rags-to-riches
Poverty to prosperity
Rags-to-riches describes a dramatic rise from poverty to wealth or success.
The phrase typically modifies story or tale: a classic rags-to-riches story.
It can also describe the person who lived it: a rags-to-riches entrepreneur who started with nothing.
The concept is central to certain national mythologies, particularly the American Dream.
Rags-to-riches heroine
- American DreamUS ethos of opportunity
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- bootstrapStart without external resources
- autobiographySelf-penned life narrative
Horatio Alger · memoir · biopic · fairy tale · legend · epic · folklore · myth
Accomplished goal or deed
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- prosperityGood fortune, success
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- empireDomain under unified control
entrepreneur · tycoon · magnate · millionaire · billionaire · mogul · titan · pioneer
Severe lack of resources
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
- obstaclesThings in the way
- setbacksReversals of progress
deprivation · toil · sacrifice · grit · perseverance · resilience · tenacity · determination
Ascend using effort
- riseMove to higher position
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- progressionSequential forward movement
- mobilityCapacity for movement
elevation · improvement · breakthrough · transformation · turning point · opportunity · ladder · self-made
Abundance of money
- fortuneWealth or destiny
- luxuryExpensive nonessential comfort
- opulenceShowy, abundant prosperity
- mansionLarge, stately home
estate · assets · capital · inheritance · endowment · philanthropy · lavish · prosperity
Encouraging effort or ambition
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
- empoweringGiving authority or confidence
- hopefulFeeling positive expectation
- aspirationalStriving toward ideals
role model · hero · courageous · overcoming · perseverance · dream · against the odds · inspiring
Cinderella
Rags-to-riches heroine
- American DreamUS ethos of opportunity
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- bootstrapStart without external resources
Horatio Alger · autobiography · memoir · biopic · fairy tale · legend · epic · folklore · myth · archetype
achievement
Accomplished goal or deed
- triumphResounding, celebrated victory
- prosperityGood fortune, success
- fortuneWealth or destiny
empire · entrepreneur · tycoon · magnate · millionaire · billionaire · mogul · titan · pioneer · innovator
poverty
Severe lack of resources
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
- obstaclesThings in the way
setbacks · deprivation · toil · sacrifice · grit · perseverance · resilience · tenacity · determination · survival
climb
Ascend using effort
- riseMove to higher position
- advancementForward movement or promotion
- progressionSequential forward movement
mobility · elevation · improvement · breakthrough · transformation · turning point · opportunity · ladder · self-made · bootstrapping
affluence
Abundance of money
mansion · estate · assets · capital · inheritance · endowment · philanthropy · lavish · prosperity · abundance
motivational
Encouraging effort or ambition
- upliftingEmotionally encouraging
- empoweringGiving authority or confidence
- hopefulFeeling positive expectation
aspirational · role model · hero · courageous · overcoming · perseverance · dream · against the odds · inspiring · triumphant
- personal writingdiary, journal, autobiographical essay, memoir, memoirs
- pulp fictionpulp, pulp fiction, pulp magazines, pulp novels, dime novels
- memoirsmemoir, memoirs, autobiography, autobiographies, life story
- narrativesnovel, short story, memoir, fable, tale
- romance fictionlove stories, romance novel, romance novels, contemporary romance, romantic fiction
rags-to-richesfall from grace
Loss of status or reputation
financial ruin · ruin · downfall · reversal of fortune · bankruptcy
rags-to-richessilver spoon
Symbol of inherited wealth
old money · to the manor born · trust fund baby · blue blood · aristocratic
rags-to-richestragic downfall
Catastrophic destruction of protagonist
cautionary tale · fallen from grace · gilded cage · hubris · prodigal
riches, rags, ragged, enrich, richer, enriched, richest, enrichment, raggedy