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George Clooney - George Clooney had several jobs before his acting career, including selling shoes, selling insurance, stocking shelves, and cutting tobacco. Clooney was the highest-paid actor of 2018, earning a salary of US$239 Million.

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Kanye West -

Kanye West worked for Gap as a customer service representative. West is estimated to be worth US$1.3 billion, earned $170 million in 2020, and is the second highest-earning celebrity. 

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Madonna -

Madonna worked at Dunkin’ Donuts in Times Square before she found fame. She is estimated to be worth US$550 million in 2020.

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Tom Cruise -

Tom Cruise worked as a bellhop at a hotel and seriously considered becoming a Catholic priest before acting. Cruise earned US$43 million in 2014 alone.

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Julia Roberts -

Julia Roberts is a high earning celebrity who once worked as an ice cream scooper. The ‘Pretty Woman’ actress went from being a Baskin-Robbins employee to making US$16 million in 2012.

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Johnny Depp -

Johnny Depp worked as a telemarketer and hated it. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ star was the 46th highest celebrity earner in 2016, clearing US$46 million.

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Jennifer Aniston -

Jennifer Aniston reported her most challenging job was working as a bike messenger at age 19. Aniston made US$31 million in 2014 and was the 77th highest celebrity earner of that year.

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Jim Carrey -

Jim Carrey quit school to work as a janitor to support his family. Yet he took home US$20 million in 2011. 

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Ellen DeGeneres -

Ellen DeGeneres waited tables, sold vacuum cleaners, painted houses, and worked as a legal secretary. In 2020, she was reported to be worth US$370 million and was the 12th highest celebrity earner.

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Nicole Kidman -

Nicole Kidman became a massage therapist to help her mother with her muscle pains. As the 10th "Most Overpaid" person in Hollywood in 2008, for every US$1 Kidman was paid, her films returned an average of $6.70.

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Hugh Jackman -

Hugh Jackman was a PE teacher in Australia before he appeared on the big screen. Jackman earned US$18 million in 2014, making him the 63rd highest-earning celebrity.

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Beyoncé -

Beyoncé worked at her mother’s hair salon sweeping hair as a child. Her On the Run II stadium tour with her husband Jay-Z grossed roughly US$5 million per night, and she was the 20th highest-earning celebrity in the world in 2020.

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Lady Gaga - Lady Gaga waited tables before she became a star. Gaga was the 87th highest-earning celebrity of 2020, earning US$37 million.

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Taylor Swift -

Taylor Swift worked on a Christmas tree farm, exterminating praying-mantis. Taylor Swift was the highest-paid celebrity of 2019, earning US$185 million.

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Elon Musk - SpaceX and Tesla founder Elon Musk used to work shoveling dirt in a boiler room for US$18 per hour. Musk is now worth $147 billion and counting, making him one of the richest people in the world.

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Amy Poehler - Amy Poehler worked scooping ice cream at her local parlor. In 2013, she was the 92nd highest celebrity earner and banked US$7 million.

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James Patterson -

Author James Patterson worked in advertising until 1996. In 2020, Patterson earned US$80 million, and was the 15th highest-paid celebrity.

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Rihanna -

Rihanna went from being an army cadet to being one of the biggest names in music and the world’s wealthiest female musician. As of 2020, her net worth stands at US$600 million.

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Dwayne Johnson -

Dwayne Johnson worked as a dishwasher at age 13. The Rock is now the world’s highest-paid actor, earning an estimated US$87.5 million in 2020.

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Nicki Minaj - Nicki Minaj was a waitress at Red Lobster before she became the 10th highest-paid woman in music by earning US$21 million in 2013.

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Jon Hamm - Once upon a time, Jon Hamm was a high school teacher. That didn't stick, and the 'Mad Men' actor would go on to earn US$10 million in 2014, ranking him as the 89th highest-paid celebrity that year.

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Margot Robbie -

Margot Robbie made sandwiches at Subway before raking in US$34.8 million in 2019, making her the eighth highest-paid actress that year.

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Matthew McConaughey -

Matthew McConaughey raked sand and shot armadillos while working as a greenskeeper at a golf course in Texas. The actor was the 52nd highest-earning celebrity in 2014, grossing US$21 million.

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Chris Pratt -

Chris Pratt worked as a waiter and a stripper before he hit the big time. Pratt earned US$26 million in 2016, making him the 16th highest-paid actor of that year.

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Gal Gadot -

Gal Gadot served in the Israeli Army before she starred as Wonder Woman. For the film sequel, she was paid US$10 million.

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Cardi B -

Cardi B worked as a stripper and a cashier before being listed in Forbes’s 30 Under 30 list in 2018. Her net worth in 2020 is reported to stand at US$24 million.

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Ashton Kutcher -

Ashton Kutcher swept up cereal at General Mills before acting. Earning US$26 million in 2014, he was the 63rd highest-paid celebrity of the year.

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Gordon Ramsey -

Gordon Ramsey played soccer for Rangers FC for three years until he was 18. In 2020, Ramsey earned US$70 million and was the 19th highest celebrity earner.

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Channing Tatum -

Channing Tatum is another retired stripper who became one of the highest earners in Hollywood. His net worth in 2020 is estimated at around US$50-80 million.

Sources:(Forbes)(Boredpanda)

See also: The biggest child star success stories

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