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Some career changes involve starting over at the bottom. These people had already made it surprisingly far before deciding one successful career apparently wasn’t enough. A future sitcom star practiced medicine, a lifestyle icon worked on Wall Street, and one of television’s most recognizable cooks once spent her days working with nuclear policy. Others simply became so famous for their second act that it’s easy to forget the impressive career that came first. A few even managed a third one for good measure. Whether they switched industries completely or turned an existing talent into something much bigger, these famous names prove that becoming successful doesn’t always mean sticking with the thing that got you there.
Martha Stewart Was a Stockbroker
Long before cookbooks, television shows, and an entire lifestyle empire carried her name, Martha Stewart worked on Wall Street as a stockbroker. She spent several years in finance before eventually moving into catering and beginning the career that made her a household name.
Ken Jeong Was a Doctor
Ken Jeong wasn’t merely studying medicine while dreaming about Hollywood. He earned his medical degree, completed his residency, and worked as a physician specializing in internal medicine while pursuing comedy on the side. Eventually, comedy became the full-time job.
Vera Wang Was a Vogue Editor
Before brides dreamed of wearing a Vera Wang gown, Wang had already built an impressive fashion career. She spent years at Vogue, becoming one of the magazine’s youngest fashion editors, before moving to Ralph Lauren and eventually launching her own label.
Julia Child Worked for U.S. Intelligence
Before Julia Child became synonymous with French cooking, she served with the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Her work eventually took her overseas to Ceylon and China, where she held significant administrative responsibilities within the organization.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Was a Bodybuilding Superstar
Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t need Hollywood to make him famous. He was already one of the biggest names in bodybuilding, winning Mr. Olympia repeatedly before movies turned him into an international action star. Later, he added governor of California to an already unusual résumé.
Mayim Bialik Became a Neuroscientist
Mayim Bialik had already starred in Blossom before stepping away from acting to focus on academics. She eventually earned a doctorate in neuroscience from UCLA, then returned to television and found another hugely successful role on The Big Bang Theory.
Ina Garten Worked at the White House
Before Barefoot Contessa made Ina Garten a Food Network favorite, her career looked very different. She worked in the White House Office of Management and Budget on nuclear energy policy before leaving government work and buying the specialty food store that changed everything.
Dwayne Johnson Was a Wrestling Superstar
Dwayne Johnson had already reached the top of one entertainment industry before becoming a movie star. As The Rock, he became one of professional wrestling’s biggest attractions. Hollywood eventually turned that already famous wrestler into an entirely different kind of global celebrity.
Queen Latifah Was a Grammy-Winning Rapper
Anyone who primarily knows Queen Latifah from movies and television might forget that music came first. She established herself as a major hip-hop artist and won a Grammy before building an acting career that brought roles in everything from Chicago to sitcoms and dramas.
Terry Crews Played in the NFL
Before comedy and action roles made Terry Crews instantly recognizable, football was his profession. He spent several years in the NFL with multiple teams before retiring from the sport and pursuing entertainment, where his second career ultimately eclipsed the first.
Ronald Reagan Was a Hollywood Star
Long before Ronald Reagan entered the White House, audiences knew him from Hollywood. He appeared in dozens of movies, worked in television, and served as president of the Screen Actors Guild before politics eventually became his second major public career.
George Foreman Was a Boxing Champion
Depending on your age, George Foreman might bring to mind either heavyweight boxing or a countertop grill. The boxing came first. Foreman was an Olympic gold medalist and heavyweight champion long before his enormously successful grill endorsement introduced him to a completely different audience.
Jessica Alba Became an Entrepreneur
Jessica Alba was already an established Hollywood star when she co-founded The Honest Company in 2011. Rather than simply attaching her name to a product, she became closely involved in building a consumer goods business that gave her an entirely separate reputation as an entrepreneur.
Alton Brown Worked Behind the Camera
Before Good Eats put Alton Brown in front of the camera, he was working behind one. Brown began his career in film and television production and worked as a cinematographer on music videos, including R.E.M.’s “The One I Love,” before eventually attending culinary school and reinventing himself.
Gordon Ramsay Was a Top Chef Before Reality TV
The shouting and reality shows made Gordon Ramsay recognizable far beyond the restaurant world, but television wasn’t responsible for his original success. Ramsay had already established himself as an elite chef and restaurateur, with his flagship Restaurant Gordon Ramsay earning three Michelin stars.
The post 15 Famous People Who Were Already Successful Before Becoming Famous for Something Else appeared first on Den of Geek.
