28 Inspiring Millionaires Who Found Success When Others Were Retiring

At 43 years old, Samuel L. Jackson's career took a significant turn with his award-winning performance in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever, marking his arrival as a major Hollywood star despite having worked in the industry for years prior. This pivotal role was the springboard for his immense success and subsequent fortune, which is now estimated to be around $250 million, making him one of the most bankable actors in film history.

After a two-decade career serving in the US Air Force, Bob Ross embarked on a new journey, teaching himself the art of painting. He then famously shared his "wet-on-wet" oil painting technique with a global audience as the beloved host of "The Joy of Painting," a role he began at the age of 41. His calm demeanor and encouraging "happy little trees" made him an iconic and accessible art instructor.

The Marvel Universe, with iconic characters like Spider-Man and the X-Men, was brought to life by Stan Lee after he found his breakout success creating The Fantastic Four comic just shy of his 39th birthday. Before this pivotal moment, Lee had already spent many years working in the comic book industry, but The Fantastic Four marked a significant turning point. Upon his passing in November 2018, his estimated net worth was around $50 million.

While his presidential salary was $400,000, Barack Obama's literary career, which blossomed later in life, significantly contributed to his wealth.

The republication of his first book, Dreams From My Father, when he was 43, brought him his initial million-dollar earnings.

Further book successes, including a record-breaking $65 million joint deal with Michelle Obama in 2017 and the impressive sales of his memoir A Promised Land, have helped build their estimated joint net worth to around $70 million.

Susan Boyle's current estimated fortune of around $40 million largely stems from her remarkable appearance on the UK television show Britain's Got Talent. Her debut album, released in November 2009 shortly after she became the runner-up on the show, impressively became the UK's best-selling debut album of all time. This global success was a stark contrast to the "mundane" life she had described before her audition, and she later performed at high-profile events like the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Opening Ceremony.

While Charles Darwin embarked on his renowned voyage aboard the HMS Beagle as a young naturalist at 21, it wasn't until he published On the Origin of Species at the age of 50 that his work brought him significant recognition and financial standing. This groundbreaking book, which took him over 20 years to develop and write after his voyage, laid the foundation for evolutionary biology. By the time of his death, his estate was valued at a sum equivalent to roughly $9 million today.

Before launching her renowned bridalwear brand at the age of 40, Vera Wang had already achieved success as a figure skater and then as a journalist, notably becoming one of Vogue's youngest editors in the early 1970s. Her transition into fashion design proved incredibly successful, with her company now valued at around $500 million, and she has created wedding gowns for numerous high-profile clients like Kim Kardashian and Ariana Grande.

It wasn't until he was 42 that English actor Alan Rickman landed his breakthrough film role as Hans Gruber in Die Hard, a character that brought him widespread recognition. This cinematic success came after he had already established a notable stage career, including with the Royal Shakespeare Company, having made the decision in his mid-20s to leave a graphic design business to pursue acting full-time. Upon his passing in 2016, his estimated net worth was around $16 million.

Despite a childhood passion for acting, Morgan Freeman initially pursued a different path after high school, joining the Air Force with aspirations of becoming a fighter pilot. He eventually left the military to establish himself as an actor, a journey that took considerable time before he landed his significant movie breakthrough in Street Smart at the age of 50. This role marked a turning point, leading to his status as one of Hollywood's most respected stars.

Although Simon Cowell's net worth is now estimated at a staggering $600 million, his major financial success began when he was 42 and became a judge on the reality TV show Pop Idol in 2001. His early career had a more modest start, including a job in the mailroom at EMI Music Publishing, arranged by his father, and a period where he left the company due to frustration over not receiving a promotion, only to return later. Following his Pop Idol fame, he also founded Syco Entertainment, which launched many successful music artists and television shows, further building his wealth.

It was a standout performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967, at the age of 46, that truly launched legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield into the major leagues of comedy. Before this breakout appearance, he had worked various jobs, including as a traveling salesman, and performed comedy under different names. At the time of his death in 2004, his estimated worth was around $10 million.

Austrian-German actor Christoph Waltz gained widespread international recognition later in his career, achieving his major breakthrough role at the age of 53 when he starred in the film Inglourious Basterds. Before this high-profile part, he had a long and established career in European film and television. His performance in Inglourious Basterds earned him numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, and catapulted him to global fame.

International fame for his role in Breaking Bad came eight years after Bryan Cranston secured his first major recurring part in the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle at the age of 44. Before playing Hal in Malcolm in the Middle, Cranston had accumulated numerous single-appearance roles across various television shows. His dramatic turn as Walter White in Breaking Bad solidified his status as a highly acclaimed actor worldwide.

A significant turning point in Danny Trejo's life occurred at age 41, launching his acting career when the director of the film Runaway Train offered him a role. This opportunity was transformative, especially considering his earlier life involved struggles with drug addiction and periods in jail. That part in Runaway Train effectively kickstarted a prolific career in film and television.

