You Will Be Surprised To See What These Celebrities Did And Looked Like When They Were High School Students
Patricia Arquette – Dreamt of Being a Nun
Although she didn’t look like a good girl when she was in high school as she was sporting a dramatic, rock-star hairstyle, Patricia Arquette wanted to be a nun. In fact, she even went to a Catholic school to pursue that dream. However, fast forward to today, the 51-year-old star became a prominent actress.
She first appeared in the movie A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors and left a mark when she played the role of an overprotective mother in the web television series, The Act. This project has helped her win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress. Although she didn’t end up as a nun, she has kept her faith in God and also has a good credit report.
Ted Danson – An Athlete by Heart
When Ted Danson was still playing basketball at his Connecticut boarding school, he wanted to be an athlete. In fact, he even called himself a “frustrated athlete” for not being able to do it. In an interview with the Washington Post, the 71-year-old star admitted he loved “basketball with a burning passion” that it even helped him get through high school.
Danson ended up as an actor and producer, and he has made a big name for himself. He is known in the industry and has made several movies. He also has a good credit score and a lot of awards under his belt. He might not have reached his dream to become an athlete, but he said that at least he feels that he has the soul of an athlete.
Jerry Seinfeld – Entertainer
Jerry Seinfeld graduated from Massapequa High School back in the 1970s. At the time, he was rocking an absolute ‘70s hairstyle. It remained to be seen what Seinfeld would become at the time, although he is known for his great humor, Newsday revealed he wasn’t a class clown.
Seinfeld had a thing for entertaining people, but he was trying to avoid attracting attention when he was in high school. He would usually recite a joke during the lunch period or make an impression while opening his locker. Years later, he made television sitcom history when he did Seinfeld on NBC. In his time in the industry, he might have learned proper investment planning which helped him reach his $950 million net worth.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Theater Actress
It seems that Julia Louis-Dreyfus started to love acting at a young age. When she was only in high school, she joined theater plays. There are reports stating that she loved to watch Saturday Night Live with her family at the time and never missed a single episode. Her dream came true as she later joined the show when she was in her junior year in college.
Now, the rest is history as Julia becomes one of the most renowned actresses in Hollywood. She even has her own television series on HBO Veep. Thanks to her dreams and investments, she has come a long way from a high school student who only watches television from their home.
Stephen Colbert – Bookworm
Stephen Colbert revealed he almost didn’t finish high school after the tragic death of his father and his two brothers at a tender age of 10. In an interview with GQ back in 2015, the 55-year-old comedian “barely graduated” from Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, South California, due to his bad experience.
Instead of doing his homework, Colbert chose to read books. He read one book per day and spent his allowance on books. Every birthday, confirmation, and Christmas, he would ask for books as a gift. “Please, stacks of books,” he said. By the looks of it, Colbert considers books as his investments.
Karamo Brown – Supporting Alma Mater
You may know Karamo Brown as the star of Queer Eye, but he used to be a student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the tragic Parkland school shooting happened. When your alma mater suffered a catastrophic event, it would surely break your heart, and this is what happened to Brown.
He even joined the March for Our Lives to support the cause of preventing gun violence in the United States. At the event, he said that when he saw the news about his former school being called the “site of the world’s deadliest school massacre,” no one could imagine how it broke his heart. A lot of people may have given Brown a lot of credit for the support he showed.
Bob Odenkirk – Sharp Kid
When Bob Odenkirk was in high school, his friends used to call him “Bobnoxious.” Although it wasn’t revealed what it meant and why he was called that name, it probably means that they think he was obnoxious at the time. However, Chicago Mag noted that although the 56-year-old actor hated school when he was young, he was a good student.
He grew up in Naperville, Illinois, a suburb in Chicago. When he graduated from high school at the age of 16 years old, Odenkirk started to attend the College of DuPage. Despite being called names, it turned out he was a sharp kid. He might have learned how to do proper money management at the time.
Chris Pratt – Class Clown
Chris Pratt is known for his jolly personality. In fact, he was the class clown when he was in high school at Lake Stevens High in Washington. He always got along with his classmates, joining wrestling, track, and football. He even ranked fifth in the state wrestling competition when he was in his senior year back in 1997. At a young age, he also started working at a burger stall at the bingo hall.
