Developing good budgeting and money management skills is crucial, and those who master them at a young age tend to continue practicing sound financial habits into adulthood, even if their financial means expand.
Here are 16 notable celebrities who came from humble beginnings and continue to be frugal with their finances to this day:
1. IN THOSE DAYS: Shania Twain was one of five siblings and would often go to school without eating breakfast, describing on “Nightline” how it made focus a challenge when one’s stomach was growling.
She was jealous of the food her classmates had for lunch and was too ashamed to ask for assistance. She admitted, “I would never have been bold enough to ask for help and request something like, ‘You know, I’m hungry, can I have that apple that you don’t plan on eating?’ It took a lot of courage for me to consider that.”
As part of a letter to herself, her 26-year-old self received the advice, “Be frugal, save for a rainy day,” according to an article in Refinery29.
At 26, I was constantly worried about where my next paycheck was coming from, and that meant making my clothes last as long as humanly possible. I had to think outside the box when it came to extending the life of my clothes, so I’d repurpose old items, use clothes from different size ranges, and even try out some DIY projects like altering my jeans or DIY embroidery. It was a great way for me to express my individuality through fashion.
Cardi B was quoted by Global Grind as saying, “I come from a family with real good values; they work at lower-paying jobs.”
She emphasized, “They’re truly exceptional individuals, but my bad upbringing had a significant impact on me.”
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Image Credits: Getty Images for the Met Museum/Vogue
Currently, according to what she shared with Sway’s Universe, she said, “I’m actually very frugal, and it doesn’t bother me. You might notice me wearing jewelry sometimes, but that’s because I’m always checking my bank account.”
I’d rather travel in luxury, I’m happy in Delta’s first class. A $30,000 or $20,000 seat for my ears to pop is unnecessary.
Eva Longoria shared with BuzzFeed News, “We lived in poverty when I was young, and I grew up at the Boys & Girls Club, and in my community, I helped at the Salvation Army with coats for the winter, and volunteered at soup kitchens on Thanksgiving, which was just the way life was for me.”
She continued, “You know, my family’s very giving. We’ve been helped out a lot by our community, and my mom always said, ‘Now it’s our turn to help out.’ And the way we do that is by volunteering and making sure we’re paying it forward.”
At the peak of her fame, she made smart financial decisions over pursuing a luxurious life. According to her, “I was putting the money from my [‘Desperate Housewives’] pilot aside because I doubted the show would be picked up. Although the pilot was excellent, I was already on the lookout for my next project.”
The magazine stated, “I’ll just wear this one, I’ve got a knit gold dress that feels perfect. Nobody would even notice it’s a $40 dress.”
4. He grew up moving around from relative to relative because his parents, who were 18 and 20 years old when he was born, were too young to take care of him. In an interview, he said, “The truth of the matter is, I realized at a young age that I was on my own. Given my childhood, I had a strong drive to earn money and achieve financial stability in life.”
He also said, “No matter where you put me, naked and nameless, I’d still manage to get by. I’m confident that even without any of the privileges I’ve enjoyed – the wealth, the recognition, all the goods that I’ve accumulated – I’d still be able to take care of myself because essentially, that’s a skill I’ve had to develop throughout my life.”
Now, he says, “When I first achieved financial success, I was very cautious with my money. This kind of conservative behavior stemmed from my upbringing.”
I just didn’t want to put myself in a position where my spending would be so high that I’d feel pressured to keep making movies to cover the costs.
5. THEN: Jessica Alba told Glamour UK, “I grew up in a state of constant struggle. As far back as I can remember, it was a daily fight to make ends meet. My parents were always living on the financial edge, and the thought of tomorrow being uncertain was a harsh reality. That mindset has always driven me to work hard and stay one step ahead to make a better life for myself.”
She went on to say, “Because nobody expected me to succeed, I couldn’t possibly fail, right? No one had huge expectations placed on me – like ‘You’re going to be…’. They just gave me a life – and I thought, ‘This is a really tough life. I don’t want to be stuck in a constant struggle all the time.'”
Currently, she, as a parent, teaches her three kids about saving money and living sustainably. She mentioned to SheKnows, “Honor gets clothes passed down from new generations, and then they go to Haven instead of buying brand-new stuff all the time. Even Hayes received some of Honor and Haven’s old clothes.”