A role in the movie Knocked Up at the age of 38 served as the catalyst for Ken Jeong's transition into a full-time acting career. Before this comedic part kickstarted his journey in entertainment, he was a practicing physician. Shortly after the success of Knocked Up, Jeong made the significant decision to leave medicine and dedicate himself entirely to acting.

Though she had numerous film roles prior, Viola Davis's major breakthrough arrived at age 43 with a single, powerful scene in the 2008 film Doubt. This impactful performance earned Davis her first Oscar nomination, despite her limited screen time in the movie, and significantly propelled her career forward. Her love for acting, which began in high school, eventually led to this pivotal moment and subsequent widespread acclaim.

It wasn't until he was 66 that Harland Sanders, the man who would become the face of KFC, began the franchising efforts that would make his fried chicken famous worldwide. This move eventually culminated in the 1964 sale of his business for a significant $2 million. By the time of his passing in 1980, the man known globally as Colonel Sanders had an estimated personal worth of $3.5 million.

After graduating from university, Liam Neeson worked several casual jobs, including as a forklift operator and truck driver, before securing his first acting role at age 25. His major breakthrough, however, came much later when he was 40, with his critically acclaimed performance in the film Schindler's List. This pivotal role significantly elevated his career and brought him international recognition.

Martha Stewart's big break really came when she was 40, with her book Entertaining in 1982; this was a key step towards her $400 million fortune and becoming a household name. She'd already been running a successful catering business from her home before that. This earlier venture helped set the stage for the massive lifestyle brand she later built, making her a familiar face on TV.

The iconic Model T car, introduced in 1908 and widely regarded as the first affordable automobile, propelled Henry Ford into multibillion-dollar territory. Ford was 45 years old when this revolutionary vehicle marked the true beginning of his major entrepreneurial success, significantly aided by his pioneering use of the assembly line for mass production. This venture ultimately established a family fortune valued at approximately $200 billion in today's currency.

At 49 years old, Julia Child embarked on her celebrated career as a celebrity chef with the 1961 publication of her first cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, co-authored with Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle. Before this, she had worked in advertising and media, but this culinary venture launched her into the public eye. By the time of her passing in 2004, having authored 19 cookbooks and hosted 13 television shows, her estimated worth was around $38 million.

From selling milkshake machines to building a global fast-food empire, Ray Kroc's most significant business chapter began at age 52 when he became a franchising agent for McDonald's in 1954. He later bought out the original McDonald brothers in 1961 and spearheaded the company's massive expansion worldwide. This vision ultimately led to a personal fortune estimated at $600 million by the time of his death in 1984.

Though Arianna Huffington had a notable career as a writer and political commentator earlier in life, co-founding The Huffington Post at 54 propelled her to household name status. The media site was later sold to AOL in 2011 for $315 million, a deal where she continued as editor-in-chief for a time. After stepping down in 2016 to pursue other ventures, her current net worth is estimated to be around $100 million.

A standout performance on the UK's New Year's Eve program, Jools’ Annual Hootenanny, in 2006 proved to be the pivotal moment for American blues musician Seasick Steve, who was 55 at the time. While music had always been a significant part of Steven Gene Wold's (his real name) life, this particular television appearance brought him widespread fame. This late surge in his career translated into substantial earnings, with reports suggesting he was making around $3 million annually by the age of 70, despite an appearance that might not fit the typical millionaire mold.

The hit series The Office provided Steve Carell with his major career breakthrough when he was 43 years old, transforming his professional trajectory. Prior to landing the iconic role of Michael Scott, he had various smaller parts but hadn't yet achieved widespread recognition. This role in the popular sitcom was the catalyst that launched him into mainstream success.

Despite developing some of the most popular products of the last three decades, British inventor James Dyson encountered significant hurdles bringing his flagship dual cyclone vacuum cleaner to market. After facing rejections from established manufacturers, he took the bold step of setting up his own company, Dyson Ltd., and opened his first UK factory at the age of 46. This perseverance paid off, with the Dyson Dual Cyclone quickly becoming the UK's fastest-selling vacuum cleaner, laying the foundation for an estimated family fortune now exceeding $25 billion.

The significant sale of PeopleSoft, the application software company he founded, to Oracle for $10.7 billion in 2005 marked a major financial achievement for David Duffield. He had established himself as a successful entrepreneur with PeopleSoft at the age of 47, a venture that first put him on the Forbes rich list. That same year, Duffield co-founded the HR and finance software company Workday, and his wealth is now estimated by Forbes at around $12 billion.

The immense $267 billion fortune of the Walton family, placing them as America's richest according to Forbes, stems from the retail empire initiated by Sam Walton when he opened the first Walmart store at age 44. Although he had a solid background in retail management from his 20s and 30s, this particular venture set him on the path to unparalleled success by focusing on offering lower prices to customers. Walton passed away in 1992, leaving behind a monumental business legacy.