3 Inspirational Stories Of Self-Made Wealth: Men Edition

Say it with me, wealth and success are a part of my future. Unfortunately, you weren’t born to ridiculously rich parents which sucks but does not mean you won’t eventually be rich. You might be surprised to discover how many millionaires earned their wealth rather than having it passed down. In this article I’ll tell the story of 3 self-made men with inspirational accomplishments. The objective for this post is to highlight how attainable millionaire status can be for people of all classes. After finishing this article you’ll totally be motivated to go after your wildest dreams. Check out more inspiring topics on my blog to keep that energy rolling. Side note, if you were blessed with wealthy parents please email me… we should absolutely be friends!

Howard Schultz

This American businessman, author, and former CEO has an estimated net worth of $3.4B. If his name isn’t familiar I guarantee you’ve heard of his company. Love it, or hate it, you’ve likely purchased a drink or secured some free wifi from Starbucks! This is how Mr. Schultz built his fortune, but not after overcoming humble beginnings.

Born July 19, 1953 Howard Schultz is no stranger to adversity. He was raised by working class parents that worked as a truck driver and receptionist. Growing up in the public housing projects and being the oldest of his siblings, Howard found himself working to support his family. At just 12 years old, Howard had begun making money as a newspaper delivery boy. This strong work ethic and desire to persevere helped get Howard into college. At Northern Michigan University, Howard was not only a football player, but also a part-time worker all while being a student. He earned his degree in communications and with that became the first person in his family to graduate from college.

Before Starbucks came in the picture, Howard Schultz worked as a salesman gaining necessary skills to eventually become a CEO. For all of you dreaming of the perfect opportunity just know you can make it happen! Making wealth isn’t just a dream, it has to be an inner desire supported with action. You can be the first BILLIONAIRE in your family! Just look at Howard. The paperboy from the projects turned Fortune 500 CEO.

Zhang Yiming

At just 41 years old, Zhang Yiming is already estimated to be worth $45.6B. His fortune has been gained by co-founding ByteDance which created one of the most popular social media apps in the world. Snapchat? Instagram? X/Twitter? You’re surely wondering which one is a product of Mr. Yiming. It’s the one that will keep you scrolling for hours, TikTok! Let’s learn about who Zhang was before TikTok took off.

As a child growing up in China, Zhang Yiming always showed an interest in technology. His parents were civil servants that provided him with as much as they were able to. He was not raised in a wealthy neighborhood, or even middle class, which makes his story so remarkable. Zhang earned his degree in computer engineering to guide his future career. Like many of us, Zhang jumped around trying different jobs for the first few years after college. He learned the grind of earning promotions, gained corporate experience, and dabbled with start-ups. Ultimately, he decided the entrepreneur life was for him.

The success of ByteDance earned Zhang Yiming wealth, power, and status. He’s been recognized in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people and also appeared on the Fortune 40 under 40 list. My guess is that Zhang is just getting started. Those first years out of college are tough but once you’re ready to bet on yourself, promise me you’ll go big or go home!

Amancio Ortega

As a fast fashion pioneer, Amacio Ortega is responsible for a lot of the clothing we, recent grads, can afford. He is the founder and former chairman of Inditex which owns a widely popular clothing brand. You see this brand in malls, online, and it’s referenced all over social media. The world-famous Zara! Amancio leveraged his stake in Inditex to accumulate an estimated net worth of $130.4B.

This Spanish businessman was born March 28, 1936 and is now considered one of the wealthiest clothing retailers in the world. Amancio kick started his career working for a local shirtmaker in Spain. This is the definition of climbing the corporate ladder. From the beginning, Amancio Ortego learned the ins and outs of the clothing industry. In 1975 he opened his first Zara and the rest is history!

Amancio Ortego discovered the value of hard work. He wasn’t handed the family business, instead he started from the bottom and learned to move up the ranks. His hard work serves as inspiration for us future CEOs. Our time is coming! From learning production to sitting in the corner office, we can be just like Amancio one day.

Becoming a millionaire, or even billionaire, takes patience and persistence. These 3 men were given no handouts but overtime reached their wealth potential. If they can do it, you can too! Dream big, work hard, and never give up. No matter your background, education, or industry there is money to be made so go out and get yours!