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. Fast forward to today, however, the 51-year-old baddie became a prominent actress.Arquette 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. Even though she didn’t end up fulfilling her childhood dream of becoming a nun, the celebrity has kept her faith in God while also maintaining a good credit report, given her years in the industry. At one point, she also dreamed of becoming a midwife right before starting her career. Arquette, of course, ended up building a name for herself through acting.

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 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 as a prominent figure in the industry who has made several blockbuster movies. The acting veteran also has a good credit score and a lot of awards under his belt.

During his Stanford years, he also had a passion for drama, which he deemed his plan B. Although his dreams of being a professional basketball player were dashed, Danson’s education succeeded as he graduated from Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama. Eventually, the beloved star made his breakthrough with the role of Sam Malone on Cheers and D.B. Russell on CSI.

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 then, although he is known for his great humor, Newsday revealed that 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 lunch period or make an impression while opening his locker.

Years later, the youngster made television sitcom history when he did Seinfeld on NBC. During his heyday in the industry, he might have learned proper investment planning, which helped him reach his $950 million net worth. Seinfeld may not have been too keen on taking the funnyman persona back in high school, but his humor landed him success, and one of its fruits today is a car collection— most notably owning Porsches on his fleet.

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. In addition to her participation in the said events, she also aspired to be an actress and be a key player in the world of Hollywood during her earlier years. Perhaps, this is what pushed Julia to study drama during her years at Northwestern University. There are reports stating that the young actress loved to watch Saturday Night Live with her family back in the day, and never missed a single episode.

The witty star’s dream came true as she later joined the show when she was in her junior year in college. Fast forward to today, Julia has become one of the most renowned actresses in Hollywood. She even has her own television series on HBO titled Veep. Thanks to her dreams and investments in the craft, Julia has come a long way from a high school student who only watches television at home.

Stephen Colbert – Bookworm

Stephen Colbert revealed he almost didn’t finish high school after the tragic passing of his father and his two brothers back when he was only 10. In an interview with GQ in 2015, the 55-year-old comedian “barely graduated” from Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, South California. Instead of doing his homework, Colbert chose to read books. He read one book per day and spent his allowance on buying it. Every birthday, Christmas, and other special occasions, the young Colbert would ask for books as a gift.

Colbert considers books as his investments. As a bookworm, the popular talk show host loves reading books written by JRR Tolkien, notably the series. Colbert dreamed of becoming a marine biologist, but it was not possible because he was deaf in one ear. Given the slight inconvenience to his plans, Colbert has chosen to study theater as his major when he attended Northwestern University. Then after his graduation, this popular TV personality joined the Second City cast. The rest, as they say, is history.

Karamo Brown – Supporting Alma Mater

You may know Karamo Brown as the star of Queer Eye, but long before that, he used to be a student of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the tragic Parkland school incident happened. He joined the March for Our Lives to support the cause of preventing violence in the United States. He saw the news about his school being called the “site of the world’s deadliest” school incident, and it broke his heart. People have given Brown a lot of credit for the support he showed.

Besides his advocacy, Karamo Brown also advocated the fight against HIV and partnered with pharmaceutical companies as part of the Positively Fearless campaign to empower the gay and bisexual community. The reality TV star’s selflessness and kind heart are not only for show. As you can see through all his campaigns, Brown goes beyond the television screen to extend help for the marginalized as well as those in need.

Bob Odenkirk – Sharp Kid

When Bob Odenkirk was in high school, his friends used to call him “Bobnoxious.” Although it wasn’t revealed why he was called that name, it probably means that they think he was obnoxious to a certain degree. Despite being called names, it turned out that he was a sharp kid. 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.

Odenkirk has shown his talent and skill in writing sketches on Southern Illinois University’s radio station’s live shows. There, the multi-talented Hollywood celebrity became a radio DJ with his program called The Prime Time Special. In 1987, Odenkirk became a writer for Saturday Night Live until 1991. Over time, he became known for his character on the Breaking Bad spinoff, Better Call Saul, proving that success is the excellent vengeance against those who are putting you down.

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. The boy always got along with his classmates, joining wrestling, track, and football. He even ranked fifth in the state wrestling competition. Although years have passed and Pratt is now a renowned Hollywood actor, he still hasn’t forgotten his alma mater. As it turns out, the actor 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 the instution gets to save up on money that would otherwise be spent to pay off loans for construction. Pratt may not have become a wrestler even though people saw his potential in that sport, but he gained many breakthroughs as a film actor. He is known for playing Peter Quill/Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy.

