Brad Pitt
Storefront Mascot
Dressed as a giant chicken to earn money before acting gigs came along.
Before They Were Famous
Celebrity Side Hustles
That Prove Anyone Can Start Small
From Brad Pitt in a chicken costume to Whoopi Goldberg as a morgue beautician — these A-listers had some surprising gigs before hitting it big.
10 Stars Who Hustled Before Hollywood
These celebrities prove that every success story has humble beginnings.
Cardi B
Supermarket Cashier
Worked as a cashier and reportedly got fired for giving too many discounts.
Madonna
Dunkin' Donuts Employee
Was let go for having a little too much fun with the jelly-squirting machine.
Christopher Walken
Lion Tamer
Actually worked as a lion tamer in a circus early in life — yes, really.
Jennifer Aniston
Telemarketer
Tried her hand at selling timeshares over the phone — and didn't stick with it long.
Whoopi Goldberg
Morgue Beautician
Applied makeup to the deceased for funerals before her entertainment career.
Sydney Sweeney
Theme Park Tour Guide
Guided tours at Universal Studios before achieving acting fame.
Tiffany Haddish
Airport Ground Operations
Handled luggage and logistics at an airline before comedy stardom.
Meghan Markle
Professional Calligrapher
Hand-lettered invitations and envelopes before her acting career took off.
Sandra Bullock
Café Owner
Owns and operates Walton's Fancy & Staple, a café and market in Austin, Texas.
What's Your Side Hustle Story?
These celebrities didn't let their humble beginnings define them — they used their side hustles as stepping stones to greatness. Brad Pitt in a chicken suit, Cardi B scanning groceries, Madonna squirting jelly — they all started somewhere.
The difference between them and millions of others? They took action.