Some celebrities grew up with a silver spoon in their mouths, born into lives of luxury and excess. But not all those who are now famous grew up so comfortably. Some celebrities really had to hustle to get to where they are today. These famous people didn't have connections. They didn't have an easy ride. What they had was talent, grit, and a determination to make it. In this post, we honor those who had to hustle, who had to work in order to werk. 

Céline Dion

The youngest of 14 children, the greatest singer in the world grew up below the poverty line. Despite having barely any money, Céline only dreamt of becoming a singer. The odds were certainly against her. But with a voice like that and an ambitious dream, there was no stopping Miss Dion. Today, she is worth an estimated $400 million! Her heart and bank account will go on and on...

Nicki Minaj

Today, she stands as the most successful female rapper OF. ALL. TIME. Growing up, Minaj had little money and an alcoholic father with a nasty temper who burned down their house in 1987. Life didn't get much easier for Nicki in young adulthood, as she was fired from nearly 20 jobs for not exactly being the politest when dealing with customers. My guess is that it was Roman and not Nicki. But deep down, that girl always had sick rhymes, and when they finally burst forth, she quickly became the legendary rapper she is today.

Sarah Jessica Parker

Before she was Carrie Bradshaw cruising down 5th Avenue in Manolo Blahniks, SJP was one of 8 children with divorced parents and a stepfather who was a truck driver. Even at a young age, Sarah knew she wanted to perform, spending hours training in ballet and singing. Her hard work paid off as she made her Broadway debut at age 11! The rest, of course, is history. 

Jay-Z

Jay-Z's checkered past is evident in his brilliant lyrics. Between being raised in a housing project, getting shot, and selling crack-cocaine, Jay-Z has come quite a ways from his childhood in Bed Stuy. He's an iconic rap artist, media mogul, and one half of music's royal couple. 

Chris Pratt

After the success of "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Jurassic World," Pratt established himself as one of the most sought-after leading men in Hollywood. That's a far cry from his past, during which he worked as a stripper and eventually found himself homeless in Maui. Despite making millions in the present day, he never forgets the blood, sweat, and tears it took, as evidenced by this inspiring Instagram caption:

J.K. Rowling

Perhaps you've heard of a little series called "Harry Potter." And by "little," I mean a story that has generated a brand valued at $15 billion! The mastermind behind the story, J.K. Rowling, has an estimated net worth of $1 billion. But that wasn't always the case. Before her success, J.K. Rowling was a divorced single mother on welfare, spending any spare minute she had writing. It was no overnight success story, as publisher after publisher rejected her story about the magical boy wizard. But eventually, the story was released, and J.K. Rowling's life underwent a magical transformation into one of the richest, most beloved women alive today.

Oprah Winfrey

Once upon a time, there was a young girl born to a single mother. This child suffered sexual abuse at the hands of her cousin, uncle, and other adults. She ran away from home and gave birth to a child who quickly died due to a premature birth. Despite all the hardship, the young woman did well in school, and eventually pursued a career in media. Today, we know this woman as Oprah Winfrey, worth over $3 billion. 

She's had success on television, film, and the stage. In America, she is the sole multi-billionaire black person. Her philanthropy knows no limits, and many cite her as the greatest philanthropist of all time. The young girl who came from nothing became Oprah Winfrey. That name will forever go down in history as one of the greatest.