Ken Jeong First Career

Stephen King, teacher:
Just imagine if your teacher was going home at night and writing horror novels and screenplays? It might make you turn in your homework on time, or stop passing notes, at least. Stephen King � the legendary writer behind Carrie and The Shining� taught high school English in Hampden, Maine, writing during the weekends and in the evenings.

Mike Rowe, opera singer: Mike Rowe is best known in the U.S. for hosting the Discovery Channel's show Dirty Jobs, but if you listen carefully, he's also the narrator behind lots of commercials, TV specials and documentaries. But that strong, gravely voice isn't just great for speaking. Before TV, Rowe sang with the Baltimore Opera.

Ina Garten, White House nuclear policy analyst:
The charmingly high brow Barefoot Contessa � whose real name is Ina Garten � has a loyal fan base all over the country who follow her TV show and have tried out recipes from her seven cookbooks. Before the TV show and cookbook fame, Garten owned a specialty foods store in East Hampton, NY, which she and her husband Jeffrey bought on a whim while living in Washington, D.C. At that time, Garten worked in the White House Office of Management and Budget as a policy analyst, but after buying the foods store, quit her job and moved to Long Island.