Researching successful former foster children

October 19, 2011 10:54 AM

Can you name any very successful businesspeople who were once in foster care?

So far all I am coming up with are famous athletes and actors, but no businessmen/CEOs etc. I've checked Wikipedia and sites like http://www.fosterclub.com/famous/ but I am hoping the hive mind has so other leads. Thanks in advance.

posted by chelseagirl to Society & Culture (14 answers total)

John Paul DeJoria, multi-billionaire founder of Paul Mitchell.
posted by Perplexity at 10:58 AM on October 19, 2011

Tom Monaghan, who founded Domino's Pizza, was placed in an orphanage for several years of his childhood before his mother was able to care for him again.
posted by Tylwyth Teg at 11:01 AM on October 19, 2011

Steve Jobs
posted by jbickers at 11:03 AM on October 19, 2011 [2 favorites]

Buck Brannaman, the original Horse Whisperer, spent a number of years in foster care. His website.
posted by argonauta at 11:04 AM on October 19, 2011

Where are you getting that Steve Jobs was in foster care? From what I know (including that link, although it is on a foster care related site) he was adopted by his parents from his birth mother soon after he was born.
posted by crabintheocean at 11:14 AM on October 19, 2011

If you're accepting adoptees, there's Dave Thomas, founder of the Wendy's chain. Adopted at 6 weeks, adoptive mother died when he was 5 years old, bounced around a bit before landing with his grandmother at age 12.
posted by easily confused at 11:25 AM on October 19, 2011 [1 favorite]

Bill Graham.
posted by wens at 11:56 AM on October 19, 2011

Vidal Sassoon
posted by roofus at 12:57 PM on October 19, 2011

Jeff Bezos was never in foster care, but he was raised by his biological mother and adoptive father (who himself had been in foster care). He also has adopted kids and is famous for supporting adoption-related charities.
posted by miyabo at 1:25 PM on October 19, 2011

Ralph de la Vega is the president and CEO of AT&T Mobility. He immigrated here as a child but his parents were not able to get into the country, so he lived with another family until they were able to get in. I believe he talks about it in his book.
posted by soelo at 3:14 PM on October 19, 2011

Do children's homes count? Fashion designer Bruce Oldfield was brought up by Barnardo's.
posted by ComfySofa at 11:28 AM on October 20, 2011

Response by poster: Children's homes and orphanages definitely count (for these purposes). Being adopted as an infant doesn't. Thanks everyone!
posted by chelseagirl at 6:53 PM on October 20, 2011

Neil Morrissey - mostly residential care I think.
posted by paduasoy at 2:26 PM on January 1, 2012

(Morrissey is in business as well as an actor.)
posted by paduasoy at 2:27 PM on January 1, 2012