16 Famous People Who Were Once Fired for Being "Unfit for the Job" (15 Photos)

Iconic figures weren't always so successful, and here are 16 prime examples to prove it. Today, the subjects of our article are household names around the globe, but they were once kicked to the curb for allegedly lacking what it takes.





J.K. Rowling



J.K. Rowling was once a secretary at Amnesty International's London office, but she was fired for secretly working on a book during work hours. As you might have guessed, that manuscript was about a boy wizard—the very story that later catapulted her to global fame.

Steve Jobs





Steve Jobs was famously ousted from his own company at the age of 30. Far from defeating him, this setback proved to be a major catalyst for his growth. During his time away, Jobs founded the computer company NeXT and animation powerhouse Pixar. When he returned to Apple a decade later, he brought the groundbreaking ideas that defined his legacy—including the iPod, iPhone, and iPad.

Thomas Edison



Famed inventor Thomas Edison used to work at Western Union, where he spent his downtime conducting physics and chemistry experiments right at his desk. One night, an experiment went awry when he spilled acid onto the floor, burning right through to his boss's office below. Edison lost his steady paycheck on the spot, but the firing pushed him to pursue his true calling in science.

Oprah Winfrey



During her early days as a news anchor, Oprah Winfrey was repeatedly reprimanded for getting too emotionally invested in her stories. It got to the point where producers felt compelled to replace her, demoting Oprah to a low-profile daytime talk show—the very format that would soon launch her to superstardom.

Michael Bloomberg



As a young man, Michael Bloomberg (pictured left) was let go from an investment bank. Instead of giving up, he used his severance payout to launch his own financial services firm. Had he not been fired, he might never have become one of the wealthiest people in the world and the 108th mayor of New York City.

Elvis Presley



To land a job at a precision tool company, a young Elvis Presley lied to his employer about his age. The lie was quickly exposed, and the young man lost his job. Out of options, Elvis turned to performing on stage for extra cash. And as they say, the rest is history.

Mickey Rourke



In his youth, Mickey Rourke was known for his hot temper. While working as a movie theater usher, the future actor got into a heated argument with a coworker. The fight got him fired from what was then considered a decent gig, forcing Mickey to look for a new career path.

Madonna



Madonna once seriously tried to make a living working at a Dunkin' Donuts in New York City. Things were going reasonably well until she lost her temper and squirted jelly filling all over a rude customer. Naturally, she was fired on the spot.

Walt Disney



In 1919, a Kansas City newspaper editor fired a young Walt Disney, claiming the aspiring artist "lacked imagination and had no good ideas." Disney went on to set up his own animation studio in Kansas City, Laugh-O-Gram, but it soon went bankrupt. Undeterred, he packed his bags for Hollywood and co-founded what would become The Walt Disney Company.

Ringo Starr



Before joining The Beatles, famous British drummer Ringo Starr worked as a bartender on a day-trip boat. During one wild, drunken night on board, Ringo let his mouth run wild and gave his boss a piece of his mind, getting himself fired instantly.

Dustin Hoffman



As a young man, Dustin Hoffman worked as a cashier at Ridley’s restaurant in New York, but was fired due to his insatiable appetite. Hoffman could easily polish off six house steaks in a single sitting. Unsurprisingly, management eventually noticed the missing inventory.

Harland David Sanders



Harland David Sanders, whose face now adorns the KFC logo, spent ten years trying to sell his secret chicken recipe to restaurants without success. It wasn't until 1964 that a group of Kentucky investors finally agreed to buy his franchise rights. Sanders walked away with $2 million and went on to achieve global fame.

Marilyn Monroe



Marilyn Monroe's first contract with Columbia Pictures was dropped by producers who claimed she wasn't attractive or talented enough to be an actress. Refusing to give up, the future star kept pushing forward in showbiz until she became one of the most iconic figures in American cinema and pop culture.

Harrison Ford



After Harrison Ford's very first bit part in a movie, producers told him he was a "terrible actor" who would never make it in the business. Today, Ford ranks among the highest-grossing actors of all time, and his starring role in *Star Wars* cemented his place in cinematic history.