11 Majorly Successful Stars Who Had Tough Childhoods

3. 50 Cent

Born Curtis Jackson, 50 Cent showcased his tumultuous upbringing in the 2005 film, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ which was loosely based on his own life. 50 Cent was born to a 15-year old drug-dealing mother who continued to deal until she was murdered when he was only eight. Following her death, 50 moved in with his grandmother but, by age 11 he had started selling crack-cocaine. By age 12, he was carrying a gun to school. After being caught with a gun in high school when he was only 16, Jackson was sent to a correctional facility. It was here that he adopted his stage name, 50 Cent, as a metaphor for ‘change.’ The 39-year old is now one of the most successful hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs of the last decade. Earlier this year Jackson was voted the fifth richest figure in American hip-hop with a net worth estimated at $140 million. This is one of the stars who had tough childhoods and really turned things around.