Yes! I know we are facing difficult times in the economic climate right now but reading a couple rags to riches stories may be able to cheer you up. I hope that these stories will inspire you to continue fighting and never lose hope, even in these tough times.
The List
Li Ka-Shing Here
On July 29, 1928 Li was born in Chaozhou, in China. In search of a better life his family moved to Hong-Kong when he was ten years old. They stayed with Li’s uncle, a proud businessman. At the age of twelve, Li lost his father who was a teacher to tuberculosis. From that day onwards Li had major responsibilities despite being so young.
Li quickly disciplined himself and began working in several jobs and when he was fifteen he secured a job in a plastics trading company, working more than 16 hours a day. Years after grafting hard an opportunity came his way. Li’s boss needed him to write letters as the secretary was sick. The boss recognized Li’s remarkable writing skills and promoted him to a manager’s position.
After the experience he decided to embark on his own journey, starting a business in the plastics industry. He started small, working during the day and reading accountancy books at night.
Now Li has a network worth $26.5 billion with businesses ranging from: satellite television; banking; construction; real estate; plastics; cellular phones; cement production; retail stores hotels; domestic transportation; airports; electric power; steel production; ports and shipping.
Tamer Sapir
Russian born Tamer Sapir moved to America in 1973 to create a better life for himself. He quickly found a job as a taxi driver. He had great work ethics; working no less than 16 hours a day, even sleeping in airports whilst waiting for his customers. It was through his strict saving regime that he saved up enough money to buy his own cab.
Soon after, he opened up an electronics store which became a huge success. That success was noticed by important businessmen from Russia. Soon he started to trade his eclectic appliances for oil contracts after he invested his money in bargain property deals in the recession in the ‘90’s. Later he sold his property for three times what he brought them for.
Tamer now sits on a fortune of well over $2 billion
Bill Bartmann Here
When Bill was fourteen his life seemed like he was destined to be a failure. He was a homeless, high school dropout, eating out of bins and sleeping under bridges. He later joined a small gang and became an alcoholic, which one-day led him to fall some steep stairs and become paralyzed from the waist down. Bill was told that he would never walk again, but he refused to believe that. So day after day, he used his mind to command his legs to walk and within five months he was walking again. Through this experience, he realized anything is achievable.
Bill decided to continue with his education and he graduated from law school in 1975 and started his first real estate company. With a relentless drive he started a business in the oil and drilling business, where he made a fortune. In the 1980’s he decided to help turn around a struggling bankrupt company Hawkeye Pipe Services. To his misfortune, the business failed spectacularly and Bill was once again broke.
However, Bill bounced back again restarting a business venture that specialized in debt collecting. The business was soon estimated to be worth around $3 billion. Later to his dismay, a business partner was found to be active in fraudulent activities and money was seized from the company by the US Government so once again he was broke.
Now Bill is a successful motivational speaker, charging up to $2,000 per session for his services.
H. Wayne Huizenga Here
In 1939, Wayne was born in Illinois, Chicago to Harry and Jean Huizenga. In his teens he moved to Florida with his sister, mother and father. His father was abusive to his mum, a situation which gave Wayne the drive to search for a better life.
Soon Wayne enrolled in college in Chicago, but quickly dropped out and joined the army. After one year he returned to Florida and bought a truck, to start his own waste management business. At night he would collect trash in his truck and then he would change straight into a suit and search for new business opportunities. Soon the hard work started to pay off and his business expanded rapidly. Later he decided to branch out and purchase a Blockbuster, which was recommended by a close friend of his.
This is how this ex- garbage man became a billionaire with a massive fortune of 500 companies and he’s also a sports team owner
Duncan Bannatyne Here
Duncan Bannatyne was born in 1947 in Clydebank, in a poor community. At the age of fifteen he joined the Royal Navy but a couple of years later he was kicked out for threatening to throw an officer overboard. Soon he got into more trouble, spending time in Glasgow's Barlinnie prison. After being released from jail, he began doing odd jobs from bar work to fixing cars. Duncan later decided to move to the island of Jersey for a couple of years, where he met his first wife.
One day whilst sitting on the beach he read a newspaper article about a self-made millionaire, rags to riches story. This story inspired him to do the same. Duncan found a job working at nights in a bakery. One day he went to an auction and brought a second hand ice-cream van for £450. He quickly began selling ice cream and later on sold the business for £28,000. After that he decided to build a care home, so he sold his house and car and took a loan from several different credit companies to start a nursing home business. The business made him a multi- millionaire. Duncan later ventured into businesses such as radio; gyms and magazines.
Now Duncan is worth a £310 million and he certainly deserves it.
Vijay Patel
Vijay arrived in Britain at the age of 16, with only £5 in his pocket. Although he had little money, he had big dreams to provide a better life for his family.
So he worked in a variety of different jobs including dishwasher, waiter, grill chef, laborer and a barman. He worked long shifts so he could save up enough money to enroll himself into the university. After graduating from Leicester with no business experience, he wanted to open a chemist shop and after being turned down for loans everywhere, his uncle lent him £6,000 to open his first shop in ‘Leigh-on-Sea’, Essex in 1975. The business grew rapidly and by 1982 he owned six shops with his sales doubling. Later he worked with his brother, who had just finished an architect’s course. Vijay’s brother helped make major improvements. And together they founded Healthcare in 1984. Together they were worth over £450 million pounds, which is remarkable for someone who started with just £5.00
