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Not always the most recognizable names in Hollywood were multi-millionaire and billionaires. Some of these stars grew up without the luxury and privilege they’ve become accustomed to. A-listers who come from humble beginnings tend to credit living with little-to-no money from a young age as the biggest drive to succeed in their chosen industries.
The investment experts at money.co.uk shared with HOLA! USA their Celebrity Investments Index, an analysis about the business activities of 30 celebrities to determine which high profile stars are the most prolific investors and across which areas of business they operate.
On this occasion, we will present you with eight of these high-profile stars and how they turned their life around with notably impressive “rags to riches” tales.
Oprah Winfrey
Net worth: $3.5 Billion
Oprah Winfrey escaped a childhood full of poverty, abuse, and prejudice to become one of the world’s richest, powerful, and most influential women. She may now boast a net worth of over $3.5 billion, but the star‘s current lifestyle couldn’t be further away from her humble beginnings.
Reflecting on her life in a documentary, Oprah said: “I know what it means to be poor, I know what it feels like to be abandoned. I know what it feels like not to be wanted. I know what it feels like to not be loved and yet have inside yourself a yearning, a passion, a desire, a hope for something better.”
It will come as no surprise that Oprah Winfrey is the richest self-made woman in America. She earns around $315 million per year thanks to her highly lucrative diversified media empire. Oprah has put her riches to some savvy investments as she was part of several high-profile investors for the alternative milk brand, Oatly.
After financial backing from investment firm Blackstone Group, Oprah - along with a notable group of individuals including former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, rapper Jay-Z, and actress Natalie Portman - bought a stake in the company totaling $200 million (£160m).
Jay Z
Net worth: $1.3 Billion
Billionaire Jay-Z grew up on a housing project in Brooklyn, New York, where he sold drugs as a teen to make ends meet. Little did he know at this point that he would go on to become one of the wealthiest rappers of all time, with an estimated worth of more than $1.3 billion.
The rapper achieved his billionaire status in 2019, thanks to a vast business empire that includes record sales, touring, merchandise, endorsements, and investments, including Armand de Brignac champagne, Tidal, and D‘Usse cognac.
Jay-Z makes his investments through his own company, Marcy Venture Partners, named after the housing project where he grew up. The firm raised a staggering $85 million in investment capital during 2019 alone.
Halle Berry
Net Worth: $90 Million
Thanks to her Oscar-winning role in Monsters Ball, Halle Berry was one of the highest-paid actresses in the 2000s, now worth around $90million. However, years before this, she slept in a homeless shelter.
A struggling actress desperately trying to make it in Hollywood, the star sought out cheaper housing alternatives. She now credits the struggles during her early acting career for ultimately making her stronger when dealing with the notoriously tricky film industry.
Berry’s father abandoned the family when she was very young, and her mother raised her in a predominantly white neighborhood. As a result of this, she was subjected to racism while growing up.
In recent years, Berry has shifted her focus more towards business. She has founded a production company, launched her fragrance line, and bought a 50% stake in lingerie company Scandale.
Justin Bieber
Net worth: $285 million
Due to the poverty he and his family lived in, Justin Bieber was forced to sleep on a pullout couch growing up in Canada.
His career was kick-started at an early age when he began posting videos of himself singing to YouTube. Through this, he was discovered by R&B star Usher, and his career skyrocketed into fame. Since then, he has sold over 150 million records worldwide.
In touring years, Justin is one of the highest-paid entertainers on the planet, quickly bringing in $60-80 million from income sources. As of 2020, 27-year old Bieber’s net worth is a staggering $285 million. Bieber began his investment journey back in 2009 at the tender age of 15, when he bought a stake in Spotify.
In 2013, he invested $1.1 million in Shots Studios, which has since achieved great success making videos and films for YouTube.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Net worth: $260 Million
Leonardo DiCaprio may be one of the world’s most famous movie stars, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t struggled. The Oscar-winning star revealed that his upbringing was poverty-stricken but taught him many valuable lessons from a young age.
The Wolf of Wall Street actor, who spent the first nine years of his life in a run-down Hollywood neighborhood, explained that there was a “major prostitution ring on my street corner, with crime and violence everywhere.” Surrounded by these less than desirable circumstances while growing up, this quickly changed upon landing his first significant acting role in ‘What’s Eating Gilbert Grape’, for which he received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations at the age of 19.
With an estimated net worth of more than $260 million, he is also a massive supporter of charitable and philanthropic causes to give something back.
Chris Pratt
Net Worth: $60 Million
While he might be worth $60 million now, Chris Pratt has experienced his fair share of struggles. The actor was homeless and living out of his van in a tent on a Hawaiian beach before catching his big break in the movie ‘Cursed: Part III’ back in 2000. While in Maui, Pratt worked for the Christian missionary organization Jews for Jesus.
He was “discovered” while working at a seafood restaurant there. Pratt was initially introduced to audiences through his work on “Parks and Recreation.”
He played Andy Dwyer, which was originally intended to be a guest-starring role but was extended for him due to popularity. He is also well known for his roles in blockbuster films Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World, leading to his elevated status as one of the most wealthy actors currently working in Hollywood.
Chris has invested his money wisely, launching his very own production company, Indivisible Productions, last year.
Eminem
Net worth: $230 Million
Raised by a single mother in Detroit, Eminem’s tumultuous family life as a child has inspired many of his hit songs. He ended up dropping out of school in the 9th grade but became a worldwide sensation after signing with Dr. Dre’s record label back in 1998.
Earning around $20 million per annum, Eminem is consistently one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world. In years where he is actively touring to support an album, that number can easily creep up to the $30-50 million mark.
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Net worth: $400 Million
Austrian-born Arnold Schwarzenegger grew up extremely poor following the end of the second world war, but he made his dream a reality when he moved to America to pursue a career in acting at just 21 years old.
He barely spoke any English and had very little money upon his arrival in the country, but soon found success training for the Mr. Olympia competition. Through his first business, bricklaying enterprise Pumping Bricks, Arnie managed to finance his bodybuilding career. He became a highly successful and wealthy businessman, movie star, and, eventually, the Governor of California.
As one of the most famous and recognizable actors in the world, at times, he has even taken the crown as the highest-paid person in the entertainment world, earning $20-30 million per movie.
Since his arrival to the US back in the 1970s, he has poured earnings into various investments, most notably his real estate portfolio, worth more than $100 million alone. Arnie has also donated funds to various organizations he is passionate about. He co-founded the R20 Regions of Climate Action, a global non-profit dedicated to helping subnational governments develop, implement, and communicate the importance of low-carbon and climate-resilient projects.
He is also at the forefront of USC Schwarzenegger Institute, which puts people over politics. He aims to influence public debate to find reasonable solutions to today’s serious challenges regardless of party affiliations.