These people came from merely nothing but now they have a whole lot of wealth than the average person. Taking the leap of faith and believing in themselves led them to profit through adversity.
Without further adieu, here are four inspirational rags to riches stories:
1. HOWARD SCHULTZ
Raised in a housing project in Brooklyn, Starbucks’ Howard Schultz was a son of a struggling truck driver. Despite their poverty, he excelled at football. Fortunately, this earned him a scholarship to the University of Northern Michigan.
After finishing tertiary education with a degree in Communications, he worked for Xerox Company before discovering a small coffee shop called Starbucks. Filled with his love for coffee, he soon left Xerox and focused on becoming the chief executive of Starbucks.
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As of today, his net worth amounts to US$3.2 billion (S$4.5 billion).
2. JOHN PAUL DEJORIA
As a first generation America, John Paul DeJoria and his immigrant parents had it tough from the start. His parents divorced when he was just 2 years old. By age 9, he and his brother began selling newspapers and greeting cards in order to support their family. Life did not come easy soon after as he lived in a foster home and become a part of a street gang.
Thankfully, he graduated secondary school and spent two years in the United States Navy. After which, he held numerous jobs ranging from a janitor to an insurance salesman. In 1980, things changed. He teamed up with Paul Mitchell and turned a US$700 loan into a hair-care company called John Paul Mitchell Systems. Now, it is known worldwide as the Paul Mitchell hair products with estimated annual revenue of US$1 billion (S$1.4 billion).
He is also the co-founder of the famed tequila company called “The Patron Spirits Company”. Currently, his net worth amounts to US$3.1 billion (S$4.4 billion).
3. ANDREW CARNEGIE
Who would have thought that a Scottish American with barely a dollar to his name would soon be the richest man in the world?
Andrew Carnegie migrated to the United States with his low-income parents in 1848. He then started to work as a telegrapher. 10 years later, he had investments in railroads, bridges, railroad sleeping cars, and oil derricks. Then, his wealth increased further as he worked as a bond salesman.
He became the world’s richest man in 1901. Aside from having a high profile, he was also a philanthropist. This is the reason why he gave away about 90% of his fortune (US$350 million in 1919 = US$4.7 billion in 2015) US to charities by the time of his death.
4. OPRAH WINFREY
One of the most recognizable faces in the world definitely did not grow up in a pool of luxury. American media maven, host, producer, publisher, actress, and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey was born in the Mississippi with her teenage single mother. She experienced hardships during her childhood such as being raped at age 9 and becoming pregnant at age 14. Unfortunately, her son died in infancy.
But these struggles only strengthen the young Oprah as she entered the halls of media in her first job as a newsreader in a local radio station. Later on, she got a daytime talk show in Chicago. The rest was history.
Persevering through life and diversity earned her a net worth of US$3.2 billion (S$4.5 billion)!
