----From Rags to Riches: Let Their Stories Inspire You----

1. JAN KOUM
The founder and CEO of WhatsApp emigrated to America from
Ukraine when he was 16 years old, initially living on food stamps.
In February 2014, Facebook announced its acquisition of
WhatsApp for $19billion. He is already $19 billion richer.
2. URSULA BURNS
Ursula Burns, the chairman and CEO of Xerox, was raised by her
mother in a New York social housing project. Now she is the first
African-American woman to head a Fortune 500 company and
Forbes recently labelled her the 22nd most powerful woman in the
world.
3. SEAN CONNERY
Sean Connery joined the Royal Navy aged 16 and worked as a
bricklayer, coffin polisher and lifeguard before becoming a famous
actor.
4. OPRAH WINFREY
Oprah Winfrey was born into poverty and was raped by a relative
when she was just nine years old. By 2003, she had become the
first female African-American billionaire.
5. JK ROWLING
JK Rowling was a single mother living on benefits before she
found success with the Harry Potter series. She has said she was
"as poor as it's possible to be in this country". She is now
estimated to be worth at least $1billion.
6. SHANIA TWAIN
According to a biography, Shania Twain grew up in poverty and
started singing in bars when she was just eight to try to help
support her family. She is thought to have earned more than
$350million since.
7. HOWARD SCHULTZ
Billionaire Howard Schultz was raised in a social housing project in
Brooklyn, New York, before discovering and becoming CEO and
chairman of Starbucks.
8. DHIRUBHAI AMBANI
The popular story about one of India's most successful
businessmen is that he started with a single rupee in his hand and
ended up as patriarch of the world's second-richest family. The
company he founded in 1966, Reliance Industries, now employs
85,000 people and is estimated to contribute around five per cent
of the Indian government's total tax revenues.
9. DO WON CHANG
In the early 1980s South Korean-born Chang moved to California,
where he and his wife opened a clothes shop named Fashion 21.
As the business grew they changed the name to Forever 21. There
are currently more than 450 stores worldwide and Chang's
personal wealth is estimated at $5.4billion.
10. RALPH LAUREN
Born to Jewish immigrants from Belarus, Ralph Lauren grew up in
the Bronx, New York. After discovering his passion was designing
clothes he found work at a tie company but found his designs
continually rejected. "The world is not ready for Ralph Lauren," the
owner of the company once told him. Ralph Lauren responded by
founding his own company, one that now employs 19,000 people
and has given him a personal fortune of $7billion.
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If these ones could make it, you too can. Never allow your not-so-
good background hide your abilities and greatness. With hardwork,
perseverance, focus and faith in God, you can rise above your
limitations and make your mark on the sands of time. The world is
waiting to hear your own story, are you ready for the big stage?