Not everyone is born with a silver spoon. However, several people around the world have proven that with determination and hard work, anyone can eventually attain a silver spoon.
Here are a few examples of individuals who went from poor to rich, both in Nigeria, Africa and around the world:
1. Oprah Winfrey (United States)
Born in 1954, Oprah Winfrey is a perfect example of someone who overcame poverty to achieve prosperity.
Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty in Kosciusko, rural Mississippi to a teenage mother. During her early years, Winfrey faced several hardships, including abuse from relatives, and discrimination.
She spent her first six years living with her maternal grandmother in rural poverty, wearing dresses made of potato sacks and facing ridicule from other children. Despite the challenges, her grandmother taught her to read at a young age and instilled In her a strong foundation in religious teachings.
In 1960, at the age of six, Winfrey moved to Milwaukee with her less supportive mother, who struggled to provide due to her long working hours as a maid.
She initially attended Lincoln Middle and High School in Milwaukee but later transferred to Nicolet High School after excelling in the Upward Bound program, a federally funded educational program in the US. There, she struggled with feelings of poverty and inadequacy among her rich classmates. Feeling the pressure to keep up with her peers, Winfrey rebelled and stole money, leading her mother to send her to live with her father in Nashville in 1971. Sent to live with her father in Nashville, he prioritized her education, leading to academic success and accolades in high school, including being voted Most Popular Girl and placing second in a national speech competition.
Her first job was at a local grocery store, and 17, she won the Miss Black Tennessee beauty pageant. She also worked part-time at WVOL, a local black radio station, during high school and college.
Despite winning a scholarship to Tennessee State University for communication, she didn’t complete her degree until 1987, as an already established successful television personality.
In 1976, Winfrey became the youngest and first black female news anchor in Nashville before moving to Baltimore’s WJZ-TV. Her move to Chicago in 1984 to host AM Chicago marked the turning point in her career, as the show quickly rose to the top of the ratings.
Winfrey’s show eventually received national syndication, making her a millionaire at 32. She negotiated ownership rights and started her own production company.
By her early forties, Winfrey had amassed significant wealth, becoming one of the wealthiest African Americans in history through her media endeavors.
2. Cosmas Maduka (Nigeria)
Cosmas Maduka was born in 1954 to a poor family in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria. Maduka lost his father at a young age and had to drop out of school due to financial constraints.
At the age of seven, he started selling akara (bean cakes) on the streets to support his family.
Over the years, Cosmas Maduka has grown the Coscharis Group into a multi-billion dollar conglomerate that explores automotive assembly, agriculture, real estate, healthcare, and more. The company is now one of the largest indigenous conglomerates in Nigeria and has operations across Africa.
His success story is an inspiring example of entrepreneurship and resilience in Nigeria. He has received several awards and honors for his contributions to business and philanthropy, and he continues to be a prominent figure in Nigeria’s business sector.
3. J.K Rowling (United Kingdom)
J.K Rowling was born in 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, to a middle-class family. When Joanne was four, her family moved to Winterbourne, Gloucestershire where she began primary school at St Michael’s Church of England Primary School at age 5. Her family lived near a family called Potter – a name Joanne always liked. Her mother Anne loved reading so their homes were filled with books. Her father read The Wind in the Willows to her and her sister, while Anne introduced them to the animals in Richard Scarry’s books. These animals became an inspiration for six-year-old Joanne, attempting her first story called “Rabbit.”
Rowling attended Wyedean School and College, where she experienced bullying but was inspired by her favorite teacher, Lucy Shepherd, who emphasized the importance of writing structure and precision. Joanne was described as intelligent yet shy and had a keen imagination by her teacher Dale Neuschwander. Her great-aunt introduced her to the autobiography of Jessica Mitford, who became her heroine.
Jo’s mother, played a significant role in her life, building her confidence and passion for storytelling. Anne was creative, and supportive, and worked in the chemistry department at Wyedean. However, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis when Jo was 15, leading to a strained family dynamic.