We often share and swap things with each other, like clothes and household items, to avoid letting them go to waste.
6. THEN: Cameron Diaz said to Stella magazine, “I had incredible parents; they were really great. We weren’t wealthy – actually, we were quite the opposite. My family would gather cans to recycle for extra cash, because$20 was a significant amount to us.”
She said, “But in the end, we were truly happy.”
Diaz explained in an interview with Stella magazine, “I come from a family that’s very humble, so the thought of spending carelessly is just not in my nature.”
She emphasized, “I prioritize spending time and experiencing life with those I care about, so I splurge on flights, hosting lavish gatherings, stocking up on groceries to cook together, or treating them to a fine dining experience, all without worrying about incurring a hefty bill.”
Jessica Chastain’s childhood was marked by hard work and financial struggles, reportedly telling the Irish Times, ‘I grew up in a household where my mother, working tirelessly to make ends meet, often left us struggling to afford groceries, and there were nights we’d go to bed hungry. My upbringing was extremely challenging.’
She stated, “My upbringing wasn’t simple for me … Because of my mother, I always take into account how something might be for someone else. I don’t focus much on myself; I’m more interested in others.”
Lately, she revealed to Marie Claire, “To be honest, I was really worried about how I was going to make ends meet after graduation. However, as soon as I finished school, I’ve always managed to rely on my acting work to support myself, and I’ve been able to stretch my earnings a long way. I appreciate the value of hard-earned money and try not to make irresponsible purchases.”
Chastain added, “It’s been about three years since I bought a new laptop after thoroughly considering the purchase for a month beforehand. Since then, my daily life hasn’t undergone any significant changes, except for one major exception: I no longer worry about making rent payments.”
Mila Kunis moved to the US from Ukraine with her parents when she was 7 years old. In an interview with Cover Mag, she mentioned, “When we came to this country, we had virtually nothing, and thus, any level of success means a lot to us.” Her parents never encouraged her to become an actress because they viewed it as an occupation with a lot of uncertainty and unpredictability.
As an immigrant, worrying about maintaining a stable job and a steady income is understandable when you’ve had to work so hard just to make ends meet.
On the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast, she said, “As an immigrant, I believe my experiences give me a new perspective on what a dollar is worth and the importance of hard work… I’m a big fan of Groupon, I often use it when dining.”
Winona Ryder also shared that she has a significant amount of financial anxiety before marrying Kiefer Sutherland, who helped her manage that anxiety.
O’Brien recalled: “She was always fearing the worst, constantly worried they wouldn’t have enough to cover their expenses – to the point that it took forever for her to finally get on board with big-ticket purchases, like buying a house. He’d reassure her, “Don’t worry, we can definitely afford this.”
9. THEN: According to Beatles historian Bob Spitz, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison all struggled financially during their childhood.
John Lennon was the only member of the Beatles who came from a “truly middle-class” background.
Now, Stella McCartney’s father taught his children the importance of saving money and appreciating what they have. In an interview with Net-a-Porter, she explained, “Growing up in our household was quite unique in that we didn’t shop every other day. Although I didn’t have a lot of money as a child, my parents were resourceful and I learned to prioritize, attending a comprehensive school and often shopping at thrift stores and flea markets for clothing.”
That’s the direction I think fashion is headed,” she said. “I genuinely believe kids should consider renting clothes and buying secondhand items because it’s far more appealing and desirable.
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10. At the age of 13, Tiffany Haddish went into foster care. Two years after that, she and her siblings went to live with their grandparents, but they stayed in the foster system because the financial assistance helped their family with expenses. Eventually, after becoming independent, she experienced homelessness on three separate occasions.
I believe that was a lesson being presented to me by a higher power, and I wasn’t receptive the first two instances.
Currently, she is focused on supporting her family and building a nest egg for her upcoming retirement. When speaking with Insider, she shared, “I’m aiming to establish financial stability so that by the time I’m 55 or 60, I can retire comfortably without feeling the need to continue working. I’m not planning to squander it all in the meantime.”
She added, “My goal is to live past 75. I’m aiming to have a reasonable life savings.”
Dave Grohl grew up in a financially challenged, single-parent home in Virginia. In an interview with the Guardian, he said, “I never needed much, and I never thought I’d have more than what I had.”
He replied, “A trip to Burger King was like a trip to paradise, the ultimate adventure to me.”
