We always hear about people who are able to reach fame at an early age, but it isn’t often that people talk about late bloomers. These are the people who seem to be late in meeting society’s unwritten milestone calendar.
They may be seen as not living up to their potential or even being failures, but this is far from the truth.
People develop at different rates and a lot of factors go into how and when individuals find success. Even defining what success means can make a difference.
Let’s look at some factors that go into why a person may not find success until later in life.
Why Are Some People Late Bloomers?
There are many reasons for later life success.
Many studies show that success is primarily due to a combination of having the right idea, at the right time, and being passionate about pursuing the goal. Sometimes those right ideas come later in life.
Here are some of the factors that come into play when determining one’s rate of success, and perhaps more reasons why success may be delayed:
When Is It Too Late to Switch Gears in Life?
The answer to this question is a resounding NEVER!! There are many resources available today that those in the past didn’t have. You have the world at your fingertips with the Internet databases, online classes, access to professional and personal connections, and much more.
As long as you don’t give up on your dreams, you can succeed. While having a support network is a big help, many have succeeded by sheer willpower alone, even when it seemed everyone they knew thought they were crazy.
Keep learning, keep dreaming, and keep striving to reach that goal. Motivation is key.
Famous People Who Found Success After 40
1. Colonel Harland Sanders 62
Colonel Sanders left school in seventh grade and worked several jobs, often quitting in anger or getting fired. At the age of 40, he ran a small gas station in Corbin, Kentucky and opened a small restaurant in the apartment next to the station. Word soon spread and business grew.
But even by that time, he still hadn’t achieved massive success. He tried to partner with people to grow the influence of his “secret recipe” and was turned down 1,009 times until he found a partner that believed in him.
In 1952, at the age of 62, Sanders opened the first Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), and history was set in motion with franchises all over the world.
2. Julia Child (Cookbook Author/ Chef) 50
Couldn’t cook when she graduated from Smith College. She spent time working in advertising and later worked in government intelligence. During that time she fell in love with French cuisine and started to cook it when she could.
She wrote her first cookbook at the age of 50 and gained a reputation as a top notch French chef. She eventually became the first woman inducted into the Culinary Institute Hall of Fame.
3. Ray Kroc (Restauranter – McDonalds) 52
Was only 16 when WWII broke out and he lied about his age and was assigned to drive a Red Cross ambulance throughout the war. Once his enlistment was over, he spent the next few decades as a traveling salesman who sold paper cups and milkshake machines.
He teamed up with the McDonald brothers when he was in his 50s to start the first McDonald’s fast-food restaurant in 1954.
4. Leo Goodwin Sr. (GEICO Founder) 50s
Was working as an accountant and dabbled in the insurance arena on the side. When in his 50s, he began to think that he could lower the cost of insurance if he could find a way to sell to the customer directly.
He started the Government Employee Insurance Company in 1936. It has since grown into what is known as GEICO, one of the largest car insurance companies in this nation.
5. Duncan Hines (Food Critic) 55
Attended Bowling Green University and when he graduated became a traveling salesman for a printing company. He spent a lot of time eating out and decided, at the age of 55, to write a book about his culinary experience, Adventures in Good Eating.
This book was so well received that he became a food critic. By the time he was in his 70s, his high standards as a critic had product developers asking him to use his name on their products to indicate they were high quality.
6. Henry Ford (Automobile Manufacturer) 45
Started out as an engineer under Thomas Edison. Learning how cars were developed, he founded Ford Motor Company at the age of forty, with many innovative changes in both work processes and design. Five years later, the first Model T was introduced to the public.
7. Sam Walton (Walmart Founder) 44
Graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in economics. He joined the Army and eventually rose to the rank of Captain. After his discharge, he made many attempts at running retail businesses.
While each failed, he took what he learned from each failure and finally put these lessons into play when he started the first Wal-Mart at the age of 44.
8. Charles Darwin (Scientist) 50
Got a MA from Christ’s College. He entered medical school but didn’t finish. Instead, he chose to join the crew of the HMS Beagle when he was 21.
When he returned home, he suffered an illness that he was to fight off and on for the next few decades. When he could, he wrote of his voyage. Finally, at the age of 50, Darwin published On the Origin of the Species.