Although years have passed and Pratt is now a renowned Hollywood actor, he still hasn’t forgotten his alma mater. He worked on a documentary about his high school’s wrestling team for ESPN’s film festival. He also helped raise funds for a recreation center for his school so that he didn’t have to opt for loans to give back something to his school.
Anna Faris – Drama Club Dork
Despite her stunning beauty, Anna Faris revealed that she didn’t start dating until she reached her senior year in high school. In a 2001 interview with People, the 42-year-old star confessed she liked guys, but no one really liked her. Hence, she considered herself a “drama club dork” because of that.
But fast forward to today, Faris has one of the most beautiful faces in Hollywood. She even made a name for herself thanks to her comedic roles, particularly in the Scary Movie film series. Anna used to be married to Chris Pratt until they decided to part ways. With the help of their lawyers, they are now officially divorced.
Matthew McConaughey – Most Handsome Guy
Matthew McConaughey used to be a golf and tennis player at Longview High School in Texas. He was voted as the most handsome guy and was also part of the yearbook and Pan Am clubs. At the time, the 49-year-old star had to do part-time work. In fact, he told GQ that his first job in high school was raking sand traps starting at 3 in the morning at a country club. He also had to shoot armadillos on the golf course.
Now, McConaughy doesn’t have to do that anymore. He is one of the most prominent stars in Hollywood and has a net worth of $95 million. With his experience, he surely worked hard for his investment money.
Halle Berry – Prom Queen
With her beauty and stature, it was no surprise that Halle Berry became prom queen back in high school. However, winning the title didn’t come easy for the 53-years-old actress at the time. People reported that Berry and her friends were accused of cheating for beating a white woman, who had blonde hair and blue eyes. But when she won the coin toss, she was named the prom queen.
Berry felt like she was accepted at the school until the prom queen issue. It took her a long time to move on from that incident. Anyhow, she has proved herself a good student. She also became a cheerleader, an honor society member, and editor for a school paper. With all her hard work, her professors should have given her all the credit.
Reese Witherspoon – Self-Confessed Nerd
Reese Witherspoon was a self-confessed nerd when she attended an all-girls high school in Nashville, Tennessee. She revealed she was the typical high school student who loved books growing up and getting good grades. The 43-year-old star told The Times in 2006 that she was a “big dork” who read a lot of books when she was young.
However, compared to others, she was a popular dork because she knew how to be funny. Witherspoon was an active student in high school. She was a cheerleader, part of the Spanish club, and a member of Amnesty International. At 14 years old, she started acting and auditioned for a small role in The Man in the Moon. Luckily, she ended as a lead cast. With this, she didn’t have to opt for student loans anymore when she went to college.
Will Ferrell – Best Soccer Player
Will Ferrell was voted best personality when he was in high school in Irvine, California, where he also read school announcements in the morning over the P.A. system. He also loved sports at the time. He was a soccer, basketball, baseball, and football player. He even managed to set a school record for most field goals in soccer. Aside from that, he was also part of the reptile club.
Now 52 years old, Ferrell is a known actor, comedian, producer, writer, and businessman. He is now married and has three kids, who he may be teaching proper money management.
Tina Fey – Night Box-office Manager
Tina Fey used to work on a school newspaper when she was in high school. She was also a night box-office manager at a youth theater program in the 11th grade, as written in her book, Bossypants. She used to be the co-creator in choir singing alto, although she sometimes ended up as a second soprano.
Aside from theater, Time reported Fey was part of the tennis team and an honor student. She has definitely brought her high school experience at work because aside from being an actress, she is also a writer, producer, and playwright. There may be nothing that Fey cannot do, and we bet she has a great credit report.
Amy Poehler – Athletic Bug
Amy Poehler used to play basketball, softball, and soccer when she was in high school. However, in her book, Yes, Please, the 48-year-old star revealed she lost her bug in athletics when she realized she “would never be great.” Hence, she started doing other extracurricular activities.
She became a cheerleader for a short while and then joined the student council. Poehler also became part of the popular crowd, but she was never considered the prettiest or most interesting at the time. She intended to blend, but her unique personality stood out from the rest, making her the great actress-comedian we know today. Her credit score can even attest to that.
