Celebrities are known for leading luxurious and sometimes extravagant lives. They wear designer clothes, live in mansions, and party at the most exclusive events. It's hard to imagine an A-list star flipping burgers or working in a garage, but that's exactly what some of them did before getting their big break!
Find out which celebrities really did make it from the bottom to the top below.
Madonna worked at Dunkin' Donuts.
Yes, that's right. The self-proclaimed Material Girl and fitness enthusiast once stood behind the counter of a cheap donut chain. Call it ironic that she later went on to sing songs about how she likes expensive things!
Gwen Stefani worked at Dairy Queen.
Here's another blonde pop princess that came from humble fast food beginnings. No Doubt was actually formed with her fellow Dairy Queen coworkers, so she owes a lot to America's favorite frozen treat!
Julia Roberts worked in Baskin Robbins.
Rather than make blizzards, Julia Roberts used to scoop ice cream at the popular chain Baskin Robbins. Who knew she would go on to be one of the rom-com queens of Hollywood?
Beyonce swept up hair in a salon.
She probably has a whole team of hairstylists now, so it's hard to imagine a teenage Beyonce cleaning up hair clippings. But as a teen, Beyonce used to help out in her mother's hair salon. This is where she also used to put on her first performances and sing for clients.
Brad Pitt was a chicken mascot.
Do you know those annoying mascots that hand out flyers on the street that you end up immediately trashing? Before he became a Hollywood heartthrob, Brad Pitt was one of those guys. And he had to wear a chicken suit. We're so glad he ended up in a career that involved showing off his face!
And Megan Fox was a banana mascot.
Maybe the secret trick to getting discovered is sucking it up and wearing an embarrassing mascot costume? You never know who you'll meet on the street! Before becoming an actress and certified bombshell, Megan Fox donned a banana costume to promote a smoothie bar.
Taylor Swift worked on a Christmas tree farm.
The pop star actually grew up on a farm, hence her country roots. Despite being known for her mile-long legs today, Swift was too small to help carry the trees during her farm days. Her job was to inspect the trees for bugs before they were sold instead.
Nicki Minaj was a waitress at Red Lobster.
Before she was creating controversial rap hits, Nicki Minaj could be found serving lobster at a chain restaurant. Unsurprisingly, Minaj was fired after giving rude customers a piece of her mind.
Rachel McAdams flipped burgers at McDonald's.
While McAdams was a high school student, she earned some extra cash by working at the world's most famous fast food joint. McAdams has actually said she liked the job, but we're sure playing Regina George was much more fun.
Matthew McConaughey cleaned chicken coops.
Before he discovered acting, Matthew McConaughey was an avid traveler. But he didn't come from money, which meant he often had to work odd jobs to get by. One of these was cleaning chicken coops on a farm!
Hugh Jackman was a P.E. teacher.
His buff physique permitted him to play the action hero Wolverine for years, so this one makes sense. But imagine how weird it must be for past students to see their old P.E. teacher on the big screen!
Nicole Kidman was a massage therapist.
Kidman dropped out of school early not to pursue acting but to become a massage therapist. Her mother was ill and needed financial help, so Kidman did what she could to earn money fast. We're sure those skills have come in handy after long days on a film set.
Meghan Markle was a calligrapher.
Today we learned that it is an actual job, not just a hobby. Admittedly, Markle only worked as a freelance calligrapher to score some extra cash before finding fame on Suits. She did score some well-paying gigs, though, like high-profile wedding invites.
George Clooney sold insurance.
Aside from starring in several films and T.V. shows, he's started a successful tequila company, so perhaps it's not a complete surprise that George Clooney comes from a sales background. But according to Clooney, he was a terrible salesman. At least he's improved now!
