HomeCelebLists10 Celebrities Who Were Poor and Homeless by Business Insider

10 Celebrities Who Were Poor and Homeless by Business Insider

Rich people become poor in seconds. It doesn’t take much for a life to change drastically. Only one decision can make you poor and homeless, but pursuing with only one goal in mind can be the road to success, too. There are countless motivational stories regarding people who lost everything. So, here are some of the amazing stories of the famous people in show business and different careers. Many actors, musicians and other professionals, have achieved their goals even though they were broke and homeless. Read on about 10 amazing stories of people who overcame all odds to become what they are today compiled by Business Insider.

Ella Fitzgerald – Jazz Singer

The most celebrated female jazz singer was homeless before the people recognized her talent. She didn’t have a nice childhood at all. Ella moved to a poor Italian neighborhood in 1925 and everything went bad from there on. After seven years, her mother died from a heart attack. Her stepfather wasn’t paying a lot of attention to her and abused her. She ran away from her home and lived with her aunt in Harlem. She did anything that was offered to her for a living, before she became what we know her today.

Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald

Chris Gardner – Stockbroker

If you are familiar with the 2006 movie The Pursuit of Happyness, Chris should be a very well-known face. He was the inspiration for the movie and actor Will Smith did a wonderful job by playing Chris Gardner in that movie. Chris was poor, homeless and sleeping with his kid everywhere he could. This was happening while Chris was preparing himself for the Dean Witter Reynolds training program to become a broker. But you don’t know that he was a victim of domestic violence, sexual abuse and family illiteracy.

Chris Gardner
Chris Gardner

Jewel – Singer

It happens very often for a woman to get propositioned by her boss. Jewel was dealing with this problem in her past. After quitting her job because of him, she was forced to live in her car and wash her hair at public restrooms. She faced refusal to work from many places because she was too young. Jewel was forced to find food at happy hours and save money for the manicure, in order to sing in a club.

Jewel
Jewel Kilcher

Michael Oher – Football Player

Michael’s story is one of the most amazing stories in sports. In fact, the movie The Blind Side is dedicated to this man. He grew up in the poorest part of Memphis. Michael’s mother was addicted to cocaine and his father was murdered. But that was not all. Michael attended 11 schools in nine years and he practically didn’t have any friends.

Michael Oher
Michael Oher

Jennifer Lopez – Singer, Actor

Many people didn’t know about Lopez’s struggle while she was 18. Her parents didn’t let her pursue, what she wanted to do in life. So she left her home and had to sleep on a sofa in her dance studio. After J.Lo’s fight with her mother regarding her desire to be in the show business, Jennifer proved her determination by bagging the a Grammy Award.

Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez

Harry Houdini – Magician

Maybe the greatest magician wasn’t able to do a trick to avoid being homeless. Harry’s parents weren’t ready for his decision to be a magician. He ran away from his home and tried to do everything he could to make ends meet. He searched his hope on the streets of New York City and Houdini began his professional career at the age of 17.

Harry Houdini
Harry Houdini

Steve Harvey – TV Personality

The amazing TV host wasn’t rich when he started his career. His beginnings were much alike the stars, we’ve mentioned. He split with his first wife and sent his paychecks to his two children. Steve was forced to live in his 1976 Ford Tempo for a very long time. The Igloo cooler was his makeshift refrigerator. He was washing up in public bathrooms and pool showers. Now, he has his own show, bestsellers, two homes and a family.

Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey

Hilary Swank – Actress

Swank’s family wasn’t getting along too much, so Hilary and her mother had to move to Los Angeles after her parents divorced. Swank was only 13 when this happened, but her mother was focused on Hilary’s career. They lived in their car and waited for the perfect audition to pay for a nice apartment and her big break into the acting business.

Hilary Swank
Hilary Swank

Charlie Chaplin – Actor

The greatest silent actor had to deal with the same struggles as the other celebrities in this article. His father left him when he was two years old. Charlie was left with his mother Hannah and they weren’t able to make ends meet. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the end of it. Later on, Charlie was sent to the workhouse and his mother was sent to a mental hospital. He was able to survive by performing and joining a music hall dance troupe.

Charlie Chaplin
Charlie Chaplin

Drew Carey – Comedian

Even if he tells jokes for a living, his life isn’t a joke at all. Drew wasn’t able to have what he wanted as a kid. His father died when he was 8 years old. At the age of 18, Drew tried to commit suicide because he couldn’t bare with anything in his life. In Las Vegas, he was selling plasma for $40 and buying macaroni and cheese before becoming a successful comedian.

Drew Carey
Drew Carey

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