Will Smith – The Fresh Prince
Before he was known in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will Smith was already dubbed “fresh prince” by his high school classmates at Overbrook High School in Philadelphia. The 51-year-old star started rapping at a young age. When he met Jeff Townes at 16 years old, they began rapping together using the names DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince.
Smith’s first album came out when he was only a senior high school student. From here, the rest is history. He started to make a name for himself and earned a decent amount that he could use for investment planning.
Blake Lively – Active Student
When Blake Lively was still attending Burbank High School in California, she was a busy bee and active student. She was the class president, a cheerleader, a member of their choir, and part of six different clubs. But despite her busy schedule, the 32-year-old star managed to film The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants during her junior and senior years.
In college, she ended up pursuing a degree in an AP course. Now, Lively is happily married to husband Ryan Reynolds. They share three children and are happily living together. Surely, they have a sound home security system at home to keep their family safe.
Ryan Reynolds – Failed To Join The Drama Club
Ryan Reynolds tried to join a drama club at Prince of Wales Secondary School in Vancouver, BC, but, unfortunately, he didn’t make it. So, who would have thought that the 42-year-old actor would end up in Hollywood and would rose to fame after his role in the movie series, Deadpool? He even got a spot in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Now, Reynolds is married to actress Blake Lively and they have three kids together. The couple is probably planning for their kids’ future as early as today so that they don’t need to opt for student loans when the time comes.
Bruce Willis – Theater Actor
Bruce Willis enjoyed his high school life, which was at Penns Grove High School in Carneys Point, New Jersey. He was voted president of the Student Council. He was also an active student for being part of the baseball team and drama club, even acting for some school plays. The 64-year-old actor found acting therapeutic at the time.
In an interview with Reader’s Digest, Willis revealed he had a horrible stutter that he suffered from the time he was 9 years old until he was 17. However, a miracle happened when he was in high school when he was doing a “goofy play.” When he was on stage, he would stop stuttering. But the moment he stepped off, he would be stuttering again. It was a surprise that he joined Hollywood and became one of the most famous and prominent actors of today. He is also one of the richest, thanks to his investments.
Amy Adams – Working Student
Amy Adams revealed she didn’t really enjoy her high school days at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock, Colorado, because she was already working. Being part of a family with seven children, she started working at the tender age of 12 at a local dance company.
The 45-year-old star even told The Hollywood Reporter that dancing is her passion so she pursued it after high school instead of furthering her education and before she began acting. She also didn’t go to a university because it was not an option for her family. She didn’t choose to do athletics at the time, despite the initial plan to continue track due to her incredible quickness and ability to run fast – yet she told everyone she wanted to dance. Despite her troubled life, she never opted for any loans and taught kids when she was in high school to get through the day.
George Clooney – Varsity Player
When George Clooney attended Augusta High School in Augusta, Kentucky, he was part of the varsity teams of baseball and basketball. Unfortunately, the moment he started high school at the age of 13, he suffered from Bell’s palsy. Half of his face was paralyzed, and it was not an easy start for him. This incident forced the 58-year-old actor to make fun of himself.
Despite his condition, Clooney was a good student. He often received As and Bs when he was in elementary. “So that’s not so bad,” he said. He was also a part of a drama club and became the prince in his senior prom. Today, Clooney is an award-winning actor with a massive network which is the fruit of his great talent and results in a good credit report.
Brad Pitt – Best Dressed Student
Brad Pitt used to be one of the most popular kids at Kickapoo High School in Missouri. He was also voted as the best dressed of his time. In the Jolie Shakira’s book, Brad Pitt, Biography of a Superstar, it revealed that the 55-year-old actor was a good student and had good grades. He also played tennis and golf, acted in school plays and musicals, and was part of the school’s debate team.
However, despite doing the movie Moneyball, Pitt revealed he wasn’t a baseball player. He admitted he didn’t get along with the said sport. He did wrestling and diving for a year, but never baseball. Despite that, Pitt is one of the most sought-after Hollywood actors of today. He also might have the best credit report.
Oprah Winfrey – Most Popular Student
Oprah Winfrey is not only famous today, but she was also voted the most popular during her high school days. She even revealed in an episode of her talk show that she was named the most renowned during the first year that the school was desegregated with 80 percent white students.
