15 Billion-Dollar Companies That Started in a Garage, Basement, or Van
Many of the largest companies in the world were merely crazy ideas in little spaces before they had billion-dollar campuses and international recognition. These headquarters were not ostentatious.
We are referring to tool-filled garages, dusty basements, and vans that served as both residences and places of employment. These locations didn’t appear to be the start of anything significant, yet they were.
Here is a list of 15 billion-dollar companies that started out as vans, garages, or basements before developing into modern-day commercial giants.
Apple
Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak didn’t need a shiny office to change the world. They only had a garage in Los Altos, a dream, and some basic tools.
They built the first Apple computers there, one part at a time. Their goal wasn’t even world domination—it was just to make computers accessible.
Now a historic site, that garage launched one of the most valuable companies ever.
Amazon
Before becoming the “everything store,” Amazon was just a tiny online bookshop. Jeff Bezos started it in his garage in Bellevue, Washington.
He worked off a wooden desk made from a door and did packing and shipping himself. His business plan? Sell books cheaper and faster.
Now, it’s one of the largest companies on the planet, but it all began with books and boxes.
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Larry Page and Sergey Brin weren’t looking for fame. They just wanted to organize the internet.
They rented a garage in Menlo Park and turned it into the first Google HQ. There was no real furniture—just computers, cables, and ideas.
Their search engine changed how people use the web. That garage is now as legendary as the algorithm they built in it.
Disney
Walt and Roy Disney didn’t start with amusement parks or movie studios. In 1923, they used their uncle’s garage in Los Angeles to shoot short animated films.
It was cramped, hot, and had zero glamour. But it was the start of a company that would shape global entertainment for generations.
Mickey Mouse came much later—first came sweat and sketches.
Hewlett-Packard (HP)
In 1939, Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard used a small garage in Palo Alto to build electronic testing equipment. They had $538 in startup money and big dreams.
Their first product was an audio oscillator sold to Walt Disney. That garage is now called the birthplace of Silicon Valley, and HP grew into one of the biggest tech brands in the world.
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Harley-Davidson
This legendary motorcycle brand had greasy beginnings in a wooden shed in Milwaukee. In 1903, William Harley and the Davidson brothers started building their first bikes there.
It wasn’t big. It wasn’t fancy. But it had everything they needed: tools, grit, and an idea that wouldn’t go away.
Today, Harley-Davidson’s bikes are icons of freedom and power.
Microsoft
Paul Allen and Bill Gates started Microsoft in a tiny Albuquerque garage. Their first big break came when they built a version of BASIC for the Altair 8800 computer.
They weren’t thinking of billions—just making software work. Their story proves that with the right code and the right timing, even the smallest beginnings can lead to massive results.
Dell
Michael Dell started building custom computers in his dorm room. But when that wasn’t enough, he moved to his parents’ garage.
He believed people should get PCs built just for them. That simple idea helped Dell create one of the biggest PC companies in the world. And it all started with some old boxes and garden tools.
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Yankee Candle
Sixteen-year-old Michael Kittredge made his first candle in his parents’ basement using crayons as a gift for his mom. A neighbor liked it and asked to buy one. So, he made more.
What began as a homemade present became the biggest candle company in the U.S. One small gift turned into a scent empire.
Mattel
Before Barbie and Hot Wheels, Mattel was a side hustle in a garage. Founders Elliot Handler and Harold Matson made picture frames at first.
Then they used leftover wood to make dollhouse furniture. That pivot changed everything. From those scraps came a toy empire that would bring joy to millions of kids.
Nike
Phil Knight and his former coach Bill Bowerman didn’t have a big office. What they had was a van and a vision.
They sold running shoes out of the back of their car at track meets. Bowerman even used a waffle iron to make the first soles.
That small beginning eventually led to a global sportswear giant with the famous swoosh.
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Subway
Fred DeLuca borrowed $1,000 and opened a tiny sandwich shop in 1965. He ran it from the front of a small store and handled almost everything himself.
It wasn’t fancy, but he had a clear goal: help pay for college. Instead, he built one of the world’s largest fast-food chains—one sandwich at a time.
Maglite
Anthony Maglica started his business by creating precision parts late at night in a tiny garage in Los Angeles. He adhered to his quality-focused approach.
It took off when he created an improved flashlight. For police officers, laborers, and anybody else in need of intense illumination, Maglite flashlights became the industry standard.
Lotus Cars
Colin Chapman started building race cars in a garage behind his girlfriend’s house in England. It wasn’t a factory—it was a tight, greasy workspace with just enough room to work.
He built his first car using parts from old vehicles. That passion led Lotus to become a name known for sleek, fast, and lightweight cars.
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The Body Shop
Anita Roddick mixed natural ingredients in her kitchen and sold her products in reused bottles from a small store. She wanted to offer cruelty-free, eco-friendly beauty products.
Her efforts caught on. What started in a tiny shop eventually became a global brand known for caring about both skin and the planet.
From Cramped Corners to Boardrooms
Every one of these companies began in a place that most people would overlook—garages, basements, vans, and dorm rooms. These weren’t perfect spaces. They were messy, loud, cold, and full of challenges.
But that didn’t stop the ideas. Instead, those tiny rooms became launchpads for innovation, grit, and lasting impact.
Today’s billion-dollar empires often shine with glass walls and big logos, but their roots are far more humble. These early days remind us that big things can start in the smallest corners.
All it takes is a bold idea, some hard work, and a space—any space—where dreams are free to grow.
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