Despite challenges at home, Rowling excelled academically, becoming head girl at Wyedean and achieving good grades in her A-levels. She applied to Oxford University but was rejected. Rowling studied French and classics at the University of Exeter, where she focused more on her social life than her studies.
After graduating, Rowling moved to Clapham Junction and pursued a course to become a bilingual secretary. In 1990, Joanne had a big idea while on a train. She was working for Amnesty International but dreamed up Harry Potter during that journey. Over the next seven years, she faced tough times: her mother passed away, she had her first child, went through a divorce, and struggled with money.
But in 1997, her first book, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” was published after many rejections. It quickly became a global sensation, loved by people of all ages around the world. This success led to movies, toys, and even theme parks based on her magical world.
Rowling’s wealth skyrocketed as the Harry Potter brand grew, making her one of the richest authors ever. Her books sold millions of copies, and she earned big from movies and merchandise. Forbes named her the highest-paid author
4. Do Won Chang (South Korea/United States)
Born in 1954, Chang grew up in South Korea and migrated to California in 1981 with his wife, Jin Sook Chang. He arrived with limited English language skills and little money. He had never attended university and worked in coffee shops growing up.
Like many immigrants, Chang faced several challenges upon arriving the U.S. He worked multiple low-wage jobs, including gas station attendant, janitor, and coffee shop employee. Chang then noticed the growing popularity of trendy fashion items among young people, realizing that there was a demand for affordable stylish clothing.
In 1984, he and his wife opened a 900-square-foot clothing store (called Fashion 21) in Highland Park, Los Angeles with only $11,000 in savings. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, such as bankruptcy early on, the Changs persevered and continued to grow their business, eventually expanding to other locations in the United States and Internationally. Its name was later changed to Forever 21 also known as XXI.
By 2015, the number of stores grew to 600, with 30,000 employees and Forever 21 became one of the largest privately held fashion retailers in the world. The company has remained a family-owned operation.
5. Jan Koum (Ukraine/United States)
Born in 1976 in Kyiv, Ukraine, Koum moved to the United States with his mother and grandmother in 1992, settling in Mountain View, California.
Despite the challenges of starting afresh in a foreign country, they received support through social programs, which helped them secure housing.
Koum’s early career was marked by determination and a passion for computer programming. By the age of 18, he was already deeply interested in this field and began studying at San Jose State University while working as a security tester at Ernst & Young. It was during this time that he became involved with w00w00, a computer security think tank, where he met future tech innovators like Shawn Fanning and Jordan Ritter.
In 1997, Koum met Brian Acton at Ernst & Young. They both later joined Yahoo!, where they worked together for nine years. Despite their shared interest in tech, their paths diverged when they left Yahoo! in 2007 to take a year off, traveling and playing ultimate frisbee. Their unsuccessful attempt to join Facebook led them to explore their own entrepreneurial venture.
The idea for WhatsApp was came from Koum’s realization of the potential of mobile apps, particularly after purchasing an iPhone in 2009. He recognized the growing importance of the App Store and saw an opportunity to create a messaging app that could revolutionize communication. WhatsApp’s early days were challenging, but Koum’s perseverance paid off when the app gained traction, especially after Apple introduced push notifications.
Koum’s partnership with Acton was crucial in WhatsApp’s success. Acton’s contribution of seed funding solidified their collaboration, and WhatsApp’s user base continued to grow rapidly. This attracted the attention of Mark Zuckerberg, who saw the potential of WhatsApp and eventually acquired it for an astounding $19 billion in 2014. Koum’s decision to sell WhatsApp to Facebook resulted in substantial wealth for both him and Acton.
Jan Koum’s journey from a modest upbringing to becoming a billionaire tech entrepreneur exemplifies the transformative power of perseverance, innovation, and seizing opportunities in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.
In the end, these individuals have shown that one’s background does not determine your success – as long as there is a will, there is a way.
