#23. Kesha
American singer and actor Kesha topped the Billboard charts since 2009 after releasing massive hits such as Timber, We R Who We R, and Tik Tok. However, after going through a traumatic experience with her producer, she escaped the public eye for a few years.
All in all, she spent almost 3 years in anonymity. Luckily, she managed to move on and came back to the music scene with the release of her 2017 album, Rainbow. She channeled the emotional pain she went through in the album’s hit song, Praying. Grab your tissues and please listen to this tune!
#22. Justin Bieber
It's safe to say that Justin Bieber represents the beginning of a new era since he's the first artist to reach worldwide fame thanks to a YouTube video. He was such a sensation that his own biopic, Never Say Never, was released in 2011.
However, his promising career took a downturn in 2012, especially after he was found guilty of doing drugs in a tour in Sweden and driving under the influence in Florida. However, he was back in the game by 2015 thanks to the release of his hit album Purpose, which included a few hits like Love Yourself and Sorry.
#21. Neil Patrick Harris
Do you remember the time Neil Patrick Harris starred in his own show as a teenager? At the age of 16, he took on the role of Doogie Howser M.D. in the comedy series of the same name, but when the show ended in 1993, the young actor sank into oblivion.
It was not until a decade later that he made his awaited comeback, after playing himself in the 2004 comedy-adventure movie Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. However, his big break came one year later, when he landed the role of womanizer Barney Stinson in the legendary comedy series How I Met Your Mother.
#20. Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle was one of the greatest comedians during the turn of the century. He ran his own stand-up show from 2003 to 2005, after having signed a record-breaking 50-million contract with Comedy Central. But what happened then?
When the network offered to produce the show's third season, he mysteriously decided to back down. He was out for a whole decade, as fans had to wait until 2015 for his stage comeback. That year, he played an important role in Spike Lee's drama film Chi-raq and then went on to host Saturday Night Live. We're glad he's back!
#19. Eminem
From 1999 to 2004, Eminem ruled the hip-hop word. Released in 2002, his second record album,The Eminem Show, became the best-selling album worldwide. He even won an Academy Award for his song Lose Yourself, written for the 2002 drama biopic 8-Mile.
However, in 2005 he took a break from the music industry to recover from his alcohol and drug addictions. He made his stage comeback after sobering up, and took the rap world by storm after the release of his 2009 album, Relapse. Also, his song with Rihanna, Love the Way You Lie, became one of the most successful hits of the decade!
#18. Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe made a name of himself in the 80s after starring in many famous teenage coming-of-age films like St. Elmo's Fire and The Outsiders. However, his career went downhill after a controversial sex tape came out in 1988 and after being accused of sexual harassment by his nanny. But how did he ever recover?
After going through rehab and taking a 4-year break from work, he went back to acting in 1999, when he played one of the lead roles in the political-drama series The West Wing. He then starred in countless successful TV shows, including the legendary comedy series Parks & Recreation and the drama show Brothers and Sisters.
#17. Christina Aguilera
When Christina Aguilera released her hit song Genie in a Bottle in 1999, she marked the beginning of an era. She became one of the greatest legends of the female pop scene as well one of the fan-favorite LGBTQ icons of the time.
She made a career blunder after delivering a disappointing performance in the 2010 musical film Burlesque, and that same year, she flubbed the lyrics of the American National Anthem live at the Superbowl. However, it hardly took her more than a year to get back on her feet, after taking over as one of the judges in the singing contest The Voice.
#16. Paul Reubens
American actor and comedian Paul Reubens made a name for himself after playing Pee-wee Herman in the 80s comedy series Pee-wee's Playhouse and in the movies Pee-wee's Big Adventure and Big Top Pee-wee. His fame plummeted in 1991 after he was caught touching himself in an adult movie theater.
