Celebrities Who Grew Up PoorCelebrities Who Grew Up Poor

While rappers like Jay-Z and Eminem have written songs about their humble beginnings, there are a lot more celebrities who had a difficult childhood because of their parents’ financial issues.

Discover 10 celebrities who grew up poor and find out how they became millionaires or even billionaires. From actresses born to mothers who were in jail to singers who grew up in very poor rural areas, here are the stars who managed to overcome those obstacles and become rich and famous.

Leighton Meester

The “Gossip Girl” actress had the most humble of beginnings, as her mother was jailed for marijuana trafficking during her pregnancy. 

After giving birth to Leighton in a hospital, she was allowed to nurse her for three months in a halfway house, before returning to serve out the rest of her sentence. The actress was then cared for by her grandmother until her mother left prison.

Sarah Jessica Parker