Homeless to Hollywood: 20 Celebrities Who Were Homeless Before Their Big Break

When you think of the celebrity world, there’s a high chance that you immediately think of fame and fortune. After all, the two go hand in hand, right? Well, there’s no doubt about the fact that there are some pretty rich celebs out there. Kylie Jenner has become the world’s youngest billionaire, Jay-Z has become the first billionaire rapper, and it seems as though most celebs have a fair few zeros in their bank account. The good kind, of course.

Yes, celebs get to live the high life with the millions and billions of dollars they have in their bank account. They get to buy luxury sports cars, they sign deeds for some of the most exclusive real estate in the world, they travel to the most exotic locations, and some celebrities even have their own private island! However, it might surprise you to learn that this hasn’t always been the case for these famous faces, as they haven’t always had these riches to their names. In fact, these celebrities were once homeless become they became famous…

Steve Harvey

Steve Harvey managed to bag his big break in the early ‘90s, but he first tried to make his mark as a comedian in the 1980s. He booked as many gigs as he could, and he attempted to make a name for himself.

However, money was tight, and Harvey had to sleep in his car for three years before he managed to move out of it. Since then, he’s become an icon.

Halle Berry

As one of the most glamorous women in the world, it should come as no surprise to learn that Halle Berry is pretty rich. She has starred in some of the most successful movies in history, she has modeled for some of the biggest magazines, and she was once the highest-paid actress in Hollywood.

This is a far cry from where she was in her early 20s. After moving to Chicago in search of a career in the acting world, Halle Berry quickly ran out of money. She was struggling to find work, her mom stopped sending her checks, and she even had to live in a homeless shelter.

Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin may no longer be with us, but there’s no doubt that his legacy will live on for the rest of eternity. That’s because he reigned supreme over the silent film era, and became one of the most iconic actors and comedians in the business.

However, his upbringing wasn’t quite what you’d expect. After his father passed away when he was just a young boy, his mother soon found herself locked up in an asylum. This left Charlie and his younger brothers alone on the streets of London. They slept in doorways, they begged for food, and they even performed for money.

Tyler Perry

Tyler Perry seems to have the whole world at his feet. He’s an actor, he’s a comedian, he’s a playwright, he’s a philanthropist, and he’s so much more. Perry put his heart and soul into his first play during the 1990s, but this came at a price.

He had to self-fund the whole thing and devote all of his time to the production, which meant that his money dwindled extremely quickly. Because of this, he spent around six years of his life without a permanent home. This hard work paid off in the end, as this play proved to be an instant hit.