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Tyler Perry has one of Hollywood’s most inspiring rags to riches stories.

The 54-year-old Star Trek star, who has a $1.4 billion net worth, has sprawling properties and a long list of shows, movies and stage plays that put him in the spotlight. Unlike other celebrities, Perry worked hard to earn everything he has now.

“I love when people say you come from ‘humble beginnings,'” he shared. “[It] means you were poor as hell. Ownership changes everything.”

His close friend Whoopi Goldberg told Variety that Perry worked tirelessly to have a strong empire.

“Every piece of that studio he bought with his dough. I think the idea of letting people know that this wasn’t a gift, this was hard-earned, [is important]. And in any other place, he’d be at the tip of everybody’s tongue, the talk of the town — it would be a huge thing. And yet somehow, people haven’t really stepped up to recognize it as far as I’m concerned,” Goldberg added.