11 Tweet 36 12 StumbleUpon Entrepreneur.co.za May 30, 2014 Wealth tends to create more wealth, but a rich background is not the only way to the top. Some of the world's wealthiest people started out dirt poor. All from humble beginnings, these 15 people not only climbed to the top of their industries but also became some of the richest people in the world. Although the rich do get richer, these rags-to-riches stories remind us that through determination, grit, and a bit of luck anyone can overcome their circumstances and achieve extraordinary success. Kenny Troutt, the founder of Excel Communications, paid his way through college by selling life insurance. Net worth: $1.7 billion (as of Sept. 2013) Troutt grew up with a bartender dad and paid for his own tuition at Southern Illinois University by selling life insurance. He made most of his money from phone company Excel Communications, which he founded in 1988 and took public in 1996. Two years later, Troutt merged his company with Teleglobe in a $3.5 billion deal. He's now retired and invests heavily in racehorses.
Starbucks' Howard Schultz grew up in a housing complex for the poor. Net worth: $2 billion (as of Sept. 2013) In an interview with British tabloid Mirror, Schultz says: "Growing up I always felt like I was living on the other side of the tracks. I knew the people on the other side had more resources, more money, happier families. And for some reason, I dont know why or how, I wanted to climb over that fence and achieve something beyond what people were saying was possible. I may have a suit and tie on now but I know where Im from and I know what its like." Schultz ended up winning a football scholarship to the University of Northern Michigan and went to work for Xerox after graduation. Shortly after, he took over a coffee shop called Starbucks, which at the time had only 60 shops. Schultz became the company's CEO in 1987 and grew the coffee chain to more than 16,000 1 Entrepreneur.co.za Number of post views: 1899815 Search ENTREPRENEUR.CO.ZA GIVES BACK Find us on B1G1 Our giving impact 53,002 micro-impacts to date Weve given 1 goats to rural families to have sustainable income for a year. TOP CONTRIBUTORS CONTACT US ADVERTISE ABOUT HOME ENTREPRENEURSHIP YOUR BUSINESS YOUR LIFE YOUR LEGACY EVENTS RESOURCES THE MAVEN COMMUNITY BRIAN WALSH 1.9k Like Share 9 F e e d b a c k Tweet 36 12 1.9k Like outlets worldwide. Investor Ken Langone's parents worked as a plumber and cafeteria worker. Net worth: $2.1 billion (as of Sept. 2013) To help pay for Langone's school at Bucknell University, he worked odd jobs and his parents mortgaged their home. In 1968, Langone worked with Ross Perot to take Electronic Data Systems (HP) public. Just two years later, he partnered with Bernard Marcus to start Home Depot, which also went public in 1981.
Born into poverty, Oprah Winfrey became the first African American TV correspondent in Nashville. Net worth: $2.9 billion (as of Sept. 2013) Winfrey was born into a poor family in Mississippi, but this didn't stop her from winning a scholarship to Tennessee State University and becoming the first African American TV correspondent in the state at the age of 19. In 1983, Winfrey moved to Chicago to work for an AM talk show which would later be called "The Oprah Winfrey Show."
At one time, businessman Shahid Khan washed dishes for $1.20 an hour. Net worth: $3.8 billion (as of Sept. 2013) He's now one of the richest people in the world, but when Khan came to the U.S. from Pakistan, he worked as a dishwasher while attending the University of Illinois. Khan now owns Flex-N-Gate, one of the largest private companies in the U.S., the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, and Premier League soccer club Fulham.
Mega-resort owner Kirk Kerkorian dropped out of school in the eighth grade to become a boxer. Net worth: $3.9 billion (as of Sept. 2013) To financially help his Armenian-immigrant family, Kerkorian dropped out of school in the eighth grade and later would become a boxer called "Rifle Right Kerkorian." During World War II, Kerkorian worked for Britain's Royal Air Force. He eventually turned his interest to constructing many of Las Vegas' biggest resorts and hotels.
