Some of the world's billionaires took themselves from the streets to the top of the Forbes' list.
Despite mounting evidence that it's becoming increasingly difficult to build such wealth, these 15 incredible stories are proof that it is possible to overcome life's toughest challenges and create something better for yourself.
This list includes just a handful of the many "rags-to-riches" stories out there. Let us know which ones we missed in the comments.
Guy Laliberté ate fire on the streets before introducing Cirque du Soleil to the world
The Canadian-born Laliberté began his circus career busking on the streets: playing accordion, walking on stilts and eating fire. He gambled by bringing a successful troupe from Quebec to the Los Angeles Arts Festival in 1987, with no return fare. The bet paid off, and the circus group was eventually brought to Las Vegas, where they became the world famous Cirque du Soleil we know today.
Today, Laliberté is the CEO of Cirque, a professional poker player and space tourist, with a total worth of $2.5 billion.
Source: Celebs101
John Paul DeJoria lived in his car before John Paul Mitchell Systems took off
As a first generation American, DeJoria had it rough from the beginning. His German and Italian parents divorced when he was two, and he sold Christmas cards and newspapers to help support his family before he turned 10. He was eventually sent to live in a foster home in Los Angeles.
DeJoria spent some time as an L.A. gang member before joining the military. After trying his hand as an employee for Redken Laboratories, he took a $700 dollar loan and created John Paul Mitchell Systems. He hawked the company's shampoo door-to-door, living out of his car while doing so. But the quality of the product could not be denied, and now JPM Systems is worth over $900 million annually. He also created Patron Tequila and has a hand in a variety of industries, from diamonds to music.
Source: Forbes
Ursula Burns grew up in a housing project on Manhattan's Lower East Side and now runs Xerox
Before the Lower East Side was cool, it was a hub for gangs. Burns was raised by her single mother in a housing project there. Her mother ran a daycare center out of her home and ironed shirts so that she could afford to send Ursula to Catholic school. She went to NYU, and from there became an intern at Xerox.
She's now Xerox's CEO and chairwoman. She's the first African-American woman to be the head of a Fortune 500 Company.
Source: Bloomberg
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