Ultimate Rags To Riches Stories

Earning your first million is a daunting challenge that demands relentless effort and sacrifice. And then imagine someone starting with nothing and building a massive empire. How can these people do it?

Howard Schultz

Every time you grab your favorite coffee from Starbucks, you owe it to an incredible visionary. Howard Schultz was born to a working-class family in a Brooklyn housing complex. Watching his parents struggle just to make ends meet didn't stop him. 

Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

A Place Like Home

Schultz joined Starbucks in 1982 and dreamt about changing it from a small coffee roaster to a café culture phenomenon as a third place between home and work. Thanks to his resilience and innovative mindset, Starbucks has become a global icon with over 40,000 stores worldwide.

Onar Vikingstad, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Eminem

Marshall Bruce Mathers III, better known as Eminem, grew up in the rough neighborhoods of Detroit, where he faced bullying and moved between different homes with his single mother. Dropping out of high school, he worked menial jobs while honing his craft in rap battles.

Brendan_linden, CC0, Wikimedia Commons

Slim Shady

Today, Eminem has a net worth of $250 million. He came under the spotlight when Dr. Dre discovered him in 1997 and produced his album, The Slim Shady LP, which attracted attention and won a Grammy. Eminem's lyrics are rooted in his turbulent personal life and sparkles acclaim and controversy. 

DOD News Features, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Steve Jobs

The founder of Apple was adopted by a couple who didn't go to college and eventually dropped out because he couldn't afford it. Nevertheless, he worked with Steve Wozniak in 1976 to create the Apple I computer in his garage.

Acaben, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Think Different

Their second product, the Apple II, changed personal computing, but Jobs' intense personality and perfectionism created conflicts. Jobs also acquired Pixar, which became a leader in animation. His return to Apple in 1997 brought iconic innovations like the iMac, iPhone, and iPad despite battling pancreatic cancer. 

Matthew Yohe, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sophia Amoruso

The brand Nasty Gal was built by Sophie Amoruso, who dropped out of school. She lived as a nomad scavenging dumpsters for food but at 22, she started selling vintage clothes on eBay. She wanted to mix her eye for fashion with clever marketing on social media. 

TechCrunch, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Nasty Gal

Her innovative approach grew the brand into a multi-million-dollar business with a cult following. Unfortunately, Nasty Gal filed for bankruptcy in 2016, but she rebounded by founding Girlboss, a platform empowering women entrepreneurs. Her story, chronicled in her memoir #GIRLBOSS, inspires those facing unconventional paths. 

Nasty 99's for Nasty Gals only by Gerald England, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Oprah Winfrey

Because of the hardships she went through as a child, it's hard to imagine that a woman like Oprah Winfrey could build a multi billion dollar empire. She was born in Mississippi to a teenage single mother and landed a job in radio at just 19. 

vargas2040, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Queen Of All Media

Powered by her talent, Oprah's big break came in Chicago with The Oprah Winfrey Show. It became the highest-rated talk show in television history and made her a household name. Winfrey went on to build a media empire, including her own production company, Harpo Productions, and the Oprah Winfrey Network.

aphrodite-in-nyc from new york city, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sam Walton

Can a dime store turn into something bigger? Sam Walton asked this question and the answer led him to eventually building Walmart. He grew up during the Great Depression and his family struggled financially, but Walton's entrepreneurial spirit shone early as he worked odd jobs. 

George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Wikimedia Commons

Save Money, Live Better

Walton founded Walmart and focused on small towns overlooked by competitors. His approach revolutionized the retail industry and made Walmart the largest retailer in the world, with more than 10,000 stores. He passed on in 1992, but Walmart is worth more than $750 billion today. 

Walmart Corporate from Bentonville, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren often dreamed of wealth and sophistication, inspired by classic Hollywood movies. He began his career selling ties, eventually designing his own, which stood out for their wide cut and bold patterns. This led to the creation of the Polo Ralph Lauren brand in 1967. 

Edgar de Evia[1], CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons

Timeless Elegance

Lauren expanded his empire into clothing, accessories, and home furnishings and transformed his vision into a multi-billion-dollar business. Despite facing challenges like the 1990s financial slump and industry competition, he maintained his brand's prestige. Today, he is worth more than $8 billion.

Peffry, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

Jan Koum

At 16, Jan Koum went to live in California with his mother, where they lived off food stamps. However, he taught himself programming and later joined Yahoo as an engineer. He realized that there's a gap to fill in the communication business due to the lack of privacy.

afromusing, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Simple. Secure.

Koum and Brian Acton developed WhatsApp in 2009 based on simplicity and security. Despite initial rejections from venture capitalists, the app gained massive global popularity. Facebook paid $19 billion to buy WhatsApp in 2014. This acquisition made Koum one of the wealthiest people in the world.

microsiervos, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Larry Ellison

Today, Larry Ellison owns a Hawaiian island and luxury yachts. But before that, he was raised by his poor uncle and aunt in a modest Chicago neighborhood. He dropped out of college and worked odd programming jobs before co-founding Oracle in 1977. 

Oracle Corporate Communications, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Changing The World

Oracle changed the tech industry with the development of a relational database system, which impacted how businesses manage data. The business grew into a giant under Ellison's leadership to make him one of the wealthiest individuals in the world despite financial crises and stiff competition. 

Oracle Corporate Communications, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Sheldon Adelson

The man who revolutionized the casino industry started his career by selling newspapers. Sheldon Adelson was one of the world's richest people at the time of his death. However, he was born to a poor family and worked in many ventures before striking gold with the COMDEX computer trade show. 

Bectrigger, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

A Man With A Vision

Adelson transformed Las Vegas Sands into a luxury resort empire, including the Venetian and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. He lost and rebuilt his fortune twice, and his philanthropic efforts, especially in medical research and education, left a significant impact.

Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ingvar Kamprad

IKEA's furniture is recognized everywhere in the world and the man behind it was born in a small Swedish village. Ingvar Kamprad wanted to create affordable furniture that customers could assemble by themselves and founded his brand at the age of 17. 

Ministry of Enterprise, Energy and Communications of Sweden/Sandra Baqirjazid, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

A Worldwide Empire

Although he started his business by selling pens and nylon socks, it soon expanded to become a giant global store in more than 60 countries. Now, people access stylish furniture, get inspired by IKEA layouts, and spend a family day, all thanks to him. 

via.tt.se, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Roman Abramovich

Roman Abramovich was raised as an orphan, but his luck changed when he ventured into the oil industry during Russia's post-Soviet privatization. His savvy investments in oil giant Sibneft and other industries made him one of the richest men in the world.

Fars Media Corporation, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Chelsea Football Club

In addition to his business ambitions, Abramovich pursued his love for sports and purchased Chelsea Football Club in 2003. He flooded his club with cash and pushed it to win numerous titles. It was later sold off, but he still remains an influential figure in sports and business. 

Ank kumar, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons