Once in a while, you hear a story or a rumor about someone becoming rich overnight. Although in many cases these stories are not all that impressive, there are people out there who have actually beaten the odds, managing to build themselves an incredibly successful career practically from nothing.
Growing up during the great depression, Kirk Kerkorian had a much more meaningful mission than kids our days. Having to drop out of school to earn money for his family, he first became a boxer, and then joined the Air Force to become a daredevil pilot. He finally made enough money to become a real estate magnate in Las Vegas. Today, he has a net worth of over $4 billion earned from Casinos and investments.
Maria das Gracias Silva Foster grew up in an extremely poor neighborhood, having to earn additional money for her family selling old cans and paper. Through her determination, she managed to become an intern at Petrobras in 1978. About 34 years later, her hard work paid off and she became the first woman to lead the company as CEO.
You won't believe how this millionaire earned his money. Sam Walton barely managed to help his family make ends meet by selling milk and magazine subscriptions during the Great Depression. Eventually, he earned enough money to buy a variety store in Arkansas. After years of expansion, it became known throughout America as one of the most successful store chains ever: Wal-Mart.
Sean Belnik started out with his first e-tail shop at the age of only 16 with a modest investment of $600. After making money with smaller items such as trading cards, he moved up to the furniture selling business. Upon achieving resounding success with BizChair – a successful online home office furniture shop – he ended up being worth in excess of $24 million at the age of 20.
The story of Michael Dunlop is truly remarkable. After dropping out of high school due to teachers telling him he'll never be successful because of his dyslexia, he went on to found two popular websites about how to manage an online business. He ended up making more than $2 million through his work before reaching the age of 20.
Not many people know that, before she became successful as a millionaire earning her money from writing fiction books, J.K. Rowling was living on welfare with her daughter. Stopping by cafes occasionally to try her hand at writing, Rowling eventually came up with a little book for children known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, becoming world famous practically overnight.
The way Oprah Winfrey became a millionaire, as well as one of the most beloved celebrities in the world, is nothing short of amazing. She grew up extremely poor, with her clothes made of potato sacks, and went from home to home before her hard work earned her a college scholarship. She worked her way slowly to television by first working at a small radio station. Today, she has her very own network empire.
Despite being seen as the rarest of gems, the inspiring stories of these successful people have captivated millions throughout the world. Which one is your favorite? Are there any other incredible millionaire stories that you think should be on our list?