16 Celebrities Who Are Equally Successful Today, but Their Backgrounds Are Not Similar at All

There is no manual for achieving success for all people in the world. Some are helped in their careers by influential parents, money and connections. Others have to make their own way to the top of Olympus. Whatever the case, it is always interesting to find out from which families the people who are associated with success today came from.

Grew up in poverty: Halle Berry

Halle Berry grew up in a poor family. But the difficulties from childhood do not compare with the time when the actress moved to New York in search of work. Money was so lacking that she had to settle in a shelter for the homeless.

Grew up in wealth: Adam Levine

Adam Levine didn’t have to work day and night, traveling around the world to earn his living. The father of the frontman of Maroon 5 is the founder of the “M. Fredric” chain. But back when he was at school, the musician decided not to play by the rules. With friends, he started a band “Kara’s Flowers”, and during one of the performances, an independent producer noticed his talent.

Grew up in poverty: Viola Davis

The Oscar-winning Hollywood star Viola Davis has been on the top 100 influential people in the world several times. But her path to glory wasn’t a simple one. She shared, “I was one of the 17 million kids in this country who didn’t know where the next meal was coming from, and I did everything to get food. I have jumped in huge garbage bins with maggots for food.” This is why, aside from cinema, she decided to devote her life to helping starving people in the US.

Grew up in wealth: Cara Delevingne

Successful model Cara Delevingne has some sort of royal elegance on the runway. And there’s a reason why. Her grandmother was a lady-in-waiting for Princess Margaret, the sister of Elizabeth II.

Grew up in poverty: Jim Carrey

In his childhood, Jim Carrey had to live in a tent on a camping site with his family. And he would sometimes sleep in a car. It was a tough time when his dad lost his job. From a very early age, Jim knew what it meant to work. When he was a teenager, he worked as a janitor and as a guard at a tire factory.

Grew up in wealth: Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s family has several generations of successful people. At the beginning of the 19th century, her great-grandfather was a famous businessman in Philadelphia, and her grandmother was an opera singer. When the girl got interested in music and theater at the age of 9, her parents did everything in their power to invest in her talent. They took her from Pennsylvania to New York for singing and acting classes, and when she was invited to performances, they let her study at home, so as not to interfere with her future career.

Grew up in poverty: Sarah Jessica Parker

Sarah Jessica Parker has 7 siblings. It was difficult for the parents to provide for such a big family. They would sometimes live without power, and not celebrate Christmas and other holidays because they couldn’t afford it. It was totally normal for Sarah to wear her older siblings’ clothes. She remembers, “It was a stigma thing. I was not the only person receiving free lunch, but you are aware you are different.”

Grew up in wealth: Edward Norton

And here’s another Hollywood star that didn’t know need from childhood. In the 1930s, his grandfather founded a mortgage corporation, which earned enough money for several generations. But Edward grew up to be independent and decided to become an actor instead of working for the family business. He moved to New York, where nobody knew him, and he would live off odd jobs until he got his first part in a theater play.

Grew up in poverty: Shania Twain

The country music superstar Shania Twain had a difficult childhood. Being one of 5 children in the family, she’d often be hungry. She remembers how hard it was for her to study when all she could think about was food. But it was much tougher for her to ask someone for help, so she just didn’t complain to anyone.

Grew up in wealth: Ariana Grande

Other musicians had to spend years working hard to finally perform in front of a big audience. And it was much easier for Ariana. When she was 8 years old, she sang in front of an entire stadium at the Florida Panthers Hockey Game in 2002. She was born into a family of successful businessmen, and big fans of the Florida team.

Grew up in poverty: Leighton Meester

The star of Gossip Girl, Leighton Meester, was picked up from the orphanage by her own grandmother. The actress says that they had a poor life, but she still felt happy, “It wasn’t uncomplicated. But I played outside. I went to the beach. There were happy, fun times.” At the age of 10, she was noticed by agent talents. She was invited to the model business. Working this much at such a young age seemed perfectly natural for the future star.

Grew up in wealth: Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal is from a Hollywood dynasty. His father is a director, his mom is a writer, and his sister is an actress. Besides, he grew up among the nobles. His entire family is aristocrats from Sweden. Since the age of 10, he’s been in movies, and when he was 17, he got his first main role in October Sky.

Grew up in poverty: Kelly Clarkson

When Kelly Clarkson went to the American Idol audition, she lived on the street. She had nowhere to stay in the big city, where she came to become a singer. And before that, she didn’t have it easy. Her parents got divorced when she was 6. She remembers that she and her mom lived paycheck to paycheck.

Grew up in wealth: Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Ray has been attacked by tabloids a lot of times. Allegedly, her father (a millionaire) sponsored his daughter’s entire career, and thanks to his money, she became successful. But according to Lana’s colleagues, it’s not true.

Yes, she was born in Manhattan to a wealthy family. But her parents didn’t support her desire to come to be a singer. She wrote her own songs and looked for ways to show them to the world. And she made her own name, both literally and metaphorically (her real name is Lizzy Grant).

Grew up in poverty: Hilary Swank

The 2-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank, despite her amazing career, says this about herself, “I’m just a girl from a trailer park who had a dream.” To make her daughter’s dream of becoming an actress come true, her mom dropped everything and went to Hollywood with less than $100 in her pocket. For the first time, they were allowed to stay in an empty house that was for sale. And a couple of months later, she went to an audition and got a part in a film.

Grew up in wealth: Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie’s relatives are all celebrities. She was born into an acting family, and her uncle is a famous songwriter and singer Chip Taylor. Jolie’s acting career began with the movie Lookin’ to Get Out, which her father took her to star in. Angelina likes to say that her mother taught her to love movies. But daddy pushed her into Hollywood.

Remembering what it’s like to start a career from the scratch, many celebrities help their children. For example, they come with them to red carpets to introduce them to the audience. Right here, we made an article about celebrity children who are similar to their parents like a reflection in a mirror.