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.Despite being not liked by the people, as she revealed back in his 2001 interview, Faris is more extensive than those who don’t like her because her career speaks on her behalf, which is why she is one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood.

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. Until now, Matthew still plays golf and has never forgotten that sport ever since. Not only that, but he is also a triathlete and used to participate in triathlons, most notably back in 2008 when he took part in Nautica Malibu Triathlon.

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 mentors should have given her all the credit. As a prom queen during her high school days, Halle continued to flourish her gorgeousness as she joined pageants during the 80s. Halle Berry is an example of a woman with beauty and brain.

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. However, 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, she started acting and auditioned for a small role in The Man in the Moon. Luckily, she ended as a lead cast.

During her childhood, Reese mostly spent her time in Wiesbaden, Germany, where her father is at US Army Reserves lieutenant colonel. Then afterward, Reese and her family returned to Nashville, Tennessee. She temporarily stopped her stint on acting to focus on her studies at Stanford but later resumed her career when offered a Twilight role back in 1998. Since then, Reese became familiar to many moviegoers’ eyes, making her one of the revered actresses in Hollywood.

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. He even brought his athleticism to his movies like Blades of Glory as figure skater Chazz Michael Michaels, Semi-Pro, where he played as a player and coach of Flint Tropics and Kicking Screaming as a coach of Tigers soccer team. He continues to be part of the soccer world because he co-owns the Los Angeles Football Club.

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. In the world of entertainment via The Second City, she became part of Saturday Night Live from being a writer to becoming its main cast until 2006, then made her sitcom named 30 Rock in the same year.

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.

During her early years, Poehler took part in her school’s version of Oz’s Wizard and continued to become a stage performer while participating in various sports. Afterward, she attended Boston College, a regular member of the college’s troupe My Mother’s Fleabag, and graduated in 1993. Since then, she continues to use her past experiences as a performer in mainstream entertainment, which is how Poehler became successful until now.

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. Smith did excel in rapping during his early years and had a good performance in education, where he got SAT scores at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Still, he had no intentions of pursuing college because he wanted to become a rapper instead. As a result, his intentions paid off, becoming a rapper and becoming a successful actor as we know him today.

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. At first, Blake Lively’s world is not entertainment, and she wanted to focus on her studies instead-but prodded by her brother to take part in auditions. We may know that Lively does not really into acting, but it led her to become one of Hollywood’s prominent actresses as she is known.

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. Reynolds also worked as a clerk in a grocery store and worked on restaurants during his high school years, and while working in a grocery, Ryan made his appearance on X-Files in a small role. Despite being a dropout, his efforts in Hollywood paid off, and he became a successful star ever since.

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 today’s most famous and prominent actors. His breakthrough started when he played as John McClane in Die Hard. 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. During high school, Amy became the school’s choir and dreamed of becoming a ballerina someday but later shifted her focus on performing in musical theater.

George Clooney – Varsity Player

When George Clooney attended Augusta High School in Augusta, he was part of the varsity teams of baseball and basketball. Unfortunately, the moment he started high school at 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 when he was in elementary. 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. Regardless of him being a college dropout, his high school excellence was on par with his movies’ progress. He is known for playing Batman in the 1997 movie Batman & Robin and Matt Kowalski in the 2013 film Gravity. Besides overcoming Bell’s palsy, Clooney also successfully survived his near-death experience while shooting his movie Syriana in 2005.

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 admitted he didn’t get along with the said sport. He did wrestling and diving for a year, but never baseball. Initially, his dream was to become an advertising art director, so he attended the University of Missouri to help him fulfill that dream but later left the college and opted to move to Los Angeles.  He worked as a limousine driver while attending acting classes until he achieved his goal to be featured as an actor, so that is how Brad Pitt’s mega career started.

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. 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.

Oprah had a troubled childhood, but it all ended when she moved with her father when she was 14 years old and attended East Nashville High School. From there, she has shown her potential of becoming part of media outlets as she decided to work in a radio station. After spending her time in college, Oprah worked as a news anchor at the age of 19 and has appeared on numerous programs ever since till she became known for her eponymous TV show.