The 65-year-old executive had been through different high schools when she was growing up, but she graduated from East High School in Nashville, Tennessee. Indeed, Winfrey was a smart individual even when she was young. She was part of the Honor Society, National Forensic League, and student government. Now, Oprah is worth $2.7 billion thanks to her hard work and good money management.
Ben Affleck – Brainy Kid
As a high school student, Ben Affleck was said to be a brain kid, who almost perfected his SAT scores. However, The New York Times reported that his grades varied because he was often absent and had a lack of interest in school.
After high school, Affleck moved to New York to pursue a career in acting. Here, he had a series of “knock-around parts, one to the next.” He also used his time at Occidental College in Los Angeles as his training ground to direct student films. He has successfully made a name for himself and has become one of the most popular stars in Hollywood. Surely, he can now pay for his own homeowners’ insurance with his $130 million net worth.
Matt Damon – Theater Actor
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are good friends in real life. In fact, they have known each other since they were young. They even attended the same high school at the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
When he was in high school, Damon joined the theater class and performed in some of the school’s productions. In an interview with Parade, he revealed his friendship with Affleck incited him to join the entertainment world. In fact, they are both obsessed with acting, shared the same dream, and enabled each other to go after their dreams. At the time, Damon continued doing plays while pursuing a degree at Harvard University.
Julia Roberts – Clarinet Player
Julia Roberts was a part of their school band and played clarinet when she was in high school at Campbell High School in Smyrna, Georgia. Contrary to her fame nowadays, the 51-year-old star told Access Hollywood that she was not one of the most popular kids when she was young.
She was only a mediocre, walking through the hallways student with her best friend, Paige. Although they were not part of the losers club, they were not famous and were only coasting. But today, Roberts is known everywhere in the world. She is also one of the wealthiest female Hollywood stars who need a financial advisor to handle her finances.
Sandra Bullock – Cheerleader
During her time at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington, Virginia, Sandra Bullock was part of the cheerleading squad. However, at the time, the 55-year-old star told Jimmy Kimmel that she had no idea what she was cheering about. She was not well-versed in basketball terminology, but she had the spirit of a real cheerleader that helped her land a spot on the team. Also, she was said to be a good bottom at the pyramid.
Aside from being a cheerleader, Bullock was also voted the “most likely to brighten your day” during her senior class. One of her classmates also told People that Bullock could make anyone laugh. She was also a straight arrow who didn’t have any vices and didn’t wear ripped clothes. Although she was an above-average student, she was no brainiac. But she might have a good credit score today.
Tom Hanks – Geek and Spaz
Despite his popularity today, Tom Hanks was not famous in high school when he attended Skyline High School in California. The 63-year-old actor told Rolling Stone that he was a geek and spaz when he was young. Although he was terribly shy as a child, he was also the kid who would yell out funny captions during filmstrips.
Hanks was also proud to say that he didn’t get into any trouble when he was in high school. He was always an ethical and responsible kid. At a young age, Hanks already showed his talent when he performed South Pacific and Twelfth Night in high school which earned him his school’s best acting award in 1974. Inevitably, a lot of teachers gave him credit for that.
Jennifer Lopez – Not Part of The Popular Kids
Just like other stars who were in high school, Jennifer Lopez was also not a popular kid. Although she had friends during her time at an all-girls Catholic high school at Preston High School in the Bronx, New York, she was comfortable with herself.
The 50-year-old star said in the book, Jennifer Lopez: The Great Hispanic Heritage, there were always the most popular girls, but she was not one of them. However, it was also the time she started her acting career. While she was still in high school, she got a part in the 1987 indie movie, My Little Girl, which was also her debut film. Here, she played the role of a teen that was being tortured. At an early age, Lopez might have insurance to keep her protected from playing risky roles.
Alex Rodriguez – Football Quarterback
At an early age, Alex Rodriguez already displayed an incredible talent in football. He was a quarterback at Westminster Christian Academy, where he also graduated high school. At the time, he was playing baseball. He was also good at football that he got recruited in college for both baseball and football.
Originally, Rodriguez was from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami. But when he finished his freshman year, he moved to Westminster Christian Academy. He might have brought his good credit reports when he transferred schools.
Leonardo DiCaprio – Dropped Out
Leonardo DiCaprio dropped out of high school after his junior year at John Marshall High School in Los Feliz, California. However, he later earned his general equivalency diploma (GED), which provided certification that he has United States high school-level academic skills.
