Business Insider
Tue, 17 Apr 2012 10:20:13 GMT | By Alana Horowitz and Vivian Giang, Business Insider
17 people who got fired before they became rich and famous

Termination papers enabled these people to explore their real callings in life.



JK Rowling, Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Howard Stern, fired, terminated, famous (© Mike Marsland/Reuters; Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters; Brendan McDermid/Files/Reuters; George Pimentel/Reuters)
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  • JK Rowling, Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Howard Stern, fired, terminated, famous (© Mike Marsland/Reuters; Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters; Brendan McDermid/Files/Reuters; George Pimentel/Reuters)
  • Walt Disney (© Daily Herald Archive/Science Museum, London/Reuters)
  • JK Rowling, Harry Potter (© Mike Marsland/Reuters)
  • Michael Bloomberg (© Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
  • Anna Wintour, Vogue (© Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
  • Madonna (© Richard Corkery/2012/Daily News L.P. (New York))
  • Oprah Winfrey (© Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters)
  • Jerry Seinfeld (© George Pimentel/Reuters)
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Mike Marsland/Reuters; Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters; Brendan McDermid/Files/Reuters; George Pimentel/ReutersShow Thumbnails
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Losing your job might be one of the toughest experiences you encounter, but it isn't always the worst thing that can happen to your career.

Mark Cuban was destined to become more than a salesman at a computer store, and J.K. Rowling wasn't passionate about her job as a secretary. Even New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg got his chance when his position with Salomon Brothers ended.

Here are 17 people who got kicked to the curb and turned it into an opportunity.

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