Breakthrough Came Late
Success isn't always instant. Some of the most famous names in history spent years struggling before they finally found their breakthrough. They faced rejection and often felt like giving up. But they didn't.
Colonel Sanders
The man behind the "finger lickin' good" chicken tried working different jobs and then opened a small restaurant that didn't survive. In his 60s, he went from one restaurant to another to sell his chicken recipe. Many rejections later, one restaurant owner gave it a shot, and KFC exploded.
Frank McCourt
At 66, Frank McCourt published Angela's Ashes, a memoir about his childhood in Ireland, and it won the Pulitzer Prize. Before that, he spent decades teaching high school English, although he had always wanted to write. McCourt followed it with two memoirs and proved that age was no barrier.
David Shankbone
, Wikimedia Commons
Ray Kroc
Ray Kroc didn't start McDonald's. That credit goes to the McDonald brothers, who ran a small but efficient burger joint. But he had a vision for mass expansion. He bought them out for $2.7 million, and by the time he died in 1984, the brand was worth millions.
Sigfried Rödig, Wikimedia Commons
George R R Martin
Although George R R Martin had a loyal fan base, mainstream success remained elusive. Then, in 1996, he published his first book, A Song of Ice and Fire. HBO's Game of Thrones premiered when Martin was in his 60s and his books became best-sellers.
Henry Söderlund, Wikimedia Commons
Melissa McCarthy
Melissa McCarthy spent years taking on small roles in TV shows and movies. But at the age of 41, she starred in Bridesmaids, and her hilarious, scene-stealing performance earned her an Oscar nomination. From there, she became one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/greg2600, Wikimedia Commons
Vera Wang
Struggling to find a wedding dress for herself, Vera Wang decided to become a designer. But before that, she was a competitive figure skater. When that didn't work out, she pivoted to journalism, landing a job at Vogue. At 40, she started her own bridal fashion brand.
Gabrielaaaag, Wikimedia Commons
Henry Ford
Before Ford Motor Company, Henry Ford spent years trying to create an affordable automobile. Then, his company introduced the Model T, thanks to the moving assembly line, which reduced the production cost. By the time Ford was in his 50s, he was one of the richest men in the world.
Hartsook, photographer., Wikimedia Commons
Arianna Huffington
One of Arianna Huffington's books was turned down by 36 publishers before finally being accepted. But in 2005, she co-founded The Huffington Post, an online news platform that disrupted traditional journalism. In 2011, she sold it to AOL for $315 million.
Mark Taylor from Rockville, USA, Wikimedia Commons
Stan Lee
For decades, Stan Lee wrote stories that went unnoticed. Everything changed when his wife encouraged him to write the kind of stories he actually wanted to tell. That led to The Fantastic Four—Marvel's first major hit. Despite his success, real wealth came in the 2000s with Marvel films.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Donald Fisher
At 40, Donald Fisher and his wife, Doris, had a simple problem: they couldn't find jeans that fit properly. In 1969, he opened the first Gap store, selling Levi's jeans and record albums. He created a store with a modern aesthetic—one that stood out from the cluttered department stores.
Donald Fisher on collecting art by San Francisco Museum of Modern Art
Martha Stewart
Former model Martha Stewart became a stockbroker, but in her 30s, she ran a small catering business out of her basement. Her breakthrough came when she wrote a book filled with recipes and hosting tips, which led to magazine deals, TV shows, and, eventually, a billion-dollar brand.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Jack Ma
Born in China to a modest family, Jack Ma discovered the internet while visiting the US. He saw the potential of e-commerce and launched Alibaba in 1999 at 35. Investors were skeptical, and money was tight. But today, he's one of the richest people in China.
World Economic Forum from Cologny, Switzerland, Wikimedia Commons
Reed Hastings
Rumor has it that Reed Hastings rented Apollo 13 and forgot to return it. The late fees were ridiculous, and he wanted a way to rent movies without the hassle. As a result, he co-founded Netflix at 37.
David Duffield
Over the years, David Duffield founded multiple companies that saw moderate success. But in his late 40s, he co-founded PeopleSoft, a software company that became a massive success. After Oracle acquired it, he founded Workday in his 60s, another groundbreaking software company.
Cycling: Legends: David Duffield by Kelv's Vintage Sports Channel
Simon Cowell
Working in the mailroom, Simon Cowell tried to find success in the music industry. But in his 40s, he helped create Pop Idol in the UK, which later inspired American Idol. He then launched The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, which turned unknown singers into global stars.
Alison Martin of SimonCowellOnline.com, Wikimedia Commons
Bob Parsons
As a teenager, Bob Parsons struggled academically, and after returning from Vietnam, he taught himself programming. He started Parsons Technology and sold it for $64 million, but he wasn't done. At 47, he launched GoDaddy, an internet domain registrar that became one of the biggest names in web hosting.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
Toni Morrison
Before becoming one of the most influential authors, Toni Morrison was an editor and a professor. Her first novel didn't make her famous, but Beloved won the Pulitzer Prize when she was in her late 50s. She later became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Angela Radulescu, Wikimedia Commons
Julia Child
Julia Child didn't learn how to cook until her late 30s. When she moved to France with her husband, she fell in love with cooking and studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. At 49, she published Mastering the Art of French Cooking, which introduced Americans to authentic French recipes.
Lynn Gilbert, Wikimedia Commons
James Dyson
A bagless vacuum that wouldn't lose suction was the idea James Dyson worked on for years. He built thousands of prototypes, but companies weren't interested in changing the way vacuums were made. At 45, he launched his own company and introduced the game-changer Dyson vacuum.
Eva Rinaldi, Wikimedia Commons
Andrea Bocelli
As a child, Andrea Bocelli loved music, but he first pursued a career in law. His big break came when Luciano Pavarotti heard a demo of Bocelli singing. That led to collaborations, and by the time Bocelli was in his 40s, he was an international star.
Jakub Janecki, Wikimedia Commons
Susan Boyle
When Susan Boyle participated in Britain's Got Talent in 2009, no one expected much. She was 47, unemployed, and had never performed professionally. Then she sang I Dreamed a Dream, and overnight, she became a global sensation.
Susan Boyle's First Audition 'I Dreamed a Dream' | Britain's Got Talent by Britain's Got Talent
Larry David
Larry David didn't find success in comedy overnight. He struggled as a stand-up comedian and worked odd jobs to get by. Then, at 41, he co-created Seinfeld with Jerry Seinfeld, and it became one of the most successful sitcoms. In his 50s, he created and starred in Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Angela George at https://www.flickr.com/photos/sharongraphics/, Wikimedia Commons
Sam Walton
After serving in WW2, Sam Walton opened a small store in Arkansas. Then, he had a new idea: buy products in bulk and sell them in rural areas that other retailers ignored. By the time of his death, Walmart was one of the largest retailers in the US.
Photo credit: George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, Wikimedia Commons
Jane Lynch
Despite her talent, Jane Lynch spent years taking small roles but never landed one that would make her a star. That changed when she was cast in Glee in her late 40s. Her portrayal of the sharp-witted cheerleading coach won her an Emmy and made her a household name.
The Peabody Awards, Wikimedia Commons
Samuel L Jackson
Samuel L Jackson was talented, but Hollywood wasn't paying attention. However, it all changed in his 40s when he landed a role in Jungle Fever. His performance was so powerful that the Cannes Film Festival created a special award just for him. Then came Pulp Fiction in 1994, which made him a superstar.