Now, DiCaprio is 44 years old and one of the best talents in Hollywood. He is a renowned actor, film producer, and environmentalist. He got accolades from Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards. He started to make a name for himself by doing television commercials, and the rest is history. As he began earning early and has saved for himself, he is undoubtedly far from bankruptcy.
Meryl Streep – Homecoming Queen
When Meryl Streep was 17 years old, she became the homecoming queen. She attended Bernards High School in Somerset County, New Jersey, where she was also part of the cheerleading squad and joined in theater plays like Oklahoma! and The Music Man. She also had a long list of extracurricular activities during high school. However, the 70-year-old star never considered herself famous.
In Michael Schulman’s Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep, she revealed Streep had a troubled childhood. As a kid, she believed that she was ugly as other children would chase her up into a tree and hit her legs with sticks until they bleed. So to change her looks, she sought help from different magazines like Seventeen and Vogue. She managed to transform herself into high school and became one of the most respected actresses today. And we should give her all the credit for believing in herself.
Snoop Dogg – Football Player
Believe it or not, Snoop Dogg was a good football player when he was in high school at Long Beach Poly High School. In the book Snoop Dogg – Biography of Calvin Cordozar Broadus, it revealed that the 47-year-old star played football for two years. He was also Cameron Diaz’s schoolmate, and she described him as the tall and skinny guy who was a year ahead of her.
Unfortunately, Snoop Dogg got involved in drugs and was in and out of prison for several years after he graduated. His parents might have called their attorney to help their child at the time. Diaz herself revealed to George Lope in an episode of his late show that the rapper sold her some weed.
Cameron Diaz – Cheerleader
With her groove and energy, it was no surprise that Cameron Diaz was a cheerleader during her high school days at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, California. It was also the time she began her modeling career at the age of 16. Soon, the 47-year-old star made it to the top when she graced the cover of Seventeen magazine back in June 1990. As she started earning early, she might not need student loans at the time.
According to the publication, Diaz dreamt of being a zoologist when she was young, specifically studying lions. However, she had imagined herself doing modeling gigs until she is “old and gray.” Now in her late 40s, Diaz is a prominent name in Hollywood.
Emma Stone – Dropped Out
Emma Stone chose her career over her studies so she dropped out of Catholic High School Xavier College Preparatory School in Phoenix, Arizona, during her freshman year to pursue acting. The 30-year-old star started acting when she was only 11 years old by appearing in different theater productions.
In an interview in 2009, she revealed that to convince her parents, she created a PowerPoint presentation she called, “Project Hollywood,” featuring Madonna’s song, “Hollywood.” At the time, Stone explained that she was trying to show her parents that she needed to move to Hollywood and become an actress. Surely, there were no regrets as she is now one of the best-known actresses in the entertainment world with a good credit score.
Nicolas Cage – Straight-A Student
Nicolas Cage revealed to the New York Times that he used to be a straight-A student until he moved in with his uncle, Francis Coppola, a year after his parents divorced. Since then, he received straight Fs. He then went to a small country school. From a cool guy, the 55-year-old actor added he suddenly turned into a geek.
Although his uncle’s home was beautiful and he was with generous people, he longed for something else. He also felt sad that he wasn’t in his own home and had no idea at all why he was living with them. As a result, he admitted that he was “frustrated beyond relief” at the time. Anyhow, with his hard work, he became renowned in his own field, which makes him far from bankruptcy.
Natalie Portman – Straight-A Student
Natalie Portman was also a straight-A student when she was in high school at Syosset High School in Long Island. She also had excellent science credentials and was also part of the school’s winter track team. In an interview with Marie Claire in 2009, she revealed that she didn’t go to high school parties and instead joined the Intel Science Talent Search, which is known for being one of the most prestigious research competitions for high school students. With her wit, she managed to make it to the semifinals. Her parents and professors surely gave her credit for that.
Ellen DeGeneres – Didn’t Like School
Ellen DeGeneres admitted she hated school when she was at Atlanta High School in Texas. The famed talk show host revealed she only went to college because everyone was going. She has a degree in communications, although she is not sure if she wanted communications and drama. The only thing she remembers is that she was sitting in a room, talking about Greek history or something else, thinking it was not something that she wanted to do.
