How self-made millionaires turned $100 into fortunes? The journey from a modest investment to a million-dollar fortune is a tale of ambition, strategic thinking, and often a touch of entrepreneurial genius. Many self-made millionaires started with humble beginnings, using minimal capital to create a financial empire. Here are some inspiring stories of how some famous entrepreneurs turned an initial investment of $100 into a million or even a billion dollars.

These success stories underscore the transformative power of strategic thinking, innovation, and determination. While the path to turning $100 into a million dollars is not without challenges, the journeys of these self-made millionaires demonstrate that with a combination of vision, hard work, and a willingness to take calculated risks, significant financial success is achievable.

How self-made millionaires turned $100 into fortunes

Mark Cuban: “Find out what you’re really good at.”

Before becoming a renowned entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban started his career by seizing opportunities. In his early twenties, he bought a bar, and later, a software company. Cuban’s knack for identifying trends and taking calculated risks led him to turn a $2,000 investment into a multimillion-dollar sale of his first company, MicroSolutions.

Sara Blakely: “Start with the ‘Why?’”

Sara Blakely revolutionized the undergarment industry by creating Spanx, a brand now synonymous with shapewear. With a $5,000 initial investment, Blakely turned her innovative idea into a global empire. Today, she is recognized as one of the youngest self-made female billionaires.

Elon Musk: “Create products and services that people want, and make their lives better. That’s it.”

From co-founding PayPal to leading SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk is a force in multiple industries. His journey began when he invested $100,000 (a portion from his sale of PayPal) into SpaceX, aiming to reduce the cost of space exploration. Musk’s calculated risks and futuristic vision have propelled him into the ranks of the wealthiest individuals globally.

Cathy Hughes: “Not to let anyone convince you that your dream … is something that you shouldn’t do.”

Cathy Hughes, the founder of Radio One (now Urban One), started her media empire with a small radio station in Washington, D.C. In 1980, she used her last $10,000 to purchase the station, and through strategic growth and acquisitions, turned it into the largest African-American-owned broadcasting company in the United States.

Gary Vaynerchuk: “Buy and sell items from garage sales.”

Gary Vaynerchuk, a serial entrepreneur and social media personality, transformed his family’s wine business into a million-dollar online empire. With an early understanding of the potential of e-commerce and digital marketing, Vaynerchuk leveraged his $100 investment into multiple successful ventures, including VaynerMedia.

Brian Chesky: “Don’t be afraid to fail. Be afraid not to try.”

Brian Chesky is the co-founder and CEO of Airbnb, a platform that has disrupted the hospitality industry. Under his leadership, Airbnb has become a global phenomenon, contributing to Chesky’s success.

Richard Branson: “Start small but think big.”

Founder of the Virgin Group, Richard Branson has ventured into various industries, including music, airlines, and space travel. His entrepreneurial spirit and diverse business portfolio have made him a well-known figure in business. His first business venture, at the age of 16, was a magazine called “Student.”

Bryce Welker: “Write an e-book.”

Bryce Welker, CEO of online education company Crush Empire and founder of Crush the CPA Exam. After graduating from San Diego State University with an accounting degree, Bryce went on to earn his CPA license before dropping out of corporate America. He moved to Thailand to bootstrap his company with no outside funding and has shared his expertise in accounting.

Bethenny Frankel: “Invest in something you love.”

Bethenny Frankel is the founder of Skinnygirl, cast member of “The Real Housewives of New York City,” New York Times best-selling author and guest judge on “Shark Tank.” She started a baking business called “BethennyBakes” in 2003, focusing on “healthy” cookies and meal delivery in New York City, which was featured on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, a reality competition series, in 2005.

Jack Ma: “Never be afraid.”

As the co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group, Jack Ma played a key role in establishing one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms. His success has made him a prominent figure in the tech and business world. His first company provided English translation and interpretation. On a trip to the US, Ma had his first encounter with the Internet and saw the lack of Chinese Web sites as a great business opportunity.

Mark Zuckerberg: “Building a mission and building a business go hand-in-hand.”

Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder and CEO of Facebook (now Meta), has played a pivotal role in shaping social media. His leadership has propelled him to become one of the youngest and wealthiest entrepreneurs globally.

Jeff Bezos: “Focus on the customer”

Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon, transforming it from an online bookstore into one of the world’s largest e-commerce and technology companies. His success has made him one of the richest individuals in the world. In 1994, Jeff Bezos quit his job at an investment bank and opened a virtual bookstore. Working out of his garage with a handful of employees, Bezos began developing the software for the site, which he called Amazon.com.

Grant Cardone: “Improve and invest in yourself.”

Grant Cardone, sales expert who built a $750 million real estate empire and New York Times best-selling author. He made his first million dollars by the age of 30 by investing in real estate and building a highly successful sales consulting company.

Dan Lok: “Learn a high-income skill.”

Dan Lok, global educator, best-selling author of “Unlock It!” and founder of Closers.com. Lok invested the profits from his online business into real estate and became a millionaire at age 27. “I started an advertising agency in my early 20’s doing copywriting for people.”

Torben Platzer: “Build a personal brand.”

Torben Platzer, founder and CEO of personal branding agency TPA Media GmbH, founder of business education program SELFMADE and host of the German podcast “SELFMADE.” “I started my first business selling dietary supplements.”

Rudy Mawer: “Launch a coaching business.”

Rudy Mawer, who built a multimillion-dollar business by age 26, is the founder and CEO of ROI Machines and RudyMawer.com, Facebook marketing and ad expert. Mawer was one of the first Americans to see the opportunity of Facebook ads. Mawer learned marketing, without a mentor, from the age of 12, buying and selling on eBay and then building his first website at 14.

You can draw inspiration from these stories, understanding that every great venture often begins with a single, albeit small, step.