2 Brian Walsh Number of post views: 677259 3 Richard Branson Number of post views: 265558 4 Sara Blakely Number of post views: 175904 5 Tony Robbins Number of post views: 158267 6 Robin-Sharma Number of post views: 132425 7 T Harv Eker Number of post views: 126818 8 JT Foxx Number of post views: 123681 9 Dr John Demartini Number of post views: 122712 10 Brian Tracy Number of post views: 114855 view all contributors SUBSCRIBE & FOLLOW FIND US ON FACEBOOK Connect on Facebook 75942 Fans Follow on Twitter 1436 Followers Subscribe to RSS Feed John Paul DeJoria, the man behind a hair-care empire and Patron Tequila, once lived in a foster home and his car. Net worth: $4 billion (as of Sept. 2013) Before the age of 10, DeJoria, a first generation American, sold Christmas cards and newspapers to help support his family. He was eventually sent to live in a foster home and even spent some time in a gang before joining the military. With a $700 dollar loan, DeJoria created John Paul Mitchell Systems and sold the shampoo door-to- door while living in his car. He later started Patron Tequila, and now invests in other industries.
Forever 21 founder Do Won Chang worked as a janitor, gas station attendant, and in a coffee shop when he first moved to America. Net worth: $5 billion (as of Sept. 2013) The husband-and-wife team Do Won Chang and Jin Sook behind Forever 21 didn't always have it so easy. After moving to America from Korea in 1981, Do Won had to work three jobs at the same time to make ends meet. They opened their first clothing store in 1984. Forever 21 is now an international, 480-store empire that rakes in around $3 billion in sales a year. Ralph Lauren was once a clerk at Brooks Brothers dreaming of men's ties. Net worth: $7.7 billion (as of Sept. 2013) Lauren graduated high school in the Bronx, N.Y., but later dropped out of college to join the Army. It was while working as a clerk at Brooks Brothers that Lauren questioned whether men were ready for wider and brighter designs in ties. The year he decided to make his dream a reality, 1967, Lauren sold $500,000 worth of ties. He started Polo the next year.
Luxury goods mogul Francois Pinault quit high school in 1974 after being bullied for being poor. Net worth: $15 billion (as of March 2013) Pinault is now the face of fashion conglomerate Kering (formerly PPR), but at one time, he had to quit high school because he was teased so harshly for being poor. As a businessman, Pinault is known for his "predator" tactic, which includes buying smaller firms for a fraction of the cost when the market crashed. He eventually started PPR, which owns high-end fashion houses including Gucci, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, and Find us on Facebook Entrepreneur.co.za 75,955 Like Entrepreneur.co.za Yesterday at 09:49 15 BILLIONAIRES WHO WERE DIRT POOR - This is a fascinating article that shows how 15 self-made billionaires came from nothing to become the most successful people in their industries. You do not need Like Page RECOMMENDED SERVICE PROVIDERS Yves Saint Laurent. Leonardo Del Vecchio grew up in an orphanage and later worked in a factory where he lost part of his finger. Net worth: $15.3 billion (as of March 2013) Del Vecchio was one of five children who was eventually sent to an orphanage because his widow mother couldn't care for him. He would later work in a factory making molds of auto parts and eyeglass frames. At the age of 23, Del Vecchio opened his own molding shop, which expanded to become the world's largest maker of sunglasses and prescription eyewear with brands like Ray-Ban and Oakley. Legendary trader George Soros survived the Nazi occupation of Hungary and arrived in London as an impoverished college student. Net worth: $20 billion (as of Sept. 2013) In his early teens, Soros posed as the godson of an employee of the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture in order to stay safe from the Nazi occupation of Hungary. In 1947, Soros escaped the country to live with his relatives in London. He put himself through the London School of Economics working as a waiter and railway porter. After graduating, Soros worked at a souvenir shop before getting a job as a banker in New York City. In 1992, his famous bet against the British pound made him a billion dollars. After his father died, business magnate Li Ka-shing had to quit school to help support his family. Net worth: $31 billion (as of March 2013) Ka-shing fled mainland China for Hong Kong in the 1940s, but his father died when he was 15, leaving Ka-shing responsible for supporting his family. In 1950, he started his own company, Cheung Kong Industries, which manufactured plastics at first but would later expand into real estate.
