The Previous Jobs of Celebrities

Most celebrities are famous for the work that they do. Everyone knows Lionel Messi for being a footballer, Billy Joel for being a musician, and Leonardo DiCaprio for his acting work. But you may not realise that many celebrities had other careers before they made it into the limelight. 

This is because it can often take a lot of time to get your big break. Many actors start out auditioning for very minor roles, so have to take other jobs before they secure more lucrative parts in television shows and films. 

Other times, these celebrities just decide to change their career from something ordinary to something that thrusts them onto our TV, computer, and phone screens. 

Often, we are completely unaware of the past lives of celebrities, even if they spend many years doing these “normal” things before they become household names. Here are some of those famous people that had other careers. 

Madonna

Madonna is one of few people that are so famous that they don’t have to use a surname. She’s up there with Sting, Cher, Prince, Bono, Beyoncé, and Oprah, with her legendary status. 

At 63, she enjoyed a 43-year career, having begun performing back in 1979. In that time, she earned the unofficial title as the “Queen of Pop” thanks to her discography of legendary albums that includes Like a Virgin, Like a Prayer, and True Blue. On top of that, Madonna has had an impressive film career, starring in 17 movies and directing two more. 

But Madonna had several jobs before breaking her way into show business. After dropping out of college and moving to New York City, she got a job at Dunkin' Donuts. She also spent a brief time working as a coat-check girl at the famous Russian Tea Room restaurant in Manhattan. 

She was always trying to get into the arts though and began taking jobs as a backing dancer before eventually making it big. 

Jennifer Shahade

Jennifer Shahade is a professional poker player and the host of a poker-themed Podcast called The Grid in which she systematically reviews every possible hand in Texas hold’em while also talking to guests about their careers in the sport. 

But poker isn’t Shahade’s first sporting career. She first saw success in chess, following in the footsteps of her father and brother, who are both chess Masters. She went one step further though, earning the title of FIDE Woman Grandmaster. 

After winning the U.S. Women’s Chess Championship twice she began writing books about chess aimed at inspiring more women into the sport. Her first two were titled Chess Bitch and Play Like a Girl, both of which had provocative titles aimed at challenging common stereotypes.

Jon Bon Jovi

While he might not get to just use his first name, he is often (incorrectly) just referred to as Bon Jovi, though this is actually the name of his band. Having started in the music industry back in 1975, he’s been at it even longer than Madonna. In that time, the Bon Jovi band has released 15 studio album while Jon has also made two himself. 

This long discography includes 7800° Fahrenheit, Slippery When Wet, and What About Now. 

He’s also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and received several other accolades, including being described as the “sexiest rock star” by People magazine back in 2000. 

Although Jon Bon Jovi had always been interested in music and had formed several bands before starting Bon Jovi, he also worked as a janitor. His cousin had a recording studio known as the Power Station, and Jon took a job cleaning it. 

It was through this janitorial role that he got the opportunity to make his first professional recording. Titled R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas, it was released under his official name John Bongiovi, rather than the stage name that he later settled on. The song was part of the Christmas in the Stars: The Star Wars Christmas Album that was released in November 1980.