He told the Red Bulletin, “Now, all the money I’m making just goes directly into my bank account, where it just sits around, going stagnant and getting a bit unpleasant.”
He said, “I drive a regular family vehicle—the kind that seats five people—nothing too extreme. My house is just the right size.”
As a child actor, Sarah Michelle Gellar attended a private school in Manhattan on a scholarship, which paid for half of her fees. Recalling the experience, she said, “I recall this one kid having an engraved Tiffany money clip, while I barely had enough money for my bus pass.”
She said, “Being different is something you can’t be at school – it leads to being shunned – I lacked the financial means that many of the students had.”
She told CNBC Make It, “I invested my first ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ paycheck right away. I had gotten wind of actor success stories where folks blow through their earnings quickly. So, I figured if I ever landed a similar situation, I’d make sure to keep tabs on my finances.”
I sure do love using coupons!” I recall thinking as I looked at her like, “Why should I have to pay more.” To me, it just seemed to make sense to use a discount if one was available. Just because someone’s successful doesn’t mean they should be careless with their spending. That’s never sat well with me.
Tyler Perry spent his childhood in a low-income household in New Orleans and was also homeless at some point during that time.
I love when people say you come ‘from humble beginnings’. From what I gather, that phrase often implies you grew up in a situation where not much was available in terms of financial resources or privileges.
The actor Michael Jai White, who appeared in Tyler Perry’s television show “For Better or Worse,” expressed his filmmaking approach to Vlad TV, saying, “I am accustomed to producing movies for minimal financial investment. I largely emulate the approach of Tyler Perry in this regard … Tyler is a prudent person … He minimizes unnecessary expenses.”
He added, saying of Perry, “It’s like, the craft service table could work well in this scene.”
Halle Berry recalled to The Jess Cagle Interview that when she first moved to New York City to pursue her acting career, she went broke in just three months and had to temporarily stay in a homeless shelter. According to her, after she ran out of money, she asked her mother to send her some cash, but was refused. The rejection led to a year-long estrangement between Halle and her mother due to her deep disappointment and frustration with her mother’s response.
She went on to say, “‘If you want to be there, then take charge of it,’ basically, which I had to do. At that time, living on the streets was just something I had to endure until I could take care of myself and land a waitressing job. Once I got that, I was able to move on and get a bartending position, until I figured out that life for myself.”
She recently told the Daily Record, “I’m pretty tight with money. I save a lot because I have concerns about when my journey will come to an end.”
He also mentioned, “I feel incredibly grateful for where I’m at, but one of my biggest anxieties is that I could lose it all. I’m not someone who has a strong desire to have multiple luxury cars and various precious gemstones.”
At the age of 6, actress Hilary Swank and her family moved into a mobile home in a trailer park. Just nine years later, her parents decided to go their separate ways, leaving Hilary and her mother to relocate to Los Angeles, where they were initially forced to live in their vehicle until they were able to secure a more permanent apartment.
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Appearing on “Live With Regis and Kelly” after her first Oscar win, she said, “I am a dedicated coupon clipper. You know, when you unfold the newspaper and see those coupons, it looks incredibly enticing, like actual dollar bills staring you right in the face.”
Swank said, “People who see me shopping with coupons will often comment, ‘Great, you do it that way too – that’s awesome!'”
Sarah Jessica Parker, who was raised in a family with seven other siblings, revealed to the New York Times, “We relied on welfare. Growing up, I realized I was distinct from kids who bought lunch or brought their lunch from home. It was an embarrassing situation. I knew I wasn’t the only one ###
She said, “My childhood was like something straight out of a Charles Dickens novel. I vividly recall being poor and unable to hide it. There were times when our power would go out, and we wouldn’t have electricity. Family holidays like Christmas and birthdays were often sacrificed, and we’d receive frequent visits from bill collectors, or the phone company would warn us that our service would be cut off unless we paid our bill.”
She said in the interview with the Times, “That’s why my situation with money is so unusual. And it’s why I can sometimes be extremely generous and at other times very cautious about spending.”
Parker went on to say, “My friends are really aware of how much I fear financial instability, and they find it comical. In the entertainment industry, actresses have a limited window of opportunity to capitalize on their earning potential, and that window is slowly closing every day. It’s a stark reality that I’m acutely aware of. I also have a clear understanding of my own limitations and what I bring to the table.”
