Top 10 Rejected People Who Became GOATS

Athlete
Stocking grocery shelves after going undrafted, Warner played in arena league obscurity before getting his chance with the NFLs St. Louis Rams. Then showtime. Warner led his team to a Super Bowl win, picked up two MVP awards, and became a Hall of Famer. From bagging groceries to throwing touchdowns, Warner's Cinderella story is one of footballs greatest, with Warner himself widely regarded as the greatest undrafted NFL pick of all time. He didnt just make it he passed every expectation. His story was even adapted into an inspirational, feature-length film in 2021, starring Zachary Levi[a] as Warner.

Theoretical Physicist
Before he was one of the most important scientists who ever lived, Einstein didnt talk until age four, and his teachers called him slow. He failed his entrance exam to a prestigious polytechnic. Early academic employers rejected him. But Einstein kept questioning anything and everything. Eventually, he rewrote the rules of physics with the Theory of Relativity, and became an eternal symbol of genius all after being dismissed as mediocre. He once argued that God does not play dice, so its funny, then, that he so overwhelmingly beat the odds. Einsteins story shows that brilliance isnt always obvious at first, that is.

Entrepreneur
Harland David Sanders was 65, broke, and living out of his car. The colonel knocked on over 1,000 doors trying to sell his now-famous fried chicken recipe, getting turned down nearly every time. But he didnt quit, and eventually, someone said yes. That recipe became Kentucky Fried Chicken, which now boasts thousands of locations globally. Sanders didnt find success until retirement age, proving that its never too late to cook up a dream. Having sold the business in 1964 for a reported $2 million dollars, Sanders is a truly American success story complete with 11 herbs and spices.

Filmmaker
He was broke, rejected by every studio, and even sold his dog for food. But Stallone had a secret weapon: a passion project about a down-on-his-luck boxer who refuses to give up. When producers offered him a lucrative deal for the film rights but didnt want him to star, he refused. Eventually, they caved and the film won an Academy Award for Best Picture. Stallone didnt just launch a franchise, he became a cultural icon in the process. From underdog to A-lister, his story mirrored Rocky Balboas: down but not out for the count, knocking out the critic and haters.

Storyteller
Before the Magic Kingdom, Disney got fired from a newspaper job for lacking imagination. Studios thought Mickey Mouse would scare children. His first company went bankrupt. A persistent rumor claims that he even attempted to, at one point, take his own life. But Walt Disney kept dreaming, drawing, and above all, doing. He pioneered synchronized sound, color animation, and theme parks. Today, his name defines not just family entertainment, but entertainment, period. Turns out, he had more imagination than anyone, laying the foundation to what would ultimately become the most valuable, respected and admired media company in the world.

Entrepreneur
The cofounder of the Alibaba Group failed his college entrance exam not once, but twice. He then got rejected from 30 jobs, including one at KFC. Said Ma, Twenty-four people went for the job. Twenty-three were accepted. I was the only guy [rejected]. Even Harvard said no ten times. But Ma kept going. He launched Alibaba from his apartment, with no tech background and no funding, raising money from friends and family. Today, its one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world. Considering the fact that he started off as a penniless English teacher, this businessman is living proof that persistence beats pedigree.

Media Mogul
In the 21st century, Oprah is practically synonymous with the small screen. But would it surprise you to learn she was initially told she was unfit for television, and fired from her Baltimore news job? Some said she was too emotional. Others said shed never succeed in the media, let alone on air. But Winfrey turned vulnerability into strength, and uniqueness into appeal connecting with audiences on a personal level in a way that no one else had done before. The Oprah Winfrey Show ran for 25 years, making her one of the most influential women in history. She didnt stop there, going on to establish a billion-dollar empire of books, films and philanthropy.

Author
Before Hogwarts, J.K. Rowling was a single mother living on welfare, rejected by a dozen publishers. They said kids wouldnt read a long book about a boy wizard. But Rowling refused to quit. When Bloomsbury finally gave Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone a shot, it launched a global phenomenon. Rowling became the first billionaire author, with theme parks, films, and legions of fans worldwide. Rejected? Yes. But Rowling waved a wand and turned no into publishing gold. (Fun fact: Stephen King was also told to ditch Carrie good thing they both ignored the haters.)

Musicians
Theres no shortage of musicians who overcame doubt and ridicule on their road to success: Elvis was told to stick to trucking, and U2 was once shown the door by RSO. In 1962, Decca Records infamously rejected The Beatles, claiming guitar groups are on the way out. Undeterred, they signed with EMI and captured the publics hearts and minds after an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Along the way, critics mocked their hair, their sound, and even their intelligence. But with hit after hit, they redefined music and became the biggest band of all time. Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road and Beatlemania itself are just a few testaments to their revolutionary spirit.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Athlete
Was Kicked Off of His High School Team, But Later Became the Basketball GOAT

Filmmaker
Rejected by USC Film School to Become a Two-Time Oscar-Winning Visionary

Musician
Dropped by Label Before Ever Releasing An Album, Now Shes Pop Royalty

Politician
Once Viewed As an Unserious Fringe Candidate, Hes Now Won Two Presidential Elections

Athlete
Went From Being Humiliated by His Coach To a 4-time Stanley Cup Winner & Hall of Famer

Entrepreneur
He revolutionized the way we communicate, but not before getting booted from his own company. In 1985, Apples board essentially ousted Jobs, believing he was too erratic to lead; most thought he was done. Instead, Jobs founded NeXT and bought Pixar, which, as you may already know, became a game-changing, billion-dollar success. When Apple hit rock bottom, they brought him back to replace John Sculley[e]. In turn, Jobs delivered his greatest hits in this period: a few little products known as the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. From maverick to exile to icon, Jobs didn't just do things his way he reshaped the world while doing them.

From garage startups to grocery store aisles, these stories prove one thing: rejection isnt the end, its a springboard to greatness. Whos your GOAT amongst these icons of resilience?
[a]lee-vye https://youtu.be/1GBRg1urwrI?si=RT0bITqYtEDGAy61
[b]mah https://youtu.be/WsQ7ysVt-0A?si=wR-YdmPbTNJ2rSpk&t=3
al-lee-BAW-buh https://youtu.be/WsQ7ysVt-0A?si=7D1kRCnwEli4UxYu&t=7
[c]ROH-ling / rolling (NOT RAO-ling) https://www.theguardian.com/books/video/2012/sep/27/jk-rowling-pronounce-name-video
[d]You're probably best off pronouncing this as "wah" https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sIseKFUMbShyIcQvSvKba0hYckK2Ckf5/view?usp=drive_link
[e]SKULL-ee https://youtu.be/H6VMoTL2SGU?si=nrpDE6TmEIGoO__2&t=2