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. Indeed, he can now pay for his own homeowners’ insurance with his $130 million net worth. Ben Affleck may not be that educated during his early years, but he is a great actor, which could also mean that every person could still succeed even though they lack education.

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. When he was in high school, Damon joined the theater class and performed in some of the school’s productions. In an interview, 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 pursue their dreams.

At the time, Damon continued doing plays while pursuing a degree at Harvard University. Damon loved to play baseball in his early years with fellow actor and friend Affleck. During his time at Harvard, one of his plays entitled Burn This then afterward Damon landed a Mystic Pizza role, marked as his debut film. Although having a small part and appeared on TNT’s Rising Son and School Ties while still being enrolled at the University then in the mid-90s, Damon started to land on huge roles.

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. Initially, Roberts’ ultimate dream is to become a veterinarian. In addition to her acting ability, Julia Roberts is also musically inclined and would play clarinet on her school’s band during her early years. She relocated to New York to focus on acting rather than her education.  Although Julia is devoid of having a college degree, she had a fruitful career to begin.

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. Her recent film was Bird Box, and it was released last 2018.

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. His innate acting talent led to Tom Hanks becoming one of the industry’s most outstanding actors, who has won accolades for his performances in films such as Toy Story, Forrest Gump, Cast Away and Apollo 13.

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. 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.

Despite not having her parents’ blessing to become an actress early in her career, Jennifer forged ahead and worked hard to prove she can achieve what she set her mind to. We’re sure that in time, she was able to convince them that she made the right choice. After all, she did become one of the highest paid Latina actresses, and is now able to sustain the needs of her family with ease.

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.

Rodriguez has won numerous accolades during his long running career, including an MVP award from year 2003, 2005 and 2007. The athlete also became a fourteen time MLB All Star Championship winner. Rodriguez first played for the Seattle Mariners from 1994 to 2000. He later went on to play for The New York Yankees from 2004 up to year 2016, when he retired. He became an analyst for ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball in 2018.

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 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.

As he began earning early and has saved for himself, he is undoubtedly far from bankruptcy. DiCaprio was named after another famous Leonardo; the artist and inventor Da Vinci, whose works her mother had been fond of. As a kid, DiCaprio dreamed to be either Marine Biologist or an actor. Fortunately for his fans, he ended up choosing the latter. We think, though he hasn’t completely let go of his dreams of becoming a biologist and instead, pursues that passion through his environmental endeavors.

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. One of her most notable roles is portraying the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the film The Iron Lady, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress.

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.

Snoop Dogg is considered an icon in the hip hop scene, thanks to his many contributions to the genre. Over the years, he has had plenty of chart-toppers, including the songs Drop It Like It’s Hot, Young Wild and Free, Sensual Seduction, Gin and Juice, and more. From a troubled lifestyle to one that is both stable and productive, we’re certainly glad to see that he is turning things around and growing into a better self.

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. Now in her late 40s, Diaz is a prominent name in Hollywood. Her last film appearance was in the film Annie playing the role of Miss Hannigan. Although she has since retired from Hollywood, her net worth of $140 million is more than enough to keep the actress living comfortably. Besides, she does have other entrepreneurial ventures that will ensure she’ll never have any financial troubles.

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. Emma Stone might be best known to some for portraying Gwen Stacy in both The Amazing Spider-Man in 2012 and in its sequel The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

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. Fun fact: Nicolas Cage once said that James Dean was his inspiration for becoming an actor. He is also a member of the Coppola family and is related to famed film director, Francis Ford Coppola.

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. Today, she is one of the industry’s most versatile talents. Perhaps best known for her performance as Padme Amidala in the Star Wars franchise and as Jane Foster in Thor, Thor: The Dark World. Of course, who can forget her spine-chilling turn in The Black Swan alongside Mila Kunis? With her range, Natalie Portman is set to become a Hollywood icon in her own right.

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. She isn’t just a host, however. Ellen also used to star in a sitcom and has even done voice acting, portraying Dory in both Finding Nemo and Finding Dory.

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 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. One of his notable appearances was in the film The Shining where he made everyone’s blood run cold, thanks to his brilliant acting. He was also in the 1989 Batman film, portraying one of the most memorable Jokers in DC history.

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. McCarthy rose to prominence on the television show Gilmore Girls where she played the role as Sookie St. James. This was followed by her appearance as Dena in the sitcom called Samantha Who? She is set to play Ursula in Disney’s upcoming live action film The Little Mermaid.