After the scandal, he stepped down from the film and TV industry for over three years, after which time he landed on a few minor roles on successful films like Mystery Men. A few years later, he went back to play his legendary alter-ego Pee-wee, proving the world that nothing can stop him.
#15. Paula Abdul
You probably know Paula Abdul for being the judge of American Idol during the show's first 8 seasons, but you'd be surprised that she has a successful singing and acting career behind her back.
In fact, long before her appearance on the iconic singing contest, she really hit it off as a singer and choreographer in the 80s and 90s. However, her drug addiction played a trick on her, so much so that she spent nearly 10 years in total anonymity. We could even say that American Idol was a life-changing opportunity for her!
#14. Vanessa Williams
Actress and supermodel Vanessa Williams left her mark in history after becoming the first African-American woman to ever be crowned Miss America in 1983. However, her nude photoshoot for Penthouse triggered a nationwide scandal, so much so that she had to give up her crown and take a step back from the modeling world.
After a 5-year break, she re-appeared in 1988, when she released her 1988 album Girl Can Sing! and sang the hit song from Disney’s Pocahontas, Colors in the Wind. Her last big break came in 2006 with Ugly Betty, the famous comedy show which earned her 3 Primetime Emmy nominations.
#13. Betty White
Back in the 70s, Betty White was one of the most iconic TV actresses out there. Although she starred in countless films and shows, she was most famous for her role in the classic comedy series The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
However, White retreated from the public eye for nearly 17 years once her hit show ended in 1977. It was not until 1995 that she made her comeback, after taking a role in the drama show The Golden Girls. You may also have seen her co-starring with Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock in the 2009 film The Proposal.
#12. Mike Tyson
Enough Hollywood, let's take a look at one of the greatest legends in sports history! Mike Tyson was once regarded as the most talented boxer on Earth and had a huge fan base, at least until sex assault allegations against him emerged.
However, his career really went downhill after he bit off one of his contestant's ears in 1997. Tyson spent some time in prison and retired from boxing shortly after. He came back to the public eye in 2009 after playing a minor role in the comedy film The Hangover, and he had his own Broadway show created in 2012, Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth.
#11. Mickey Rourke
Actor and screenwriter Mickey Rourke was one of the greatest stars in the 80s, especially after his iconic role in the 1982 drama film Diner. Things took a dark turn in the early 90s, as he fell into alcoholism and made a failed attempt at becoming a boxer (what was he thinking?).
It was not until 15 years later that he made his comeback, after playing a secondary role in the 2005 crime film Sin City. However, he took the world by surprise after winning a Golden Globe and receiving an Oscar nomination for his role in the 2009 drama biopic The Wrestler. Now that’s one hell of a comeback!
#10. John Travolta
Back in the 80s, John Travolta was every young teenager's role model. He was as good as an actor as he was a dancer, as he proved in his brilliant performances in Grease and Saturday Night Fever. But after starring in the 1985 drama film Perfect, his career took a nosedive.
He spent nearly a decade out of the limelight, at least until director Quentin Tarantino offered him a part in the 1994 crime drama film Pulp Fiction. When he took on the role, little did he know the movie would become one of the most legendary cult classics of all time and that his career would finally take off once again.
#9. M. Night Shyamalan
Does M. Night Shyamalan ring a bell? Well, it should, cause he directed some of the greatest thriller classics of all time, including the Oscar-nominated The Sixth Sense, Signs, and Unbroken. But while he was once hailed as “The next Spielberg”, he eventually fell from grace and took a 13-year break from the movie business.
It was not until 2015 that Night was back in the game, after the release of his groundbreaking found-footage mystery film The Visit. He then chose to turn his previous 2002 hit Unbroken into a thrilogy. The second and third installments of the franchise, called Split and Glass, where a whopping success!
#8. Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore rose to fame at a very young age after starring in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. She was only 6 years old at the time and then went on to star in other major blockbusters, such as Firestarter and Cat's Eye. But what happened then?