Despite that, her classmates and teachers remember her for being quiet in class, optimistic, and having a great sense of humor. By the looks of it, she had brought these traits when she joined the entertainment world which might be the reason why she has a good credit score.
Jack Nicholson – Troublemaker
Jack Nicholson admitted he was a troublemaker when he was in high school at Manasquan High School in New Jersey. He told The Independent in 1993 that he holds a record for getting in too many troubles. He was always against the authority and hated being told what to do by his teachers, parents, or anyone. He also had a record for being in detention every day for a whole year.
In spite of his bad record, he gets a lot of credentials for playing a wide range of starring and supporting roles as an actor. He can be a comedian, serious actor, or actor portraying dark roles, anti-heroes, evil characters, and more. With these credits, it is no wonder that he has a career spanning over 50 years in the entertainment world.
Melissa McCarthy – Goth Student
From a preppy young girl, Melissa McCarthy turned into a goth student during high school at St. Francis Academy in Joliet, Illinois. She used the name Missy at the time and was a cheerleader, tennis player, and a member of the student council. During her junior and senior years, she started dressing in black and piercing her ears with safety pins.
She completed her goth transformation by dying her hair blue and black. However, she later admitted that it was only for a show. Although to some degree she acted like a maniac and looked like a violent punk, she revealed that she was too chatty to be angry.
Kevin Spacey – Co-Valedictorian
Kevin Spacey was a co-valedictorian of his graduating class. As a child, he described himself as a “rambunctious, rowdy child” until he fell in love with theater, drama, and music. He went to several high schools, as he moved around with his family a lot when he was growing up. When he went to Canoga Park High School, he performed Arthur Miller’s All My Sons. When he moved to Chatsworth High School in California, he became a co-valedictorian. This might be the foundation that set him to be one of the best actors today with a good credit report.
Renée Zellweger – Active Student
Renée Zellweger was an active high school student at Katy High School in Katy, Texas. She participated in several school activities and was also voted “Dream Date” in her senior year. Her high school boyfriend, Rhett Baker, told DailyMail in 2014 that the 50-year-old star was a well-rounded, famed varsity cheerleader and track runner.
Zellweger was outstanding at almost everything, but she never flaunted it. She had the most prominent personality in their room at the time and a reserved woman that everybody loved. Insurance companies might also love her for the insurance she has.
Jamie Foxx – Aspiring Football Player
When Jamie Foxx was in high school, he was an aspiring football player at Terrell High School in Texas. He aspired to play for the Dallas Cowboys. He was a quarterback on the school’s football team and set a record for being the first player to make a pass for over 1,000 yards. Aside from that, he also played basketball. In Matt Green’s The Amazing Life of Jamie Foxx, he revealed that the 51-year-old actor was famous among teachers and classmates.
But aside from sports, music has also been a big part of his life. He was a part-time pianist and choir leader at his Baptist church. He was also part of the band called Leather and Lace. Hence, he received a music scholarship from the United States International University so he didn’t need to get student loans anymore.
Jessica Chastain – Dropped Out
Jessica Chastain admitted that she had dropped out of high school from El Camino Fundamental High School in Sacramento, California. She told Entertainment Weekly that she was not a hard worker and a terrible student. However, she still got her high school diploma, although she didn’t graduate.
The IT: Chapter Two star said that she did not just drop out and never went back, but she returned at the end of the year and had too many absences before she graduated. Instead of attending her classes, she revealed that she would often skip and sit in her car to read Shakespeare. Hopefully, she is diligent in paying her credit cards today.
Robert Downey Jr. – Dropped Out
Just like other stars, Robert Downey Jr. was also a high school dropout from Santa Monica High School. He had poor grades and school attendance and also had issues with drug and alcohol abuse. He also chose his career over studies when he opted to pursue an acting career in New York when he learned he had to attend a summer school at the end of 11th grade to graduate.
In his CNN profile, the iconic Iron Man actor said that growing up in school was just like smoking pot all the time. As he considers himself as someone who needs to express himself creatively, he knows acting is the most lucrative way to get attention and make it work out. Truly, Downey Jr. has made it in Hollywood, making him far from bankruptcy despite everything he has been through.
