It seems difficult for many of us to imagine that not all celebrities have always been
as wealthy as they are today. In fact, a number of stars came from very humble beginnings
and beat the odds to obtain fortune and fame. Take a look a twenty very well-known and very
rich celebrities that actually came from a background close to poverty.
Oprah Winfrey. Oprah's early years in a Milwaukee ghetto
included sexual abuse and an absent mother. Growing up she dealt with an immense amount
of instability as she was bounced back and forth between her father's structured home
and a life of no supervision with her mom.
Viola Davis. Born the daughter of a maid and horse groomer,
this celebrated actress grew up in anything but ideal circumstances. Oftentimes there
was no food in her home. And when there was, it was a race to fill her stomach before it
was all gone and days went by without food again.
Stevie Wonder. After his premature birth, Steveland Judkins
was blinded from being given too much oxygen in his incubator. He was born into a terribly
impoverished family. His single mom struggled to put food on the table, and his abusive
and controlling father forced his mom into prostitution.
Mariah Carey. Mariah Carey's childhood in New York was scarred
by racism because of her bi-racial heritage. Her family even had to move due to violence
towards them for being a mixed race family. Carey's parents then divorced, causing the
family further financial struggles.
Jay Z. Shawn Corey Carter, better known as "Jay Z,"
had a rough childhood as one of three kids in a single parent home. He was raised in
the Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, NY. As a teenager he dealt drugs, including crack and cocaine.
He also grew up resenting his dad for leaving and expressed his anger by fighting.
Nicki Minaj. Nicki Minaj had an impoverished childhood
in Trinidad and Tobago. When Nicki was five, her mom left her with her grandmother so she
could go to America to establish herself. Two years later, when she moved Nicki to Queens,
NY, it was anything but the American dream. Minaj witnessed violent fights between her
parents and barely survived her dad burning their home to the ground.
Tyler Perry. Tyler Perry suffered physical and sexual abuse
throughout his entire childhood growing up in New Orleans. His father was a drunk and
would beat him within an inch of his life. Tyler was also sexually molested by a friend's
mom as well as a family member. He later said he thought he would die before he reached
adulthood.
Rihanna. Pop singer Robyn Rihanna Fenty grew up poor
in Barbados. Her father's drug addiction deprived the family of the little money they did have,
leaving them without food and proper clothing.
T.I.. Born Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., T.I. is a
high school drop out. He overcame a life of both dealing and using crack cocaine, as well
as an early stint in prison.
Future. Nayvadius Cash, better known as "Future,"
has really turned things around from a life of dealing and smoking weed in Atlanta. Growing
up he was left alone for hours as his single mom worked as a 911 operator. Most of his
childhood was spent being "cared for" by drug-addicted family members.
50 Cent. Curtis James Jackson III, otherwise known
as 50 Cent, grew up in one of the poorest areas of Queens. His mom died when he was
just seven years old. In order to make a living for himself he turned to dealing crack cocaine
and spent time in jail as a result.
Halle Berry. Berry grew up in a poor single-mom home. She
was taunted by both black and white kids for being bi-racial. They called her names like
"zebra" and left Oreo cookies in her locker and bags. Life as a young adult had more than
its fair share of adversity as well. She even went through a time of homelessness as she
struggled to fulfill her dreams.
Snoop Dogg. Born Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr., Snoop Dogg
dealt drugs in high school and later spent time in prison for possession of and selling
cocaine.
Tasha Smith. Raised in Camden, NJ, Tasha Smith grew up
the daughter of a drug addicted single mom. She dropped out of high school, turned to
drugs and even worked as a stripper for a time.
Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick Lamar grew up in the extremely rough
neighborhood of Compton. He witnessed a murder at the age of 5 and saw his dad involved in
the notorious Gangster Disciples gang. As a child he was given many opportunities to
deal drugs and join gangs, but chose the high road of school and music.
Steve Harvey. Steve Harvey was born the son of a poor coal
miner in West Virginia. Before he became famous, he flunked out of college, became homeless
and lived in his car, and at times couldn't make enough money to eat.
Mike Tyson. Mike Tyson grew up in extreme poverty in Brownsville,
New York. He became an orphan at age 16, was sent to a juvenile detention center, and dropped
out of high school. He was able to rise out of poverty when his boxing talent was discovered
by Bobby Stewart, a boy's home counselor and former boxer.
Michelle Obama. Former First Lady Michelle Obama was raised
on the South Side of Chicago in a working-class home. Her mom was a homemaker and her dad
was a water plant employee who suffered from multiple sclerosis. His struggles inspired
Michelle to do her very best in school, which paid off when she got into Princeton.
Barack Obama. Barack Obama didn't exactly grow up in poverty
- in fact, he went to one of the best high schools in Hawaii. However, he was raised
by a single mom, Stanley Ann Dunham, and then later by his grandparents. He never knew his
father, who went back to Kenya and died there in a car accident.
Denzel Washington. Denzel Washington was raised in the impoverished
city of Mount Vernon, New York. Up until the age of 14, Denzel says that he was heading
for a life behind bars. "The guys I was hanging out with at the time, my running buddies,
have now done maybe 40 years combined in the penitentiary." His life changed when his parents
divorced and his mom sent him to a private school, and he went on to graduate from the
prestigious Fordham University with a BA in drama and journalism.