What Are Your Chances of Becoming Famous?

Have you ever wondered what your chances of success for becoming famous are? You might not like what you learn. About 0.0086% of the world’s population is famous. 0.0086%! Your chance of becoming famous is about the same as winning a $1,000,000 lottery. Fat chance.

Guess That Means We’re Done

I answered the question, so I guess that means we’re done here.

Not so fast.

So what? You’ll probably never be famous. Cry me a river. Fame comes with too many complications, anyway. But what about wealthy? What are your chances of becoming wealthy? Funny you should ask.

If you want to be a millionaire, (which isn’t what it used to be), you have about a 22.3% chance, depending on some other factors. Still, those are much better odds than becoming a famous actor, artist, or author.

So what’s the point of this post? It’s simple.

Don’t have expectations of ever becoming famous. Most people who become famous will admit that one of the biggest factors in their road to fame was luck. That’s right! Just like winning the lottery. Luck.

That doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel and say screw it, either. There’s nothing wrong with having dreams and goals and working toward them. But keep your odds in mind and have an alternate plan.

The Famous Plan B

You need to have a plan B.

When I was younger I wanted to be a rock and roll star. If I’d have made it there’s a good chance I’d be dead by now. According to The Telegraph, famous musicians live 25 years less than the average person.

So by the time I reached my late 20s, I realized I needed a plan B. That’s when I decided to borrow $50,000 in student loans, get a master’s degree, and become a college professor. I know a lot of people bad talk the expense of college, and I agree that it’s too expensive. But that degree could just make me a millionaire.

Well, it probably won’t. But it would have if I’d have started 12 years earlier. How you might ask? Through my retirement savings. I have friends who started teaching in their early 20s and will be able to retire with more than a million dollars. Crazy, huh?

So education and simple living became my Plan B. But it doesn’t have to be yours. There’s another option.

You Could Start a Business

Although the odds are shaky for succeeding, starting a small business has much more potential than you ever have of becoming famous.

I’ve occasionally considered starting a business, but I haven’t figured out what I’d want to do. And now that I’m getting pretty close to retirement, those shaky odds are a little scary. But if you have the guts, I say go for it! Just be sure to have a good business plan.

Then again, you could just work 9-5, stay out of debt, and save your money.

So what have we learned today?

  1. Your odds of becoming famous are almost nil.
  2. You don’t have to give up on your dreams.
  3. But don’t expect them to come true either.
  4. Always have a Plan B.
  5. Stay out of debt and save your money.

You’re welcome.

I’d offer you a free eBook now, but I quit doing that newsletter thing. But you could buy any of my books at Amazon if you want to support my writing.

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