The surprising fact Adele, Gemma Collins and Richard Branson have in common… and it could be the secret to their success
GCSE results day is finally here and 16 year olds across the country will be waiting with baited breath to find out whether they got the grades they’ve been hoping for.
Whether you’re planning on heading to sixth form or college or hoping to get onto an apprenticeship, GCSEs are very important, and can help to decide the trajectory of your future.
However, if you didn’t get the grades you wanted and are kicking yourself for not doing more revision, then don’t fear, as there are many other routes you can take to be successful.
Here are 10 celebrities who failed their exams, but have now made millions from sharing their talents with the world.
1. Gemma Collins
Reality TV Queen Gemma Collins is no stranger to the limelight, having been a staple on our TV screens for over a decade.
But the The Only Way Is Essex star didn’t need any exams to get where she is today and left school at 16, with a U grade in maths.
Speaking to YOU magazine, she said: “I remember sitting in the exam room for my maths GCSE and thinking, ‘I’m going to be famous, I don’t need maths.
“What I really need is to go down Romford High Street and buy new shoes.”
2. Cheryl
Iconic Girls Aloud singer and solo artist Cheryl has spent over 20 years dazzling the public with her Geordie charm.
But the Newcastle born singer left education without passing a single one of her GCSE exams.
The former X-Factor judge previously said: “”For those who did well with their GCSEs or even managed to scrape by, their world is about to change.
“Maybe they’re about to take up a place at college to study their chosen subjects, or maybe they have their dream job lined up.
“Either way, it’s a time for celebration.”
3. Sir Richard Branson
Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson has a net worth of over £2 billion.
However, the British business owner left school aged 16, after struggling with schooling due to his dyslexia.
On his last day of school, his headteacher told him he would either end up in prison or become a millionaire.
4. Ryan Gosling
Barbie star Ryan Gosling found fame at a very young age, when he joined the cast of Disney‘s Mickey Mouse club, aged 12.
The star then decided not to finish high school, and left education at 17 to pursue his acting career, before getting his big break in The Notebook.
5. Adele
Pop sensation Adele attended the prestigious Brit school as a child, alongside classmates Jessie J and Leona Lewis.
The star didn’t achieve any A-Level grades whilst she was there, but is now one of the biggest recording artists in the world.
How much are these celebs worth?
Gemma Collins – £3 million
Cheryl – £31 million
Sir Richard Branson – £2.3 billion
Ryan Gosling – £54 million
Adele – £169 million
Robbie Williams – £230 million
Jake Humphreys – £3 million
Simon Cowell – £463 million
Holly Willoughby – £6.2 million
Cameron Diaz – £108 million
Data taken from celebritynetworth.com and thickaccent.com.
6. Robbie Williams
Robbie Williams‘ teachers had high hopes for him, and the pop star was predicted to get As and Bs in English, History and Geography.
However, the singer ended up failing all of his GCSE exams.
Ultimately, this didn’t matter though as he soon found fame in boy band Take That.
7. Jake Humphrey
TV presenter Jake Humphries did well in his GCSE’s, but floundered his A Levels.
The BT Sport presenter previously said: “A-level students—remember results don’t and won’t define you. In 1999, I got an E, N, and U for myself. Things haven’t turned out too bad…”
Jake’s broadcasting career success came after he was sacked from McDonalds.
8. Simon Cowell
Everyone’s favourite talent show judge Simon Cowell has without a doubt had an extremely successful career.
However, the X-Factor star left school with just two O-Levels (the equivalent of two GCSEs) and then left school at 16.
9. Holly Willoughby
Former This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby struggled with dyslexia when she was in school.
She has never disclosed her grades, but revealed that she didn’t do well enough to study psychology at university.
This helped Holly to go down a different path though, and have a very successful career in television.
10. Cameron Diaz
Hollywood A-Lister Cameron Diaz never finished high school, and dropped out aged 16, to pursue modelling.
She has since won the hearts of people across the world for her performances in Shrek, The Holiday and There’s Something About Mary.