10 Celebs Who Once Were Fired Before They Got Successful

78% of leaders who had at least one major negative career event made it to the CEO position. Never giving up is a crucial rule. Being fired can become a new and better page in your life and some celebrities have proven this with their own example.

We at Bright Side were excited to learn about these celebrity success stories and would like to share their experience of being fired with you.

1. Madonna

Before Madonna became a legendary singer she used to work at Dunkin’ Donuts. She only lasted for about a week there and confessed that people there were “pissed off” because she wasn’t taking her job seriously: “I was playing with the jelly squirter machine.”

2. Ellen DeGeneres

Once, Ellen gave a speech about civilian rights and opened up that she was fired because of her preferences in her personal life: “I was fired for being gay, and I know what it feels like. I lost everything, but look at me now.”

Now she can bring in $7 million in profit and make the world a better place.

3. Anna Wintour

When we look at this woman, we can’t imagine how someone could’ve fired her in the past. In an interview, Wintour confirmed that she was fired as a stylist: “Totally I was fired. I was told I would never understand the American market. I think everyone should be fired. It’s character-building.”

Now Anna Wintour is the most influential person in fashion.

4. Oprah Winfrey

In 1976, Oprah moved to Baltimore and started working as an anchorwoman. But something went wrong and she was fired: “Every time being demoted is an opportunity for something else. I was not a good television reporter. I was too emotional.”

At that time, she was earning $22,000 a year but by 2008, her annual income had increased to $275 million.

5. Nicki Minaj

Before Nicki Minaj became a celebrity she couldn’t hold down any job. She says that she was so bad. The last job that she had was as an office manager and she says she hated going to work: “I’d been fired like 15 times because I had a horrible attitude. I worked at Red Lobster before that and I chased a customer out of the restaurant once so she’d give me my pen back.”

6. Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe shared a very interesting story that many people can relate to. She was working at Office Depot. At that time, she lived in a boarding house with 6 other girls because renting her own apartment was too expensive. Once, her boss called her and said: “Listen, we’re gonna make this easy for you: You’re fired. Go do what you love. You don’t wanna be here.”

She is happy that she got a chance to be focused on what she loved.

7. Chelsea Handler

Nowadays, Chelsea Handler is a successful comedian, actress, and writer but she has been fired from every job she had before becoming famous. One time, she was a waitress: “I once waited on a group of 10 people, and one guy collected the money from the check and tipped me $20 on $600.” Chelsea got mad and insulted him: “That was my last waitressing job.”

8. Amy Adams

Amy Adams was fired from a television show because they thought she wasn’t attractive enough: " So I was really thinking I wasn’t going to be doing this anymore. I thought the industry was telling me it wasn’t going to happen."

As we can see now, she became a popular actress and many people recognize her all over the world.

9. Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga was fired from her first record label which didn’t want to wait another 6 months for her to create her debut album. And it was the darkest days of her life. She says that not giving up is very important after these things in the entertainment field.

10. Hugh Jackman

The first real job Hugh Jackman had was working at the nearby 7-Eleven. His manager fired him for being a chatterbox: “I talked too much to the customers, which was probably true.”

Even though he got fired, he accepts that it was a positive experience and that there are many other ways to earn money.

Have you ever been fired? What things were you fired for? Please, share your story with us!