Meet Madam C. J. Walker. Born in 1867 in Louisiana, Sara came into the world free — but her family wasn’t. She was born Sara Breedlove in 1867 in Louisiana, shortly after the end of slavery in the United States. By age 7, she lost her parents and worked as a housekeeper with only three months of formal schooling.
At 14, she married to escape a violent household. By 20, she was a widowed single mom raising her daughter Alleluia. Life was harsh: she washed clothes, cooked, and earned just $1.50 a day, while chemical exposure nearly ruined her health.
But Sara didn’t give up. Learning haircare basics from her brothers, she eventually sold hair products on the streets. By 37, she was ready to launch her own line for African-American women. With her second husband, Charles J. Walker, she built a business empire:
• Door-to-door sales teaching women haircare & styling
• Beauty salons, schools, and a factory in Indianapolis
• Empowering 20,000 women to earn $5–$15 a day and gain financial independence
Sara’s wealth wasn’t just for her — she gave generously to charities, fought injustice, and donated over $100,000 during her lifetime. She passed away at 51, leaving a fortune estimated between $500,000–$1 million.
She entered the Guinness Book of Records as the first female self-made millionaire, proving one woman with vision, grit, and 10 fingers could change the world.
