This Boy Dreamt of Buying His Mom a Home after Living in Subsidized Housing with Mice & Became a Millionaire Star

This boy was born in London, Canada. He grew up a regular boy in Stratford, Ontario, where he played hockey and soccer. He lived in a low-income house with his mother, a devoted Christian.

The boy’s mother prayed that God would use his son to be a voice to his generation, like a modern Prophet Samuel. She had big dreams as a teenager, wanting to be an actress, but her plans were foiled when she became pregnant with the boy at the age of 18.

The boy’s mother raised him alone as much as in his adulthood; he is in touch with his father. The mom worked low-paying office jobs to make ends meet. The boy recalled that they didn’t have much as their state-subsidized housing had “Yellow shag carpets and we had mice.”

This poor state of living didn’t stop the boy from dreaming. He had musical passions, but he kept it to himself as he was an athlete and a chess player. Still, he taught himself how to play the piano, guitar, and trumpet and took drum lessons. His love for drumming was evident when he used to go to church as a boy and watch the drummer. He admitted:

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved music.”

The boy would squeal pop tunes as he brushed his teeth. At the age of 12, he participated in a local talent contest, securing the second spot with his rendition of Ne-Yo’s “So Sick.” His mother shared videos of his performances on YouTube, allowing friends who couldn’t attend the show to witness his talent.

His supportive mom was constantly uploading videos of him covering soul songs on YouTube. She even bought him drumsticks as much as she couldn’t afford drum sets so that the boy could drum on the floor.

He now had the privilege of walking into a restaurant and not having to look at the menu.

During one summer, the boy took out his guitar case and started busking in front of a Stratford theatre. This earned him close to $3,000. His mom excitedly said that the boy took them on their first vacation ever when they went to Disneyland.

Looking back, the boy said they were poor, but he had a happy childhood. Not having a lot of money also taught him to value it. The boy’s grandfather, Bruce Dale, added that he was a good kid who would always push himself. This work ethic, alongside his talents, saw the boy rise to fame as a singer and become a global influence in modern-day popular music.

Justin Bieber’s Rise to Stardom

The boy in this story is Justin Bieber. His dad is Jeremy Bieber, and his mom is Pattie Mallette. Justin’s YouTube videos played a significant role in his rise to stardom. Scooter Braun, an Atlanta party promoter and small-time music industry executive, came across his videos.

Scooter was searching for an unrelated YouTube sensation when he saw a video of Justin singing and was impressed by his tone and range. In the quest to locate Justin, he delved into archives, scouring photos of the theater where Justin had been captured on video while busking.

Scooter’s determination led him to Justin’s school, where he reached out to board members, earnestly urging them to establish contact with Pattie. When Pattie was finally contacted, she was anxious at first as she had prayed for his son to be a Christian man in a Christian label. Yet, after praying with her church elders, she received their approval to move forward.

Scooter began working with Justin by building him up on YouTube using cheap cameras. Then he flew the singer to Atlanta for demos. News of Justin spread fast, attracting the likes of Justin Timberlake and Usher, who were impressed by his talent. However, Usher moved fast and scooped Justin, partnering with Scooter in signing the young singer to their venture, Raymond Braun Media Group.

The party promoter also became Justin’s manager. Usher then introduced Justin to Antonio Reid, the chief of Universal Music Group’s Island Def Jam. Justin landed a record deal with Island Def Jam and released his single in 2009, which cracked the top 20. His debut EP, “My World,” launched him into mainstream fame in the fall of 2009.

Justin’s mom was amazed by how fast things moved. The two relocated to Atlanta when the singer was 14. Justin never forgot how his mother contributed to his growth by motivating him and bringing friends over when he played drums. “She was always very supportive of what I loved to do,” he gushed.

Pattie was thrilled as she watched the young man she had raised perform at Madison Square Garden and sing for the President of the US. Former US president Barack Obama had invited Justin to the White House in December 2009, where he exceptionally performed Dick Clark’s “New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.” “It’s crazy,” Pattie said of his son’s fast growth.

Justin’s growth came with incredible and emotional goals. At 15 years old, he already knew what he wanted to do for his mother. He reiterated that he grew up with little money, explaining what success for him would look like:

“We never owned a house. I want to buy my mom a house.”

Even as a teenager, Justin believed that this success was just the beginning of his career. He noted that the harder one works, the more successful they can be. Over the following years, he worked harder to accomplish his goals.

Justin Bieber Fulfills His Dreams

Three years post Justin’s debut, he achieved remarkable success, selling 15 million albums and grossing $150 million. The “Baby” singer embarked on 157 tour dates across a dozen countries. Justin’s biopic, “Never Say Never,” earned him $30 million in its first week and accumulated $100 million at the box office.

In a year, his income streams were estimated to have earned Justin $55 million, and in two years, $108 million. The singer introduced his scent “Someday,” generating $60 million in retail sales within its initial six months on the market.

Justin became a worldwide phenomenon whose worth, according to Forbes, was about $80 million in 2012, which equaled approximately $3 million in venture investments.

The singer recognized how far he had come. He now had the privilege of walking into a restaurant and not having to look at the menu. Previously, he and his mom would split a meal as they couldn’t afford two orders. Justin would also only drink water as they couldn’t pay for drinks.

The singer was also proud that he had bought his grandparents a house and a car. He also said he was getting his mom and himself a house. Justin was willing to spend money on things that mattered. In 2012, his mom moved into a mansion in Los Angeles, whose $80,000 monthly rent was being paid by one of Justin’s companies.

Justin’s humble beginnings didn’t hold him back, but it motivated him to dream, work hard, and attain international stardom. The singer has taken good care of his mom, who supported his goals. Today, Justin’s hit albums, sold-out tours, and chart-topping singles continue to make him a global pop sensation.