Dell

The computer company started with $1,000 and a dorm room. Its headquarters was in the Michael Dell’s University of Texas student living until he decided to drop out to run the company full time. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

eBay

EBay headquarters in San Jose. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Garage Where Google Was Founded

Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin rented this garage Menlo Park for $1,700 a month to set up Google in. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

JK Rowling

Before she became the world’s wealthiest novelist, Harry Potter author JK Rowling was raising her daughter on welfare. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Mattel

Barbie’s manufacturer started as a picture frame company in Ruth Handler’s garage. (David McNew/Getty Images)

Nordstrom

The clothing giant started as one West Coast shoe store, started on Swedish immigrant’s minor fortune of $13,000, which he earned in the Alaskan gold mines. (CBS)

Richard Desmond

The UK publishing power player dropped out of school when he learned he could make more money working at a club. (Thos Robinson/Getty Images)

Starbucks

The mega-chain began in 1971 as one store in downtown Seattle. Three friends invested $1350 each of their own money. Imagine that return! (Getty Images)

Whole Foods

Way back when, Whole Foods was one lonely store in 1980, and also home sweet home to owners John Mackey and Rene Lawson. They even used the dishwasher as a shower. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

William Wrigley Jr.

William Wrigley, Jr. immigrated to America in 1891 with $32 to his name. His company took off when he started giving gum as an extra when customers bought his baking powder. On the left is William Wrigley Jr. II, current chairman and Wrigley's great grandson. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)