10 Celebrities We Always Thought Would be on Top

After achieving fame and success, many celebrities often find that it is extremely difficult to hold on to.  Although the entertainment industry has the power to turn people into household names, it also has the power to send them right back where they came from.  For many celebrities, this often becomes a reality, as their days on top eventually come to a grinding and often surprising halt.  While it is true that no one can be on top forever, there are some people who seem like they stand a chance to defy the odds.  Unfortunately; however, many of those people will often learn the hard way that they are no exception to the role.  Here are 10 celebrities we always thought would be on top.

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10. Ja Rule

During the early and mid 2000s Ja Rule was one of the hottest rappers in the game.  With a slew of hits under his belt, it seemed like he had come up with the perfect formula to make his career last forever.  Unfortunately; however, time proved to be the ultimate test, and the rap game seemed to move in a different direction.  Also, Ja Rule’s beef with fellow rap star, 50 Cent also helped to play a role in his demise. Although Ja Rule has attempted to make several comebacks throughout the years, they have all proved to be unsuccessful.

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9.  Jaleel White

Jaleel White is best known for his role as Steve Urkel in the popular 90s sitcom, Family Matters.  Through his role as a dorky teenager, White won over the hearts of millions of viewers.  However, since Family Matters ended in 1998, White’s career hasn’t seemed to make much progress.  Although he has appeared in several other TV and film productions, White is no longer among the ranks of Hollywood’s most popular stars.

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8. Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Jonathan Taylor Thomas was once one of TV’s most popular young heart-throbs.  As a child star, Thomas seemed to have the entire world ahead of him, and many felt he would be around for years to come.  However, Thomas chose to pursue other interests outside of acting and became to focus on completing his education.  As a result, his reign at the top has come to an end, and many can’t believe it.

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7. Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff, well-known for her role as the title character in the Disney series, Lizzie McGuire, was once thought to be one of the most promising stars in the industry.  For years, it seemed almost like Duff would be on-top forever, she even managed to avoid many of the pitfalls that other child stars often succumb to.  However, as time went on, Duff’s star slowly began to fade, and other young stars began to surpass her.

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6. Mischa Barton

When Mischa Barton landed a starring role in the popular Fox series, The O.C., it seemed like she officially become one of the most popular young stars.  Unfortunately, it appears that Barton never quite met her full potential. Since The O.C. ended in 2009, Barton has yet to receive any significant roles in either film or TV.

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5. Missy Elliot

Throughout the 90s and early 2000s, Missy Elliot was one of the most popular and successful artists in hip-hop.  With a versatile set of skills, it seemed like Missy would always be able to land on her feet, and many fans could not picture the day where she would be out of the picture.  However, over the years, Missy’s footing became to slip, until eventually her new releases were fewer and farther between.  Although she will always be considered one of the best to ever do it, her days at the top seem to be a thing of the past.

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4. Lauryn Hill

When Lauryn Hill released her debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, everyone thought she was here to stay.  After winning five Grammy Awards for the albums, fans and critics were hailing Hill’s creative and innovative style. However, fame proved to be too much for Hill, and she eventually withdrew from the spotlight.  Although she has attempted to reenter the industry, she has not released an album since her 2002 MTV Unplugged project.

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3. 50 Cent

After gaining mainstream success in 2003, rapper 50 Cent, had made his mark on the game.  Aside from his music, he quickly became known for his tough image and his ability to face any feud head on.  Over the years, he also proved to be a very smart businessman who made several business deals that would keep him wealthy long after his days of number one hits were gone.  Unfortunately, when 50 changed his musical approach in order reach a more commercial audience, many accused him of turning his back on what he initially stood for.  Without his image to rely on, and his music sales slipping, 50 Cent’s career began to decline.

(Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images)

2. Shia LaBeouf

For a while it seemed like Shia LaBeouf has successfully transitioned from a child star to an adult actor.  However, that was eventually proven false when he began displaying extremely strange behavior in public. LaBeouf quickly went from one of the most popular stars to the butt of everyone’s jokes.  Although he has continued to appear on films, things just haven’t been the same for the former Disney Channel star.

(Photo by Rob Kim/Getty Images)

1. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen earned mainsteam fame for their portrayal of Michelle Tanner in the popular family sitcom, Full House.  Even after the show ended in 1995, the twins continued down the path of success by appearing in other shows and videos, and building their brand through their Dualstar production company.  However, but he early 2000s, things seemed to be changing for the Olsen twins, and they were no longer as popular as they once were. In 2007, after 14 years, their company Dualstar closed its doors.

 (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for JCPenney)

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