Barrymore had a troubled childhood and was sent to rehab at age 14 due to her addiction to drugs. She was off the radar between 1985 and 1992, but went back to acting after sobering up. Ever since then, you've probably seen her in comedy classics like 50 First Dates or Charlie's Angels, haven't you?
#7. Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. started as a child actor in teenage films like Back to School and Weird Science, but went on to play more serious roles. Such was the case of his Oscar-nominated performance in the drama biopic Chaplin. However, his career came crashing down after being arrested for drug possession in 1996.
After a 5-year break from acting, he took on a few minor roles in a few films during the early 2000s, but luck didn’t seem to be on his side, as they all tanked the box office. It was not until 2007 that his career started picking up, and guess what? The following year, he received his second Academy Award nomination for his brilliant performance in the action-comedy film Tropic Thunder?
#6. Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck may now be one of the highest-paid actors, directors, and screenwriters of this day, but let’s not forget he has had ups and downs of his own. His big break came in 1992 with the drama film School Ties and he received his first Academy Award nomination for his work in Good Will Hunting just a few years later, in 1996.
However, his career came to an abrupt halt somewhere around 1999, and for 8 whole years, he only took on minor roles in forgettable films. It was not until 2007 that his career took off once again, since that same year, his film Gone Baby Gone was a massive success. It's common knowledge that he later went on to win an Academy Award for Best Picture for his work in the 2012 thriller film Argo.
#5. Tina Turner
R&B legend Tina Turner rose to fame by singing with her then-husband Ike, and together they formed one of the greatest musical duos of all time. However, she stepped back from the music scene after leaving Ike, and it was only after the breakup that it was revealed he had always been a violent and abusive husband.
We didn't get to listen to Turner’s beautiful voice for over 8 years, until she finally decided to launch her career as a solo artist. She released her first solo album, Private Dancer, in 1984, and the song What's Love Got to Do With It topped the Billboard charts. You go, girl!
#4. Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey had his big break with Linklater’s Oscar-nominated comedy film Dazed and Confused, and went on to star in countless comedy, action, and rom-com movies. However, towards the early 2000s, he landed roles in a series of terribly bad movies, such as Sahara and Failure to Launch.
Everyone thought that was it for McConaughey, as he was out of the public eye for over 4 years, but we sure judged him wrong! He made his heroic comeback in 2013, after delivering an Academy Award-winning performance in the drama film Dallas Buyers Club. Now that’s what I call an epic comeback!
#3. Mariah Carey
There’s no doubt that Mariah Carey is one of the greatest pop legends of all time and her name screams 90s. However, her fame started fading away towards the turn of the century, and her 2002 album Charmbracelet was destroyed by critics and fans alike.
However, it only took her 3 years to get back in the game, as her 2005 album The Emancipation of Mimi topped the charts year-long. Even if her music isn’t your cup of tea, you must admit that Shake It Off and We Belong Together are some pretty amazing anthems!
#2. Britney Spears
If you grew up in the 90s, then I’m sure Britney Spears was your number one role model. She released 5 successive hit albums, which included a long list of #1 songs, such as Baby One More Time and You Drive Me Crazy. However, her life became a living hell after she lost custody of her children, got divorced after a 2-day marriage, and spoke out on her addiction to drugs.
But impossible is nothing for our favorite pop queen, as it took her less than 2 years to get her life back on track. Her 2007 album, Circus, was a massive success and included number one hits such as Womanizer.
#1. Winona Ryder
Winona Ryder took the world by storm during her teenage years after starring in countless 80s and 90s classics, including Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Heathers. However, her life took a downturn in 2001 and for the silliest of reasons.
She was found guilty of shoplifting $5000 worth of clothes in a classy Beverly Hills shop and had to serve community service for several months. However, she came back to the public eye in 2006 and has recently left us shook with her brilliant performance in the Netflix sci-fi show Stranger Things. Ryder just never grows old, does she?