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Dublin: 11 °C Sunday 26 May, 2013

11 homeless people who became rich and famous

Halle Berry, Charlie Chaplin, Jim Carrey and Daniel Craig all had to sleep rough before they made it big.

IT’S OFTEN HARD to imagine famous people ever struggling for money.

But many of them were not just poor — they were homeless.

Here are some incredible stories of people who at some point in their lives had nowhere else to sleep but on the streets.

They eventually turned their lives around and became an inspiration to anyone who dreams of a professional career despite starting from nothing.

11 homeless people who became rich and famous
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  • Charlie Chaplin

    Before the age of 10, Charlie Chaplin had to figure out how to make a living on the streets of London. After the early death of his father, Chaplin's mother was put in a mental hospital and the young boy and his brother had to try to make a living by themselves. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • Harry Houdini

    Before becoming the greatest magician, Harry Houdini ran away from home at the age of 12 and begged on the streets for coins. At a young age, Houdini knew he wanted to be a magician and ran away from home by hopping a freight car. Even when he later moved to New York, he was so poor that he continued to panhandle. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • Michael Oher, the inspiration behind 'The Blind Side'

    During his childhood and teenaged years, Oher was living on the streets while his crack-addicted mother lived in public housing, reported NPR. He was eventually taken in to live with a wealthy family, played college football at the University of Mississippi and drafted into the NFL in 2009 for the Baltimore Ravens. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • Halle Berry

    Oscar winner Halle Berry once stayed in a homeless shelter in her early twenties. When she first moved to Chicago to become an actress, Berry ran out of money and her mother decided the best thing would not be to send her daughter money. During these struggling times, the actress admits to staying in a homeless shelter. (Photo ITAR-TASS / Valery Sharifulin)
  • Chris Gardner, the inspiration behind 'The Pursuit of Happyness'

    Before his story was shared worldwide in a movie starring Will Smith, Chris Gardner was living on the streets with his young son. At the time, he was trying to pursue a career in finance despite not having any experience in it, or even a college degree. He received a spot on the Dean Witter Reynolds training program, but couldn't afford to live off of the small salary, and his wife eventually left. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • Jim Carrey

    Jim Carrey once lived out of a VW camper van and in a tent on his sister's front lawn. Carrey said it was during these tough financial times growing up when he developed a sense of humour. (Peter Kramer/NBC NewsWire/AP)
  • Daniel Craig

    He's now got several critically-acclaimed movies on his resume, but Hollyscoop reported that the "007" actor used to sleep on park benches as a struggling actor. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
  • Suze Orman, personal finance guru

    When she first moved to Berkeley, California, Orman couldn't afford to move out of her van — today she owns about million worth of real estate. The well-known Emmy-winning financial advisor has also published numerous New York Times bestsellers. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • Ella Fitzgerald

    She would go on to sing for President Ronald Reagan in 1981, but before becoming "arguably the finest female jazz singer of all time," Ella Fitzgerald was abused by her stepfather when her mother died at a young age. She worked with the mafia for some time before the police put her in a school for girls. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • Frank O'Dea, co-founder of Canada's biggest coffee chain

    While he was in his early 20s, Frank O'Dea was begging and living on the streets. That was, until he and his business partner opened Second Cup, which is the largest speciality coffee chain in Canada today with 360 locations. (Image: YouTube)
  • Jewel

    Before becoming the multi-platinum singer, Jewel Kilcher she lived on the streets after losing her job. In an interview with Showbizspy, the singer said: “I ended up homeless because my boss propositioned me and when I wouldn’t sleep with him he didn’t give me my paycheque. I got kicked out of where I was living and my rent was due that next day." (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
  • Before the age of 10, Charlie Chaplin had to figure out how to make a living on the streets of London. After the early death of his father, Chaplin's mother was put in a mental hospital and the young boy and his brother had to try to make a living by themselves. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • Before becoming the greatest magician, Harry Houdini ran away from home at the age of 12 and begged on the streets for coins. At a young age, Houdini knew he wanted to be a magician and ran away from home by hopping a freight car. Even when he later moved to New York, he was so poor that he continued to panhandle. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • During his childhood and teenaged years, Oher was living on the streets while his crack-addicted mother lived in public housing, reported NPR. He was eventually taken in to live with a wealthy family, played college football at the University of Mississippi and drafted into the NFL in 2009 for the Baltimore Ravens. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • Oscar winner Halle Berry once stayed in a homeless shelter in her early twenties. When she first moved to Chicago to become an actress, Berry ran out of money and her mother decided the best thing would not be to send her daughter money. During these struggling times, the actress admits to staying in a homeless shelter. (Photo ITAR-TASS / Valery Sharifulin)
  • Before his story was shared worldwide in a movie starring Will Smith, Chris Gardner was living on the streets with his young son. At the time, he was trying to pursue a career in finance despite not having any experience in it, or even a college degree. He received a spot on the Dean Witter Reynolds training program, but couldn't afford to live off of the small salary, and his wife eventually left. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • Jim Carrey once lived out of a VW camper van and in a tent on his sister's front lawn. Carrey said it was during these tough financial times growing up when he developed a sense of humour. (Peter Kramer/NBC NewsWire/AP)
  • He's now got several critically-acclaimed movies on his resume, but <a href=Hollyscoop reported that the "007" actor used to sleep on park benches as a struggling actor. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)" title="">
  • When she first moved to Berkeley, California, Orman couldn't afford to move out of her van — today she owns about  million worth of real estate. The well-known Emmy-winning financial advisor has also published numerous New York Times bestsellers. (Image: Wikimedia)
  • She would go on to sing for President Ronald Reagan in 1981, but before becoming
  • While he was in his early 20s, Frank O'Dea was <a href=begging and living on the streets. That was, until he and his business partner opened Second Cup, which is the largest speciality coffee chain in Canada today with 360 locations. (Image: YouTube)" title="">
  • Before becoming the multi-platinum singer, Jewel Kilcher she lived on the streets after losing her job. In <a href=an interview with Showbizspy, the singer said: “I ended up homeless because my boss propositioned me and when I wouldn’t sleep with him he didn’t give me my paycheque. I got kicked out of where I was living and my rent was due that next day." (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)" title="">

- Vivian Giang

Published with permission from:

Business Insider
Business Insider is a business site with strong financial, media and tech focus.

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