A Life Turned Around: Hollywood 180s

Born Curtis James Jackson III, the rapper and actor better known as 50 Cent grew up selling drugs as early as age 12 in his hometown of Queens, NY. The birth of his son Marquise in 1997 inspired him to turn his life around and pursue his music career. This proved to be a challenge in a town surrounded with gang violence, and the musician was shot nine times during an incident in 2000. Fully recovered, today 50 Cent is a multi-platinum selling artist, a respected actor, and a successful entrepreneur with a clothing line, video game, reality series under his belt and more.

A career in the film industry looked promising for child star Lindsay Lohan, who starred in such box office hits as The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday, then as a promising young woman in Mean Girls and Herbie: Fully Loaded. But the star's off-set antics attracted the tabloids with a dramatic weight loss, constant late night sightings, reported tussles at bars and nightclubs, and a relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson. Amid a couple of DUIs, multiple stints in rehab, and violations of her probation guidelines, Lohan has been spending more time in the court room in the last few years than on the set, but she insists that she is looking for redemption.

The self-taught dancer and musician caught the attention of big-time Hollywood executives at the young age of 15 and was often compared to pop icon Michael Jackson. Unfortunately, Brown lost the respect of fans, friends, and business partners when a verbal argument got violent with former girlfriend Rihanna. Some questioned whether or not the artist would ever regain success in the spotlight; however, after a string of chart-topping singles, it was impossible to deny that Brown is an extremely talented artist and now he is on the right track to redemption.

Before she captured the heart of NFL player Hank Baskett (and even before winning over ex-boyfriend Hugh Hefner), Kendra Wilkinson was a dental assistant and a part-time exotic dancer from San Diego, California. Wilkinson admits to struggles with drugs like cocaine and meth throughout her teenage years and a secret career of stripping in her hometown. She moved into the infamous Playboy Mansion when she was only 18 years old, and became a reality star with the help of The Girls Next Door, then moved on to her own reality television series, Kendra, showing her everyday life as a successful mom, wife and entrepreneur.

Not long ago, Tiger Woods appeared to be living the dream. With multiple endorsement deals and incredible athletic talent, he was the highest-paid athlete in the world, had a sexy model wife, and two beautiful and healthy children. Unfortunately, the athlete had a secret life of womanizing and infidelity that, once revealed in November 2009, would destroy his reputation and arguably the rest of his career. Despite a public apology and reported rehab and therapy, the athlete lost his wife, several endorsement contracts, hundreds of fans, and sports critics say his talent may never be the same.

Both Jack and Kelly have had independent struggles with weight loss and substance abuse. However, after various stints in rehab and therapy, both have made tremendous physical and emotional transformations. Kelly, formerly known for her plus-sized figure and dirty mouth, is now known as a classy red carpet icon and the face of Madonna's clothing line 'Material Girl.'

The Hollywood socialite, once inseparable from Paris Hilton, was first arrested in February 2003, when she was charged with possession of heroin while driving with a suspended driver's license. She was arrested again in 2006 for driving under the influence. Several motorists had reported seeing a vehicle entering the freeway in the wrong direction, and she admitted to using marijuana and the narcotic Vicodin just prior to the incident. Although sentenced to four days in jail, Richie only served about 82 minutes due to overcrowding. Nowadays, Richie claims that her wild and crazy partying ways are in the past. Her priorities have shifted to running a business--her fashion line House of Harlow 1960 launched in 2008--and raising a family. After four years and two children together, she and Good Charlotte frontman Joel Madden tied the knot in December 2010.

A teenager struggling to enter the worlds of modeling and acting, Jolie dropped out of acting school and aspired to become a funeral director. The star admitted to wearing dark clothing, dying her hair funky colors, and cutting herself. Her boyfriend even lived with her when she was only 14 years old. Once her acting career took off, Jolie was famously known for many of her off-screen romances. The award-winning actress dated female 'Foxfire' co-star Jenny Shimizu just prior to marrying (and then divorcing) British actor Jonny Lee Miller. Jolie later married her 'Pushing Tin' co-star Billy Bob Thornton, and the two famously wore vials of each others' blood around their necks. Jolie made a 180 shortly after adopting her first son, Maddox, from Cambodia, months before she and Thornton divorced. Since then, she has continued to expand her family with partner Brad Pitt; they have adopted three children together, including Maddox, and also have three biological children. Jolie has also been recognized for promoting humanitarian causes and is the Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.