9. Stan Lee (Comic Book Writer) 40
Graduated with a BS degree when he was only 16-1/2. While studying, he also worked several part-time jobs. He started working in comics but didn’t move up the ranks until he was in his 40s.
At that time, he hit on the idea for The Fantastic Four and success was imminent. After that, he created Spiderman, Black Panther, X-Men, and many others, becoming the most famous and prolific comic book creator in history.
10. Momofuku Ando (Ramen Creator/Entrepreneur) 50
Studied Economics at Ritsumeikan University. After leaving school, he opened his own textile company. At one point, he was arrested for tax evasion. He filed for bankruptcy and ended up losing almost everything he had worked for.
He took what little money he could gather and purchased Nissan, which was a small salt-producing company. At the age of 50, he perfected his idea of a cheaper noodle, and Chikin Ramen was introduced. When he was 61, he then introduced cup noodles.
11. Kittie Weston-Knauer (BMX Racing Legend) 40s
Kittie Weston-Knauer, often known as “Miss Kittie,” is an American BMX racer who became an inspiring example of lifelong athleticism and determination.
She began racing in her 40s, after watching her son compete in BMX events, and she quickly fell in love with the sport. Over the years, she broke barriers as one of the few African American women in BMX and became the oldest female BMX racer in the United States, continuing to compete well into her 70s.
Weston-Knauer has used her platform to encourage people of all ages—especially women and people of color—to stay active, pursue their passions, and challenge stereotypes about aging.
12. John Fenn (Scientist-Chemistry) 70
Got his first academic appointment at Princeton when he was 35. For years, he did research and published with little success. It wasn’t until after he was forced to retire at the age of 70 that a paper he published at 67 got noticed.
In his mid-80s, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for creating a way to measure ribosomes and viruses, a method found in every lab today.
13. Nelson Mandela (Political Activist) 40s
Was in his 40s when he found his voice as an activist. He was arrested on numerous occasions and eventually spent 27 years in prison, where he studied law.
After his release from prison, he continued speaking out and was elected as his country’s president at the age of 76.
14. Jeffrey Brotman (Costco Founder) 40
Earned a degree in Political Science and then a J.D. in 1967. At the age of 40, he joined forces with a partner and opened the first Costco.
He remained chairman until his death at the age of 74. Costco has grown to over 736 stores nationwide.
15. Frank McCourt (Author) 66
Frank McCourt was an Irish-American author and teacher who achieved literary fame later in life. Born in Limerick, Ireland, in 1930, he spent much of his early adulthood working various jobs before becoming a high school teacher in New York City.
It wasn’t until he was in his mid-60s that McCourt published his first book, the memoir Angela’s Ashes (1996), which recounted his impoverished childhood in Ireland with honesty, humor, and compassion. The book became an international bestseller and won the Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography in 1997, launching McCourt into worldwide acclaim.
He went on to write two more memoirs, ’Tis and Teacher Man, further chronicling his life and career.
16. Miguel de Cervantes (Author) 58
Spent time as a military prisoner. He became a tax collector and we don’t hear much of him until he wrote Don Quixote when he was 58.
This book has been touted as the first version of the novel as we know it. It has been translated into more languages than any other book except the Bible.
17. Jack Cover (Taser Creator) 47
Earned a doctorate in Nuclear Physics. He spent time working with NASA’s Apollo program, IBM, and Hughes Aircraft. When he was in his late 40s he designed the taser that is used by law enforcement personnel around the world.
He named his creation after a Tom Swift move, Thomas A. Swift’s Electric Rifle.
18. Donald Fisher (Gap Stores Founder) -40
Had a BS in Business and no retail experience at all when he founded the first GAP store in his 40s. He envisioned a place where people could buy all their favorite styles in a wide variety of sizes.
He eventually founded the GAP label and they became the first chain to use the store name as the brand name.
19. Ian Fleming (Author – James Bond Spy Novels) -44
Attended many schools in his life but barely passed classes and was asked to leave a few because of his behavior. He went to work for Britain’s Naval Intelligence Division and wrote in his spare time.
He wrote his first James Bond novel when he was 44. In all, he wrote 11 James Bond novels; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and two short story collections, all before his death at the age of 56.
20. Taikichiro Mori (Entrepreneur – Real Estate Investor) 55
Graduated from Tokyo College of Commerce. Mori started his life as an academic, specifically as an economics professor.
