6. Do Won Chang
Do Won Chang immigrated to the U.S. from South Korea in 1981. He worked as a janitor, gas station attendant, and coffee shop employee before launching his own clothing store. In 1984, he and his wife founded Forever 21, starting with a single small shop. It grew into a global fashion retailer with billions in revenue. Though the brand faced struggles, Chang’s rags-to-riches journey remains iconic.