Before the fame, red carpets, and multimillion-dollar contracts, every celebrity had a starting point—somewhere far from the spotlight. And for many, those first jobs were humble, ordinary, and anything but glamorous. What makes these stories fascinating isn’t just how different they are from their current lives, but the modest paychecks that launched them toward stardom.

From scooping ice cream to selling garbage bags door-to-door, the early earnings of these household names offer a glimpse into their real-world beginnings.

Humble Hustles and First Paychecks

Mark Cuban

Before becoming a billionaire investor, Mark Cuban earned his first paycheck selling garbage bags. He went door-to-door, selling each box for $6 after buying them for $3. His motivation? Buying new basketball shoes. Cuban’s early grasp of profit margins speaks volumes about his future in business.

Jennifer Aniston

Instagram | people | Before Hollywood, Jennifer Aniston, at 19, navigated NYC as a bike messenger

At 19, Jennifer Aniston zipped through New York City as a bike messenger. It was far from the Hollywood life she lives now. She once described it as the hardest job she’s ever had. Couriers today earn around $25 an hour, but back then, the paycheck was much leaner.

Miley Cyrus

Before topping music charts, Miley Cyrus worked for her dad Billy Ray, cleaning up bras and underwear thrown onstage after shows. She made $10 a gig—not bad for a kid, but a far cry from her current rates per concert.

From Service Jobs to Stardom

Barack Obama

Long before politics, Barack Obama was scooping ice cream in Honolulu. The future president learned responsibility and discipline from that summer job. Though the paycheck was small, the lessons were lasting.

Rachel McAdams 

Rachel McAdams spent three years at McDonald’s as a teen. Despite her long stint, she admitted she wasn’t great at it—breaking machines and holding up lines with constant hand washing. The job paid little, but offered real-world experience.

Melissa McCarthy

When Melissa McCarthy moved to L.A., she worked at Starbucks and once served her comedy idol, Chris Farley. She was so starstruck that she cried mid-shift. Early paychecks from the coffee service helped support her acting dreams.

Unusual Gigs Before Fame

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg once worked doing hair and makeup for the deceased. Licensed as a beautician, she answered a newspaper ad and took the job seriously. Mortuary artists today average about $25 per hour.

Nicole Kidman 

Instagram | nicolekidman | For her mother’s cancer care, Nicole Kidman learned massage techniques.

To help her mother during cancer treatment, Nicole Kidman trained in massage therapy. That skill later turned into a part-time job. She visited clients’ homes, turning her care into small but meaningful paychecks.

Meghan Markle

Before “Suits” and royalty, Meghan Markle taught calligraphy at Paper Source and worked freelance on wedding invitations. It was a creative outlet and income source, one that doesn’t usually get linked with the Duchess of Sussex.

Early Jobs of Future Stars

Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman spent time as a high school gym teacher before acting roles came in. He taught at Uppingham School in the UK. Today’s average high school teacher makes around $65,000 annually—quite a gap from Hollywood salaries.

Dwayne Johnson

Before global fame, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson scrubbed dishes during night shifts. Even now, he claims he still washes dishes at home, a nod to the work ethic that shaped him early on.

Kanye West

While in high school, Kanye West worked at Gap. He didn’t know he’d go on to revolutionize fashion, but he was already drawn to fabric and color. Retail jobs like his typically offer modest paychecks, but they planted creative seeds.

Whether flipping burgers, scooping ice cream, or cleaning stages, the paychecks these celebrities earned early on weren’t just about money—they were about learning discipline, value, and resilience. These stories offer more than curiosity—they remind us that no start is too small. Even today’s icons came from ordinary beginnings, and those first jobs often played a part in shaping their success.

Let these early career chapters serve as a reminder: it’s not where someone starts—it’s how they use it to grow.