Rags To Riches: 10 Self-Made CEOs Who Started With Nothing (PHOTOS)

Rags To Riches: 10 Self-Made CEOs Who Started With Nothing (PHOTOS)

Sure, it might be highly discouraging to watch the successful progeny of dynastic wealth -- think the scions of the Houses of Trump, Hilton and Newhouse. But look around the ranks of corporate America's most prominent and you'll also find a wealth of self-generated wealth.

Take John Paul Dejoria, co-founder and CEO of John Paul Mitchell Systems, for example. Dejoria twice found himself homeless. (He was also voted by his high school as the one who would be "Least Likely to Succeed".) Dejoria finally pulled himself out of homelessness only to have his products land in almost every top hair salon in the world.

After Larry Ellison dropped out of college, the future Oracle co-founder and CEO was told by his adoptive father that he would never amount to anything.

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