Famous Singers
This Michigan artist's first album sold less than 1000 copies, this and other struggles pushed him to create his alter ego "Slim Shady"
Eminem
This now famous scientific mind was told by his own father that he was a failure of life, now his words are key to understanding of species and life on earth.
Charles Darwin
He was cut from community teams as a child because of his small size.
Lionel Messi
This famous poet rarely left her home and hardly ever interacted with the world around her.
Emily Dickenson
This persons first company sold rice makers that burnt rice
Akiro Morita
This artist took 10 years to become even noticed by successful record labels after dropping out of high school.
Katy Perry
After a near perfect SAT and acceptance to Harvard, he dropped out to start a company.
Bill Gates
Was cut or benched repeatedly. Took a job as a janitor before a late growth spurt sparked his sucess.
Dennis Rodman
The only painting he sold in his lifetime was of the "Red Vineyard"
Van Gogh
This now famous psychologist got a C in his first introductory course.
Robert Sternberg
This singer failed an audtion and was told "he coudn't sing". He quit looking for singing gigs and became a truck driver.
Elvis Presley
He as a young comedian froze on stage and was booed off. He went back to try again the next night and the audience was full of laughter and applause.
Jerry Sienfeld
This tennis player was rejected from even being a ball boy for being too clumsy and uncoordinated
Stan Smith
Many may not know this place today, but his store which started as a dry goods store was once one of the biggest names in department stores. He was told by many he lacked the sense to wait on customers.
Frank Woolworth
50 Cent
Sold cd's of music out of the trunk of his car after every major label had turned him down
Jay Z
The company that made him very rich was a "200 billion dollar mistake"
Warren Buffett
His started his career with a season of 0 wins. He quickly turned in around to build a winning season dynasty.
Tom Landry
He had a red star tattoo'd on his hand from a whaling ship which became the logo of the store he sucessefully created after four attempts
RH Macy
He was the last on the list for the role that made him famous in Mad Men.
Jon Hamm
This Michigan artist was fired from Duncan Donuts after squirting jelly filling on a customer.
Madonna
His first business sold "stock" aka records, music records. His mislabeling cost him thousands in fines and taxes.
Richard Branson
He was heckled and booed off stage at Yuk Yuks, dropped out of school and moved to California where a regular standup gig and 11 years of hard work finally landed him a movie gig.
Jim Carrey
He was turned down by 217 investors before people bought in to this now iconic concept of a "new kind of bar or restaurant"
Howard Schultz
After being fired as a waiter, bartender, salesman, and chef he finally started a company that was later sold for millions.
Mark Cuban