Viola Davis – Play Actress
At an early age, Viola Davis showed an interest in the arts. She started acting in high school when she was at Central Falls High in Rhode Island. Despite growing up in a low-income family, the 54-year-old actress didn’t let it stop her from pursuing her dreams. She performed in theater plays at her school and skits in the park. She also joined theater competitions.
Davis was a self-confessed theater geek and a complete nerd. She also attended knitting and crocheting classes at a local community center. Although she was terribly shy, her activities helped her express herself and felt rewarded for it. Now, Davis is no longer the poor girl that she used to be. She has a $12-million net worth that is the product of her hard work and probably proper money management.
Denzel Washington – Troubled Student
Denzel Washington used to be a troubled student when he was in high school. But when his mother moved him to an all-boys private high school, which was the Oakland Military Academy in New Windsor, New York, he revealed it had changed his life.
The 64-year-old started working at an early age in a barbershop. However, he started acting out and getting into fights in school when his parents began drifting apart. When his parents got divorced, her mom sent him to a private all-boys’ high school that he described as one of the best things that happened in his life. Now, Washington is known as one of the best actors with enormous wealth that might have been the result of proper investment planning and his efforts.
Elizabeth Banks – Wild-Haired Student
Elizabeth Banks used to have brown wavy blocks in high school when she was attending Pittsfield High School in Western Massachusetts, which is way different from her straight blonde hair today. However, the 45-year-old star didn’t let it get in her way. Before she graduated in 1992, she won an award for the class couple. She was also a cheerleader, a member of the choir, and part of the Latin Club.
Now, Banks is far too different from the young girl with wild hair. She is a famed actress, director, writer, and producer. She made a name as Effie Trinket in the film series, The Hunger Games and Gail Abernathy-McKadden in the Pitch Perfect movie franchise. Banks must have spent a considerable amount of money to transform herself, probably through loans or credit cards.
Bill Murray – Working Student
Without access to any loans, Bill Murray survived high school by being a working student. He worked as a teen to pay for his tuition at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois. One of the jobs he did was being a golf caddy, earning him $3.50 per bag, at the Indian Hill Club in Winnetka, Illinois. He was also a part of a rock band called The Dutch Masters. Murray also worked in high-school and community-theater productions and was a member of the chess club.
Murray joined the entertainment world in the 1970s and started to make a name for himself. Now, his kids don’t need to work to pay for their tuition or even opt for student loans with their father’s $140-million net worth.
Justin Bieber – Studying Online
Despite starting young in the business and his busy schedule, Justin Bieber managed to graduate from high school in 2012. The 25-year-old star didn’t talk about his graduation from St Michael Catholic Secondary School in Ontario, Canada, at the time. Reports said that the pop star wanted to keep some aspects of his education in private.
A superintendent for the local school board revealed that when Bieber left Stratford at the age of 13, he started studying online to complete his diploma. As his new album, Believe, was on the top of the charts all around the world at the time, Bieber surely didn’t need to opt for student loans to continue his studies.
Macklemore – Troubled Student
Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, or also known as the famed rap artist Macklemore, came up with his stage name because of an art project he did when he was in high school. The 36-year-old star started writing song lyrics at the time and used the name, Professor Macklemore.
Macklemore attended two high schools in Seattle. One is Garfield High, while the second one is Nathan Hale. His parents decided to move him to a new school when he started getting into trouble and drugs. His second school helped him out of his wild environment and to focus more on his craft, and write rap music. Now that he has made a name for himself, the rapper has all the means to pay for his own home insurance.
Kesha – Music Writer
Kesha was already writing music even if she was only in high school. The 32-year-old star, whose real name is Kesha Rose Sebert, attended Brentwood High School in Tennessee. In her school’s yearbook, she noted that she had been singing forever and wrote her own music. In fact, at one point, she dressed up as Ginger Spice from the Spice Girls and performed with her friends who also impersonated other members of the girl group.
Now, Kesha doesn’t have to impersonate anyone anymore. She has made a name for herself in the music scene and became a certified hitmaker. However, she needed the help of her lawyers when she filed a civil suit against the music producer Dr. Luke in 2014.
