• Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty News
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
  • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love & Sex
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle News
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your legacy
  • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence

Follow Us

Skip to content
  • Essence Studios
  • Girls United
  • NaturallyCurly
  • Shop Essence
  • Celebrity
    • Celebrity
    • Celebrity News
    • ‘Yes, Girl!’ Podcast
    • Entertainment
    • Black Women in Music
    • Black Celeb Couples
    • Celebrity Moms
    • Red Carpet
  • Fashion
    • Fashion
    • Fashion News
    • Street Style
    • Accessories
    • Fashion House
    • Fashion Week
  • Beauty
    • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Makeup
    • Color Files Podcast
    • Nails
    • How-To
    • AVEENO® Skin Health Startup Accelerator
    • Beauty Carnival-Archive
    • Dope Stuff On My Desk
    • Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities
    • Beauty News
  • Hair
    • Hair
    • Hair News
    • Natural
    • Relaxed
    • Transitioning
    • Weaves
    • 4C
    • Spring Hair And Beauty
  • Love
    • Love
    • Love & Sex News
    • The Solve Podcast
    • Weddings
    • Parenting
    • Relationships
  • Lifestyle
    • Lifestyle
    • Coronavirus: Everything You Need to Know
    • Health & Wellness
    • Lifestyle News
    • Holiday Gift Guide 2020
    • Netflix’s Jingle Jangle Gift Guide
    • Unbossed Podcast
    • ESSENCE Eats
    • Money & Career
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Black Travel Guide
    • Currency Conversations
    • Your Legacy
  • News
    • News
    • BLACK VOTES MATTER
    • Essence 50th Anniversary
    • Latest News
    • Raise Your Voice
    • Culture
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Events
    • Events
    • WELLNESS HOUSE: YEAR OF RENEWAL
    • LEVEL UP: Entrepreneur Summit (DEC 2020)
    • Power Tools
    • SHE GOT NOW
    • Girls United Summit
    • Making Moves Now: Virtual Bootcamp
    • #EF SESSIONS
    • Dear Black Men
    • Cares Act
    • News & Announcements
  • Festival
  • Subscribe
Home · Celebrity

8 Celebs Who Were Once On Welfare

Many of our favorite stars had humble beginnings but they've turned their struggles into the most inspiring success stories.

By Jolie A. Doggett and Taylor Lewi · April 8, 2015October 27, 2020
01
Viola Davis

Viola Davis has been very outspoken about her childhood growing up in poverty. But she went from to searching in dumpsters for food to teaching us How To Get Away With Murder on Thursday nights.

Today, she’s helping to make sure no other child will have to go hungry through her charitable endeavors. 

Getty Images
02
Dr. Ben Carson

These days, you can find Dr. Ben Carson sharing his conservative ideals about government subsidies but there was once a time when even he needed some help.

“By the time I reached ninth grade, mother had made such strides that she received nothing but food stamps,” Carson wrote in his book. “She couldn’t have provided for us and kept up the house without that subsidy.”

Those subsidies didn’t kill his spirit. Dr. Carson went from welfare to one of the most famous surgeons in history, encouraging generations for Black intellectuals.

Getty Images
03
Taraji P. Henson

After the tragic death of her husband, Taraji P. Henson only had $900 to her name and relied on welfare to support her son.

These days, her illustrious acting career supports her and her son as she inspires the dreams of Black women worldwide.

Getty Images
04
Oprah Winfrey

Success stories don’t get better than Oprah. She grew up in the rural South, then moved to Milwaukee where her mother worked as a maid and needed welfare to support the family. 

Today we know Oprah is one of the most wealthy and influential women in the world who’s constantly working to improve the lives of people all over the globe.

Getty Images
05
Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi shared on The View that she is a former welfare mother but that doesn’t make her a feel a bit of shame.

“I don’t feel bad about being a welfare mother because I contribute as an American,”she said.

Since her welfare days, Whoopi has been living something like the American Dream: staying true to herself, making generations laugh with her comedy and even being nominated for an Oscar. 

Getty Images
06
Iyanla Vanzant

The ultimate life-fixer has lived a tough life of her own. She grew up in a home of poverty, welfare and sexual abuse. 

But Iyanla didn’t let that hold her back. She channeled an inner strength to rise above her circumstances. Now, she’s sharing that motivation with the world and redefining the life coaching industry. Keep going, girl!

Getty Images
07
Stanley Ann Dunham

Barack Obama’s mother battled poverty in her early life and cancer in her later life. But Stanley Ann Dunham’s resilience helped inspire her son to work hard, dream big and become the 44th President of the United States. 

AP Photo/Obama Presidential
08
Rep. Barbara Lee

Rep. Barbara Lee wants to make sure no one else has to live a life of poverty like she did. Drawing on her own experiences living on welfare and food stamps, the congresswoman now serves on the government’s task force to end poverty and create jobs in America.

Getty Images

Read More

Travel
10 Caribbean Resorts That Will Offer COVID-19 Testing In Res...
Op-Ed
Is America’s Racist Nightmare Over?
Entertainment
Chloe X Halle Talk 'Grown-Ish' Relationships And The Best Le...
Entertainment
The 11 Most Anticipated Films Of 2021
Op-Ed
Biden Should Add 'The CAREN Act' to His List of Executive Ac...
COMPANY INFORMATION
  • Our Company
  • Customer Service
  • Essence Ventures
  • Change Your Address
  • Contact Us
  • Job Opportunities
  • Internships
  • Media Kit
  • tag
SUBSCRIBE
  • Newsletters
  • Give a Gift of ESSENCE
  • Magazine Tablet Edition
FOLLOW US
MORE ON ESSENCE
  • Home
  • Love
  • Celebrity
  • Beauty
  • Hair
  • Fashion
  • ESSENCE festival

ESSENCE.com is part of ESSENCE Communications, Inc.

Essence may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2021 ESSENCE Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms

Get The ESSENCE Newsletter and
Special Offers delivered to your inbox

By clicking Sign Up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Get The ESSENCE Magazine
by subscribing below
subscribe now