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.

Spacey truly wanted to excel in acting and to achieve this, he even attended drama classes to get better at his craft. He first became known for his comedic roles, but in time, he was given the chance to do more serious acting. In fact, one of his first opportunities as a professional performer came after he was cast in Henry IV Part 1, which was held at the famed New York Shakespeare Festival.

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. Aside from acting, it seems Zellweger also has a knack for the written word. In high school, she even won an essay contest with her work “The Karankawas and their Roots”. She later went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts in English literature degree from the University of Texas. Zellweger also wanted to pursue journalism but later shifted her focus to acting.

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. Quite surprising, right? After all, we know the actor best for his thrilling roles in action films. Who knows? We might even get an album in the future!

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. The actress proves that sometimes, all you really need is hard work and some luck for success to happen. Who would have thought that after years at it, she’d finally get her breakthrough in the 2008 film The Tree of Life starring alongside Hollywood legend Brad Pitt?

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. Considering the current trajectory of his career and with no shortage of great projects, we’re sure he no longer has to worry about his finances.

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. Now, Davis has a $12-million net worth that is the product of her hard work and probably proper money management. Thanks to her role as Annalise Keating in How To Get Away With Murder, she’s finally getting the recognition she deserves. Including becoming the first African American celebrity to attain the Triple Crown of Acting, which includes Academy, Emmy and Tony awards.

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. Despite being busy, he still invests his time in his children, making him one of Hollywood’s most devoted family man. Perhaps this is something he learned through experience, while he was growing up.

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.

Her career breakthrough came after she appeared in the 2005 movie The 40 Year Old Virgin. She was also an acquaintance of Peter Parker on all three Spider-Man films, and later appeared in the film The Details. 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.

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 with their father’s $140-million net worth. Murray rose to fame thanks to his contributions to Saturday Night Live, which also earned him his first Emmy Award. His prominence grew further when he played Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters, a role which he is set to reprise in the upcoming movie Ghostbusters: Afterlife in 2021.

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. Bieber was first discovered by Scooter Braun who is credited for helping launch his career. He has come a long way from the release of One Time and while he is still making music these days, his sound has significantly matured.

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.

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. Macklemore is best known for his collaborations with Ryan Lewis. Their hip hop duo called Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, has received plenty of recognition, thanks to their hit songs like Thrift Shop and Can’t Hold Us.

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.

In 2010, she released her debut album named Animal which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was notable for hits like Tik Tok, which later become an international sensation. 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. Paul would later gain worldwide fame for playing as Scott Lang/Ant-Man beginning with Ant-Man in 2015. This was followed by Captain America: Civil War, Ant-Man and The Wasp, and Avengers Endgame. He is set to reprise his role as the titular character in Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania, which is scheduled for release in 2022.

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. Lady Gaga’s rise to prominence was no easy feat. Before her highly successful singles like Poker Face, Just Dance, and Paparazzi, she had been performing in the New York underground scene for years.

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. 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. His role as Black Panther touched and inspired many, making the film and its cast became among the most beloved in the MCU. It is for this reason that his passing was mourned by many, including fans from around the world.

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. She made her first film appearance in Drama Party, then later got her breakthrough portraying Mystique on four X-Men films. It wasn’t until her role as Katniss Everdeen on The Hunger Games franchise did the actress solidify her spot in the industry. 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. He has made various big screen appearances in films like Alice, The Departed, The Aviator and on three Mission Impossible movies.

To further prove his versatility, he has also done voice acting, most notably for the 2017 film The Boss Baby and in its sequel called The Boss Baby: Family Business. 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). Larson later reprised the role of Captain Marvel in Avengers: Endgame one month after the release of her solo Marvel Cinematic Universe film. It goes without saying that everyone is anticipating Captain Marvel’s sequel.

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. Gyllenhaal has been honored with both the BAFTA Award and Academy Award for his performance as Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain. In 2019, Jake Gyllenhaal starred as the villain Mysterio in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Far From Home. 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. Madonna made an impact on the world of music and she was the one of the inspirations of many singers today such as Lady Gaga and Britney Spears. Due to her huge influence in pop culture and as one of the bestselling female musicians in the industry she has amassed a net worth of $590 million in the span of her colorful career.

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