10 Uber Successful People Who Used to Be Homeless
It’s the classic "rags to riches" story. The American Dream.
Not everyone starts from the bottom. Truth be told, many of us are blessed with advantages such as family connections or money. However, that makes the people who become successful after starting from nothing fascinating and endearing.
But what is the bottom? How low can someone go before there’s nowhere left to go but up? That’s up for interpretation, but it’s hard to argue with homelessness. To rise up from homelessness and reach success is what the dream is all about.
If you set your goals ridiculously high and it's a failure, you will fail above everyone else's success.– James Cameron
So which uber-successful people you know used to be homeless? The names will surprise you...
1. Sylvester Stallone
At one point, Sylvester Stallone was homeless and had to sell his dog for $50 just to survive.
In an interview with ShortList he said, “I tied my dog up at the store with a sign that asked for a hundred bucks. I got $50 from this guy called Little Jimmy.”
Heartbreaking, right? But here’s the kicker: One week later, after someone finally purchased his script for the first Rocky movie, Stallone bought the dog back for $3,000.
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2. Halle Berry
After moving to Chicago to pursue her dream of being an actress, Berry was forced to live in a homeless shelter on and off because her mother believed it was best to have her learn to stand on her own.
It taught me how to take care of myself and that I could live through any situation, even if it meant going to a shelter for a small stint, or living within my means, which were meager. I became a person who knows that I will always make my own way.
3. Jim Carrey
Before becoming a legendary comedian, Jim Carrey dropped out of high-school in his hometown in Ontario, Canada, and had to live in a small Volkswagen bus with his entire family. Later, they upgraded to a tent on his older sister’s lawn.
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Carrey famously wrote a check to himself for $10 million long before making it big, an amount he’d later make (and then some) with hits such as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and Dumb and Dumber.
4. Daniel Craig
Believe it or not, James Bond himself had to sleep on park benches in London while he worked as a waiter to get by.
No longer a struggling actor, Daniel Craig has starred in several smash hit films including The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and is widely considered to be one of the best Bonds ever.
5. Steve Harvey
Easily one of the most extreme examples on the list, comedian and T.V. host Steve Harvey lived in his 1976 Ford Tempo for three years while he just starting out as a comedian. He toldPeople he’d often have to wash up in public bathrooms.
That is, until he got the call to appear on Showtime at the Apollo. The rest is history.
6. Jennifer Lopez
Before becoming a household name, actress and pop queen Jennifer Lopez was 18 years old, fighting with her mom about wanting to become a dancer instead of going to college.
Lopez was homeless, sometimes sleeping on a cot in the dance studio she practiced at, until she made it big with her first dancing gig on In Living Color. Bonus points to whoever can name the other person on this list who got big from the very same show!
7. Steve Jobs
During his college days, the Apple founder would frequently crash on various friends' floors, recycling glass Coke bottles to scrape just enough money to get by.
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Known to have had an affinity for Yogic philosophy, in his now-famous Stanford University commencement speech he recalled:
I would walk the seven miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple.
8. Hilary Swank
After growing up in a trailer park on the edge of Bellingham, Washington, Hilary Swank and her mother moved to California so Swank could pursue a career in acting. They lived in their car for several months.
According to Swank, at one point, they considered themselves lucky enough to find a place to sleep. "We had a friend who was selling their house. And so they said, 'You know, there's no furniture, but you can stay there at night. And then, during the day, you have to leave so we can try and sell it.' So we got air mattresses. Blew the air mattresses up. Slept on the air mattresses. And left in the morning,” she said.
Swank went on to win two Oscars before the age of thirty.
9. David Letterman
When he first started, Letterman actually lived out of his 1973 Chevy pickup truck trying to make it in Hollywood.
Not too long after, his career began taking off while he worked as a comedy writer for Jimmy Walker, and eventually, he had his own legendary late-night show.
10. James Cameron
With one of the most interesting and inspiring rags-to-riches stories on this list, James Cameron stuck to his guns even when he was living out of his car.
While barely making ends meet, he was writing a little movie you might have heard of: The Terminator.
Studios liked his script. However, Cameron was determined to direct the film as well and wasn’t just looking to sell off the screenplay. The only problem? He had no directing experience on his resume, so no one would take the deal.
However, Cameron got his break when producer Gale Anne Hurd bought the rights to his screenplay for $1 in exchange for allowing him to direct the film.
The film would go on to make over $77 million worldwide and launch Cameron into stardom. He later directed classics such as Titanic and Avatar.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.