of her most popular songs.

In time, the star’s wealth grew as her fame increased. In October 2020, Dion will be worth $455 million, according to the latest estimates.

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