3 Billionaires who used to be homeless

Not every billionaire comes from a rich family and has inherited their fortune. Some of them, and you would be surprised when you learn their names, have grown up dirt poor, were homeless, faced devastating, huge obstacles, and fought every step of the way to reach the top.

Let’s look at some of the most remarkable, inspiring billionaire stories that tell the tales of people, who even though at one point in their lives were homeless, became billionaires:

David Murdock

Murdock, the 97 years old billionaire with over 2 billion dollars net worth is currently a famous businessman and philanthropist. However, he had quite the humble beginnings: as a ninth-grade drop-out he worked at a gas station before he got in Army where he served during World War II. This wasn’t even his rock bottom, no, he reached his rock bottom when he came home after serving and found himself homeless.

So how did he became a business mogul? He borrowed money and bought a diner which he flipped into a profitable business. He continued spreading his business and started Castle & Cooke and Dole Foods Co, which became one of the most successful businesses of all time.

Andres Pira

Andres now is a real-estate tycoon from Thailand who is most known precisely for his inspirational homeless-to-billionaire life story which he discusses in his book “Homeless to Billionaire”. He talks about how when he was 20 years old in pursuit of a better life he moved to Phuket. After losing his job, he ended up homeless, living, and sleeping on a beach using towels as a blanket.

He got inspired by a book – “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne which his friend sent to him when he asked for money. Driven by the idea that if he visualizes and works on his goals, he can achieve it, he started changing his life for the better.

Move ten years forward, he became a millionaire at the age of 30, and from then on he continued raising his wealth. Currently, he is one of the most recognizable billionaires with an exceptional life story.

John Paul DeJoria

Although today John’s net worth excels $3.2 million, his life story actually is truly reminiscent of a Victorian-age novel. As a child he lived in poverty, selling Christmas cards and newspapers before his family sent him to foster home. He joined the military and later on started working for Shampoo Company selling shampoos while being homeless and living in his car.

He met Paul Mitchel and having learned the ropes of the hair care business, they together started a hair-care fussiness which very shortly turned into a million-dollar company. John further continued to invest and started his tequila business which contributed to his wealth.