Harold Simmons grew up in a shack with no plumbing or electricity. Net worth: $40 billion (as of Sept. 2013) Entrepreneur.co.za Content Sourced by Entrepreneur.co.za More Posts (831) As one of the richest people in the world, Simmons grew up in a "shack" without plumbing or electricity. He managed to get accepted to the University of Texas where he earned a bachelor's and masters in economics. Simmons got his first big break buying a chain of drugstores, which would later sell for $50 million. He went on to become an expert in corporate buyouts. Simmons recently passed away at the age of 82. Oracle's Larry Ellison dropped out of college after his adoptive mother died and held odd jobs for eight years. Net worth: $41 billion (as of Sept. 2013) Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to a single mother, Ellison was raised by his aunt and uncle in Chicago. After his aunt died, Ellison dropped out of college and moved to California to work odd jobs for the next eight years. He founded software development company Oracle in 1977, which is now one of the largest technology companies in the world.
From BusinessInsider.com Author: Vivian Giang
Vivian formerly ran the Careers vertical at Business Insider. She's fascinated by the evolving office, growing industries and how technology, education and the rise of freelancers play a role in the future workplace. Previously she freelanced for Dan Rather Reports and worked in public relations in Colorado. She's had internship stints with CBS, CNN and TBS. Vivian has an M.A. in Business and Economic Reporting from New York University and a B.A. from the University of Georgia. She resides in Chinatown and is working on a collection of short stories.
About Author(s) Share and Enjoy homefeature 11 Comments Latif a May 30, 2014 at 7:11 am - Reply Very inspirational.Can any of these successful people mentoor me on my business.Thank you. Nkosi James May 30, 2014 at 7:24 am - Reply Thanks again you guys are the best...Ii love entrepreneure.co.za sanel e zaca May 30, 2014 at 7:33 am - Reply wow! Harold Simmons... Wow! Sandil e Ntombel a May 30, 2014 at 10:01 am - Reply it is so inspiring to see that most of these Gentlemen and Lady are no so different from the majority of the world whom live under hash poverty conditions. if they made it that tells me that we also have the power in within us to do it just a pity that there is not a Black Africa yet we have many of them there are similar to them. "Africa's best Entrepreneur" book by Moky Makura gives lots of details and Profile of them African greatness Smonds May 30, 2014 at 10:28 am - Reply It brings so much hope to see big business owners who started nowhere and have established such big businesses and continue to grow. Thank you very much for this article, I really believe that if it happened to them any one can do it Robert Apol inary May 30, 2014 at 10:56 am - Reply The article is real occupying the mind, its very hard to achieve all that, however, not everybody is such lucky!!!! Rahul Sahni May 30, 2014 at 11:59 am - Reply Inspirational! If this is not motivating then nothing can! mojaki sekhal o May 30, 2014 at 12:55 pm - Reply im an entrepreneur in electrical business i would kindly request a bit of information on how to modify my business into a wealthy empire.bmh electrical Masoma May 30, 2014 at 1:28 pm - Reply i'm really fascinated by these true stories.I have just noticed that nothing is gonna hold me back once i have a persevering heart and the desire to succeed. Mpumi May 30, 2014 at 4:39 pm - Reply I am very amazed after seeing this people who were once poor now being Billionaires. I am tired of being poor and want to learn how to go through into that step of being rich. This gives hope that one day it will happen to me out of hard work and using my brains. Ul ysses May 31, 2014 at 5:19 am - Reply I am really amazed and fascinated by the way these people do their things. As an entrepreneur, I would really be pleasured to be mentored or be an apprentice of a person like them Leave A Response Name (required) Email (required) Comment Post Comment RECENT POSTS ABOUT US Our Purpose (What we do) To help entrepreneurs create true wealth, greater Freedom and a meaningful life and to contribute the elimination of poverty and general empowerment of people in Africa. Our Mission (How we do it) To create the largest proactive community of entrepreneurs in South Africa and Africa and maximize the learning opportunities, experience exchange and business networking within those communities. Back to Top Copyright 2012 - Entrepreneur.co.za. All rights reserved. Created by Tancott.com Why You shoul d al ways come Fi r st May 30, 2014 0 15 Bi l l i onai r es Who Wer e Once Di r t Poor May 30, 2014 11 9 Dai l y Rout i nes & Ri t ual s Of Hi ghl y Successful Peopl e May 29, 2014 17