At 55, after his retirement in 1959, with no prior real estate experience, he founded Mori Building Company. It grew at an incredible rate and in 1992, it was so successful he was considered the richest man in the world.
21. Toni Morrison – (Author) 40
Earned a MA in English. She taught for a time and then became the first black female editor at Random House.
She was just shy of 40 when her first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published. She has since won both Nobel and Pulitzer prizes for her books.
22. Ralph Roberts – (Entrepreneur- Comcast Founder) 43
Used his business degree from Wharton to buy a small local community antenna TV system at the age of 43.
He incorporated this business as Comcast, a name he invented by combining the terms communication and broadcasting, and helped it grow into the largest TV network in the United States.
23. J. R. R. Tolkien (Author- Lord of the Rings) 45
Was originally homeschooled but attended Oxford College, where he graduated with first-class honors in English and Literature.
His first novel, The Hobbit, was published at the age of 45 and he didn’t complete Lord of the Rings until he was 56.
24. John Warnock (Entrepreneur-Adobe Founder) 42
Failed 9th-grade math but ended up earning a BS in Mathematics and Philosophy and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering.
At the age of 42, he founded Adobe and he was 52 when he came up with the idea for Portable Document Format (PDF).
25. Harry Bernstein (Author) 96
Was considered a mediocre scriptwriter most of his life, retiring at the age of 62. He started writing his memoir when he was 96 and this is where he found success.
After this book, The Invisible Wall, he published three more books, one at 98, one at 99, and one at 100.
26. Bob Ross (Artist) 41
Dropped out of school in the ninth grade. He enlisted in the Air Force where he spent the next 20 years yelling orders. He taught himself to paint and did so to relax not to start a painting career.
After leaving the Air Force, at the age of 41, he gained fame for his quick painting style, with his very happy tree’s; starting a public access TV show!
27. John Pemberton (Coke Founder) 55
Earned his medical degree and worked as a pharmacist. He suffered a saber wound and became addicted to heroin.
This compelled him to try and create a pain reliever that wasn’t addictive. In the end, he stumbled upon the formula for Coca-Cola when he was 55 years old.
28. Vera Wang (Fashion Designer) 40
Has a degree in art history. She started figure skater at 8 but an injury ended that as a career. She then tried her hand as a journalist as a fashion editor, without much success.
When she was 40, she opened her first bridal boutique and it has now grown to include locations in NY, London, Tokyo, and Sydney. She is now considered one of the bright lights of the fashion industry.
29. Wally Blume (Entrepreneur) 57
Had a degree in Industrial Economics. He used his career in the dairy business to start his own ice cream company at the age of 57.
Since then, Denali Flavors, who introduced us to Moose Tracks, has realized revenue of over $80 million.
30. Tim and Nina Zaget (Zaget Guides) Late 30s
Tim and Nina Zagat are the husband-and-wife team best known for creating the Zagat Survey, a pioneering restaurant guide that transformed how people shared and discovered dining experiences.
Both were Harvard-educated lawyers who began their careers in law before turning their passion for food into a side project. In 1979, while living in New York City and in their late 30s, they started compiling restaurant ratings from their friends to create a more democratic and collective approach to restaurant reviews. What began as a small hobby quickly grew into an influential brand, with Zagat guides expanding to cities around the world.
31. Rodney Dangerfield (Comedian/Actor) 43
Rodney Dangerfield was a legendary comedian and actor who became famous for his self-deprecating humor and his signature line, “I don’t get no respect.”
Although he began entertaining in his early years, he struggled for decades to find real success and even left show business for a time took a career change as a salesman.
It wasn’t until he returned to comedy in his 40s that his career truly took off. In the 1970s, Dangerfield became a regular on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, earning national recognition for his sharp wit and relatable humor.
He went on to star in hit films like Caddyshack and Back to School, becoming one of the most beloved comedians of his era.
People Who Became Successful After Age 60
Mid-60’s is when many people start to retire and think about their “Golden Years” but some people even the mid-60s is when they just get started on their path to success.
32. Estelle Getty (Actress) 62
Estelle Getty was an American actress who found major success later in life, best known for her role as Sophia Petrillo on the hit TV sitcom The Golden Girls. Born in 1923 in New York City, Getty spent decades performing in small theater productions and working regular jobs while pursuing her acting dreams.
