Ten Surprising Ex-Jobs of Famous Business Leaders and Celebs

Everybody, no matter how famous and successful, has to start somewhere, and many actors, pundits, rock stars and CEOs landed their first paying jobs at the same kinds of places you probably did -- department stores, ice-cream parlors, restaurants…even psychiatric wards, according to websites such as CareerBuilder.com and Howstuffworks.com. These experiences often are remembered as positive ones, from which lessons were learned that sparked future success. CDW Computer Centers founder Michael Krasny, for example, recalls that clearing scrap wood from a house being built next door to his own provided early insights into the power of entrepreneurship and talent management. "I got a few kids on the block to help me," he tells CareerBuilder. "When we were done, I took them (out) ... for ice cream. I learned you can't do it all yourself. You need to have a team around you." So if you’re currently working in, say, retail to make ends meet while pursuing a meatier gig, take heart in these real-life examples.