Building Wealth Against The Odds: 15 Stories Of People Who Struck It Big Later In Life
Success doesn’t always arrive early—or predictably. Many well-known millionaires spent years in unrelated jobs, faced setbacks, or paused their ambitions entirely before finding their stride. Some didn’t see major breakthroughs until their 40s, 50s, or even later. Here’s a look at 15 individuals who built lasting fortunes after most had already settled into ordinary careers.
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1. Stan Lee (Net Worth: $50 Million)
At 39, Stan Lee nearly quit comics. Encouraged by his wife, he created the “Fantastic Four,” breaking superhero norms with flawed characters. That success opened the door to Spider-Man, X-Men, and beyond. Lee reshaped modern mythology and helped turn Marvel into a global empire.
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2. Grandma Moses (Net Worth: $1 Million)
Born Anna Mary Robertson, she gained worldwide fame as Grandma Moses. She didn’t pick up a paintbrush until arthritis forced her to give up embroidery in her seventies. Her charming rural scenes resonated with collectors, and one of her paintings eventually sold for over a million dollars, proving that art truly has no age limit.
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3. T. Boone Pickens (Net Worth: $1.2 Billion)
Long before becoming a billionaire, T. Boone Pickens was ousted from Mesa Petroleum, the company he founded, following intense boardroom battles and declining investor confidence. For many, such a loss could have been the end, but Pickens turned it into a new beginning. At 68, he launched BP Capital, focusing on acquiring undervalued assets, and quickly became a dominant force in both the energy and finance sectors.
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4. Martha Stewart (Net Worth: $400 Million)
Martha Stewart spent years mastering the mechanics of success before becoming a household name. In her 20s, she worked as a Wall Street stockbroker, and by her 30s, she was running a catering business from her basement. In her early 50s, Stewart launched “Martha Stewart Living,” eventually expanding into cookbooks and product licensing.
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5. Ray Kroc (Net Worth: $600 Million)
By the time he was 52, Ray Kroc had spent decades selling paper cups and milkshake mixers. On a sales trip in 1954, he visited a small but highly efficient burger stand run by the McDonald brothers in San Bernardino. Kroc negotiated franchise rights and introduced uniformity that scaled across the country.
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6. Julia Child (Net Worth: $50 Million)
Julia Child didn’t start cooking seriously until her late 30s. Enrolling at Le Cordon Bleu, she studied classical French cuisine with the discipline of a researcher. In 1961, at age 49, she co-authored “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” The book’s success led to her long-running television career.
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7. Vera Wang (Net Worth: $500 Million)
After years as a Vogue editor and a designer at Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang designed her own wedding dress at 40. That one sketch sparked a bridal empire. The ability to blend high fashion with accessibility turned her name into a global brand spanning gowns, fragrances, and lifestyle products.
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8. Momofuku Ando (Net Worth: $800 Million)
In postwar Japan, Momofuku Ando responded to food shortages by inventing instant noodles in a backyard shed at 48. His innovation provided cheap, fast nourishment. By the time Cup Noodles made their way to American shelves in the 1970s, Ando had already built a global business.
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9. J.K. Rowling (Net Worth: $1 Billion)
At 32, J.K. Rowling was a single mother on welfare, writing in cafes between job applications and childcare. After 12 rejections, one publisher finally said yes, and “Harry Potter” became a literary juggernaut. Within five years, Rowling was the world’s richest author and a defining voice in modern fiction.
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10. Rodney Dangerfield (Net Worth: $20 Million)
Rodney Dangerfield stepped away from comedy at 28 to sell siding, but returned in his 40s with a fresh act focused on feeling disrespected. The bit resonated deeply with audiences and became his trademark. His catchphrase propelled his stand-up career, landed him roles in hit films like “Caddyshack,” and helped establish a comedy club that launched numerous stars.
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11. Phyllis Diller (Net Worth: $18 Million)
Phyllis Diller took the stage for the first time at 37, broke and raising five children. Her comedy, which humorously targeted domestic life and her fictional husband, “Fang,” resonated with audiences right away. Her unfiltered, honest approach stood out in a male-dominated industry. By the time she turned 50, Diller had become a Vegas headliner and a comedy icon.
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12. Mary Kay Ash (Net Worth: $500 Million)
After being repeatedly passed over for promotions, Mary Kay Ash left the corporate world and wrote a plan for a company that valued women’s potential. At 45, she launched Mary Kay with $5,000 from her son. The direct-sales model empowered millions and built one of America’s most successful beauty brands.
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13. Barbara Corcoran (Net Worth: $100 Million)
Barbara Corcoran struggled in school and cycled through 20 jobs before starting her real estate business with a $1,000 loan. She built it into a top New York firm and sold it for $66 million at 46. Years later, “Shark Tank” amplified her profile, but her climb began long before television.
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14. Charles Flint (Net Worth: Not Disclosed)
Before co-founding IBM at 61, Charles Flint made his name in shipping and corporate finance. He specialized in mergers, not machines. However, he recognized the future of business computing and backed the people who could build it. Flint’s fortune came from assembling value and betting early on innovation. Now, IBM is valued at $242.59 billion as of May 16, 2025.
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15. Susan Boyle (Net Worth: $40 Million)
Nothing in Susan Boyle’s quiet life pointed to stardom. For 47 years, she lived in the background, singing only for herself. Then came one unforgettable moment on “Britain’s Got Talent” that changed everything. Her voice stunned the world, and her debut album broke records, turning her into a millionaire almost overnight.
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