Her big break didn’t come until she was in her early 60s, when she was cast in the Broadway play Torch Song Trilogy in the early 1980s. That role led to her being chosen for The Golden Girls in 1985, where her sharp wit and unforgettable portrayal of Sophia made her a beloved television icon.
33. Fauja Singh (Marathoner) 89-101
Was born with a disorder that left him unable to take his first steps until the age of five. When his wife and two children died, he looked for a way to fill the empty spot in his life and started running again. He was in his late 80s at the time.
He ran his first marathon at the age of 89 and became the oldest person to run a marathon at 100-year-old in 2011. He has been an Olympic torch bearer on two occasions, once at the age of 101, and has broken several running records in his age category.
34. Laura Ingalls Wilder (Author) 60s
Quit school at the age of sixteen and worked with a local dressmaker. She was in her forties when she started writing but it wasn’t until she was in her 60s that she wrote Little House in the Big Woods and she began to gain a following.
Over the next decade, she continued to write the Little House on the Prairie books.
35. Kathryn Joosten (Actress) 60
Was a psychiatric nurse for most of her adult life. At the age of 42, she joined a local community theater. This continued until, at the age of 60, she got her break by being cast in a role on West Wing.
36. Tom Allen (Renowned Yoga Instructor) 60
Never started doing yoga until he was in his 50s. When he retired from the pharmaceutical company he worked at, when he was 60, he started teaching yoga. In the early years, he taught six classes a week.
Today, he still teaches two classes a week and is considered Britain’s oldest yoga instructor at the age of 90.
37. Yuichiro Miura (Mountaineer) 75+
Yuichiro Miura found remarkable success later in life as a mountaineer and adventurer who defied age-related expectations.
Although he had been an accomplished skier and climber in his earlier years, his most famous achievements came when he was much older. At the age of 70, in 2003, Miura became the oldest person at the time to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
He didn’t stop there—he climbed Everest again at age 75, and once more at age 80 in 2013, breaking his own record for the oldest person to stand on the world’s highest peak. Miura’s determination and physical endurance made him an inspiring example of how passion and perseverance can lead to extraordinary success, even in one’s later years.
38. Peter Mark Roget – (Creator Roget’s Thesaurus) – 70s
Was a physician who graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1798. From an early age, Roget suffered from depression and found that spending hours categorizing words, making lists, and finding similarities and differences in the lists helped him deal with his depression.
In his early 70s, Roget published his lists in a book that would become Roget’s Thesaurus. This book has sold millions of copies and has never been out of print since its first edition.
39. Grandma Moses (Artist) 70s
Anna Mary Robertson Moses only briefly attended a one-room schoolroom. When she reached her 60s, she first picked picked up her brush. It would take another decade before her work was noticed.
She was in her 70s by the time her work started to get notices and 80 when she was famous enough to have her first solo exhibition. Once they were noticed, she ended up having many of her paintings displayed at the Museum of Modern Art.
Before her death at the age of 101, she produced about 1500 pieces.
40. Joseph A. Campbell (Founder Cambell’s Soup) – 78
Opened his canned goods company at the age of 52. He sold canned tomatoes, condiments, and jellies. So he had some level of entrepreneurial success after 52 but never he developed his first condensed soup, tomato soup, until he was 78 years old.
Campbell’s condensed tomato soup changed the way the world viewed canned soup.
41. Gladys Burrill (Marathoner) 86
Had polio as a child and didn’t become active until she was in her 40s. After that time, she came to pilot multi-engine planes, climb Mt. Hood in Oregon and hiked the Arizona deserts.
At the age of 86, she ran her first marathon. She completed the Honolulu Marathon at the age of 96 and holds the world’s record for the oldest woman to complete a marathon.
Final Thoughts on People Who Succeed Later in Life
One key takeaway from this list is that success has no age limit. What truly matters is passion, determination, and the courage to rise above the doubts and stereotypes society attaches to age. When we stay focused on our goals and refuse to let preconceived notions define what we can achieve or when we can achieve it, we open the door to limitless possibilities.
The people on this list had to overcome many hardships, including a few who had to learn to handle anger. And there are more success stories like these. In the end, however, they are among many who have shaped the world, with or without a college degree. And I, for one, couldn’t imagine a world without their influence.
Remember: It is never to late to start over!
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