Paul Rudd – Working Student
When Paul Rudd was still a high school student at Shawnee Mission West High School in Kansas, he also worked at a mall to make ends meet. At the time, he also pursued a career in acting to try his luck in Hollywood. It is not revealed if the 50-year-old star opted for any loans at the time to help him get by, but it was said that he had grown his hair out really long.
Three decades have passed since he graduated high school, Rudd still looks young compared to his classmates in their yearbook. With a net worth of $30 million, he now doesn’t have to worry about his finances.
Lady Gaga – Dreamer
Even when she was young, Lady Gaga had been dreaming of making it big. The 33-year-old star is known as Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta in high school. She attended New York’s Convent of the Sacred Heart Catholic School, where she started to dream big. If we know her as a Mother Monster, in her school’s 2004 yearbook, her nicknames were Stefi and The Germ.
When she was young, Lady Gaga revealed that she dreamt of headlining at Madison Square Garden. In 2011, she made her dream came true when she made a concert special, titled Lady Gaga Presents the Monster Ball Tour: At Madison Square Garden. With her efforts and hard work, Lady Gaga managed to reach her dream and continuously do so, which also gives her a good credit report.
Chadwick Boseman – Basketball Player
You may know him as the Black Panther, but before Chadwick Boseman donned that black suit, he was a basketball player in high school. The 41-year-old star attended T.L. Hanna High School in Southern California and had been a part of its varsity team for all four years of his stay before he became interested in acting.
Unfortunately, Boseman experience racism at the time and one of his friends even got shot and killed. As an emotional response, the actor started writing, and he came up with a play. With the help of his friends, they performed his creation. Now, Boseman is loved by many for his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). However, he needs to have the perfect home security system to keep him safe.
Jennifer Lawrence – Fashionista
Jennifer Lawrence was a fashionista who loved statement earrings when she was in high school in Louisville, Kentucky. At the age of 14, the actress was convincing her parents to go to New York to audition for talent agencies. However, her guardians wanted her to finish high school first.
With her wit and determination, Lawrence reportedly completed high school two years early. A photographer in the Big Apple discovered Lawrence. After this photographer took a photo of her on the street, he asked for her mom’s number, and the call from modeling agencies poured in. From here, the rest is history. Now, Lawrence is worth $130 million, which is the result of her hard work and proper money management.
Alec Baldwin – Football Player
Alec Baldwin was a football player during high school. The 61-year-old star, along with the famous Baldwin brothers, attended Berner High School in Massapequa, New York. He was a part of the lacrosse team and was also the class president.
Years after, he is best known as an actor who has a lot of movies under his belt. Aside from being an actor, he is also a writer, producer, comedian, and political activist. In his time in the business, he now has $65 million net worth, which is the result of his projects and other activities, including investment planning.
Brie Larson – Graduated Young
At the age of 15, Brie Larson has already graduated high school. When she was young, she had dreamt of being a magician of Egyptologists. However, she chose to pursue an acting career instead. She started at a tender age of six when she attended the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, California. She officially started acting in 1998 with a comedy sketch on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Larson also ventured into the music scene. A year after she graduated, she released an album called Finally Out of P.E. Now, the 30-year-old star is best known as Captain Marvel, which is a role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Thanks to her hard work, she will never experience bankruptcy.
Jake Gyllenhaal – Lyricist
Jake Gyllenhaal was a lyricist when he was in high school. He was part of a boy band called Holeshot. During his time at Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, California, the 38-year-old star described himself as a nerd, who was wearing massively thick glasses. His classmates also made fun of him for his love of theater.
Although Gyllenhaal was also into sports at the time, the fact that he loved to sing, act, and other stuff that had something to do to performing was always made fun of. However, it eventually became better. He even explained that bullying him has helped him be proud of his work. He should also be proud of what he has become as he doesn’t need to opt for any loans today with his $65-million net worth.
Madonna – Straight-A Student
Believe it or not, Madonna was a straight-A student when she attended Rochester Adams High School. She was also a cheerleader at the time. With her talent, she received a dance scholarship to the University Of Michigan School Of Music, Theater & Dance, that she didn’t need student loans anymore. However, she eventually dropped out.
Madonna focused on her craft as a singer, songwriter, actress, and businesswoman. She is now widely known as the Queen of Pop. She has pushed the boundaries of songwriting in mainstream music and through the imagery she uses on her music videos and stage performances.