While some people are born into wealthy families, many of the most successful people start with nothing. This can be difficult but many have proved that it is possible to make a lot of money even if they are born poor.
This is important to understand as many people think that just because they are poor they will always remain that way. That is simply not true. You can be successful and make money even if you have to start with nothing.
Many people have done it before and perhaps some of their stories might give you hope and faith that you can make it. Do not let your background hold you back. The future is up to you.
Do not become held back by the belief that you have to have money to make money. Sure, it helps but it is not the most important thing. Your ambition, drive, and creativity are the most important factors in creating wealth.
Here are a few examples of people that have become rich (and famous) even though they were raised in a relativity poor environment.
- Howard Schultz
It often looks like every corner in America has a Starbucks. While this famous coffee shop brand is not that big in Southern Africa they still have quite a few outlets. Globally they are in 73 countries and the company is worth more than $85 billion. The CEO and chairman, Howard Schultz, is worth close to $3 Billion.
He was not born with money and started from nothing. In his own words, he explains, “When I was seven years old, I experienced something that deeply affected me that I carry with me every single day. And that is the scar and the shame of being a poor kid living in government-subsidized housing.”
He watched his father struggle and this drove him to succeed. He added, “I never dreamed I would be in a position one day to be part of a company where I would have authority — let alone build a company. What I’ve tried to do is build the kind of company that my father never got a chance to work for.”
Howard is a great example of how people can overcome a poor upbringing and go on to great things.
- Ralph Lauren
Internationally famous fashion designer and businessman, Ralph Lauren also came from very humble beginnings. At times, he could not even afford to buy clothes. Now the brand he created reaches a premium price and is worth billions.
In a 2002 interview, he told Oprah Winfrey, “As a kid, I was always into clothes, but I didn’t have the money to buy them. When I’d get my brothers’ hand-me-downs, there was an energy in me that made me say, ‘I want to get my own things, to make my own statement.’ Somewhere along the line, that energy — coupled with my exposure, through movies, to a world I hadn’t known — turned into something.”
Ralph Lauren is worth just under $6 Billion and he started with little to nothing.
- J.K. Rowling
Most people are familiar with the famous Harry Potter creator and author, J.K. Rowling. What many do not realise is that she was, for many years, a poor and struggling single parent.
She now earns hundreds of millions of dollars from her books, movies and other projects but she is quoted as saying, “I remember 20 years ago not eating so my daughter would eat. I remember nights when there was literally no money.”
Even though she went through some very hard times, she is now worth well over $1 billion.
- Oprah Winfrey
Again, Oprah Winfrey is a name familiar to most people. While she is now worth in excess of $3 Billion, she once lived without electricity or running water.
She shared this quote from an interview some years ago, “The whole idea, I think, of having wealth is not letting wealth use you but you use it. Being a person who has come from an outhouse, and very poor circumstances, I can assure you that the more money you get, it really doesn’t change you — unless you are the kind of person who is defined by money.”
- Shania Twain
There are countless musicians, actors, and entertainers that grew up poor and went onto fame and fortune. Shania Twain is a good example and for a while, she stayed in a homeless shelter with her mother and her brothers and sisters.
Some other famous celebrities that started life poor include Ed Sheeran, Sarah Jessica Parker, Leonardo DiCaprio, Celine Dion, and Halle Berry. All of them managed to overcome poverty and go on to become rich and famous.
- Shahid Khan
Shahid moved to America from Pakistan. He started with nothing and became a dishwasher, a very low paying job. At the same time, he studied at the University of Illinois. He now owns Flex-n-Gate which is one of the largest private companies in America. He also owns Fulham, a UK Premier League soccer club as well as the Jacksonville Jaguars, an American NFL team.
- Zhang Xin
Another lady that came from poor beginnings and went onto become rich and successful is Zhang Xin. She worked in a factory from age 14 and went to school after a hard day’s work. At 19 she went to England to learn English while still working her way through, this time at a fish and chip shop.
Her determination allowed her to study further at 2 top universities. She got a job at Goldman Sachs before starting a property development company. She is now worth more than $3.6 billion.
- Jan Koum
Most of us are familiar with WhatsApp but few people know that Jan Koum, the person that co-founded the business started with nothing. He is now worth a cool $9 Billion plus. When he moved with his family from the Ukraine to California, the family relied on food stamps to survive. Kroumn used to sweep floors for extra money. Although working hard just to eat he managed to do well at school and managed to get into San Jose State University.
He landed a job with then internet giant Yahoo where he worked for 9 years. While learning business and developing his computer skills, he saved enough money to launch the instant messaging app WhatsApp with a partner. The rest is history. The company is growing all the time and was bought out by Facebook for $19 billion. Koum is still involved and sits on the board of Facebook.
- Lakshmi Mittal
Mittal Steel is one of the biggest companies in the world but the founder and leader, Lakshmi Mittal, grew up in a poor family in Rajasthan, India. He slowly but effectively built Mittal Steel up into the huge company it is today through hard work and a few clever decisions. He is now worth more than $11.8 billion.
- Sisa Ngebulana
Closer to home, Sisa Ngebulana is another inspiring success story. Fortunately, his grandmother sacrificed a lot and managed to save enough to give him a start at university but thereafter he had to rely on bursaries and loans. These do not come easily so it was important that his marks were always good. He made the most of the opportunity and despite humble beginnings, he went on to build a profitable business.
It was hard work and he faced many challenges but he is now the founder and CEO of Rebosis Property Fund and the Billion Group.
He explains, “When I was growing up, at any given time, there were between 12 and 15 of us in the house, cousins, brothers and sisters, and we were all always working. “Every day, my grandmother woke us up early and instructed us to find something to do. ‘You have two hands and two eyes,’ she’d say.
His grandmother, who must have inspired him in many ways, added, You’re blessed. Now go and use them.’ She gave us the tools to make something of ourselves, but it was up to us to use them.”
- Sibongile Manganyi-Rath
Another example from Southern Africa is the former street hawker Sibongile Manganyi-Rath. Her humble beginnings taught her many valuable lessons and she now owns businesses worth more than R100-Million.
She explains, “My father unwittingly set me on the path very early. He had a small business in Soweto where he sold used bottles back to larger corporations such as Makro and various other glass bottle recycling agents. I often joke with people that my father was in the recycling business before it became fashionable.”
Her courage, determination, and other skills have allowed her to start and grow many successful businesses. These include the Indigo Kulani Group, a company that does infrastructure and real estate development as well as IKG Start-up Capital which helps other entrepreneurs in Africa.
Final thoughts
A poor start in life does not have to determine your future. There are many examples of people who have started from humble beginnings and gone on to great things. Many are now millionaires and even billionaires. They had to work for, they had determination, drive and ambition.
However we cannot all be billionaires. Perhaps it’s not such a good idea to go it alone! Look around you. You have family and friends to support you. Start something that involves a lot of people, perhaps a cooperative or small business with a group of customers that join in your effort, such as a community supported agriculture venture. You’ll immediately have customer and people helping you to get started.
Anyone can achieve financial success provided they have the desire and commitment. Do not let your past hold you back and strive for success.