The 20 Greatest Comebacks in History

After being ousted from Apple—the very company he had co-founded—Jobs went through years of professional hardship before making a triumphant return in 1997. He didn’t just come back to keep the company afloat; he completely revolutionized the world with the iPod and the iPhone. One can’t help but admire the way he turned a public failure into the greatest corporate turnaround of all time.

In the late 1990s, Hollywood would certainly have scoffed at the idea of hiring this actor. He overcame his struggles with drug addiction and his run-ins with the law to make a comeback, taking on small roles until he landed the lead role in Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr.’s story gives us hope that change is possible.

A winner of fifteen major golf tournaments, Tiger finally added another green jacket to his collection in 2019. After a series of back surgeries and personal scandals that could have ended the career of any other athlete, he refused to give up and fought his way back to the top.

Even though their mission did not succeed in reaching the Moon, the Apollo 13 crew deserves to be commended for achieving one of the greatest technical feats in history. When an oxygen tank exploded, NASA had only three days to convert the lunar module into a rescue craft before bringing the astronauts back to Earth safe and sound. One can only admire the way the team overcame such a traumatic event.

While other boxers had already retired by the age of forty-five, Foreman came out of retirement and proved that you’re never too old to pursue your dreams. By knocking out Michael Moorer, George became the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history. His optimistic personality makes us want to root for him.

Marvel Comics went bankrupt in the mid-1990s and had to sell the film rights to many of its iconic characters. Fortunately, the publishing house turned to a group of eccentric filmmakers who bet on a self-financed cinematic universe that would revolutionize Hollywood. It’s incredible to see how Marvel managed to bounce back after being dismantled.

Mandela spent twenty-seven years in prison for protesting against apartheid in South Africa. He eventually became the country’s first black president after leading the movement that peacefully ended racial segregation. His story will restore your faith in the goodness of humanity.

The tennis world was shaken when the world No. 1 was attacked by a spectator during a match, forcing her to spend several years recovering both physically and psychologically. She eventually made her return to the tour and won the Australian Open in 1996, proving that this traumatic experience had not broken her spirit. Her victory can be seen as a powerful message.

Sales of Nintendo’s GameCube suffered because it lagged behind its competitors in terms of graphics performance. The video game giant prioritized simplicity over technology with the launch of the Wii, appealing to children and grandparents around the world. It proved the skeptics wrong by selling more than 100 million units.

Before being elected president, Lincoln failed at almost everything he undertook. Whether in business or politics, he faced rejection time and again until he rose to the nation’s highest office. It is thanks to his perseverance that America still exists today.

Trailing the Falcons 28–3 in the third quarter of the most important football game of the year, no one would have blamed the Patriots for falling apart. Instead, they scored 31 straight points to force overtime and seal their victory after a spectacular comeback. 

After struggling with illness and poor performance in 1925, many journalists had already written off the “Bambino.” Yet he silenced his critics by hitting fifty home runs, leading his Yankees to victory in the World Series. Whenever life deals this legendary athlete a setback, he always comes back stronger.

In the 1960s, the bald eagle population had declined significantly due to habitat destruction and the use of the pesticide DDT. Conservation efforts have helped restore the population to the point where it can be considered one of the most impressive comebacks in recent wildlife history. Nature shows its full splendor when people come together to do what is right.

Howard Schultz stepped down as CEO of Starbucks in 2000, only to return a few years later when the coffee chain seemed to have lost its way. He once shut down the entire company for a day to organize a refresher training session, with the aim of refocusing efforts on product quality. Starbucks’ journey will inspire you to return to your roots.

Professional surfer Bethany Hamilton lost her left arm in a shark attack, but she managed to get back on her board just one month after the accident. Her disability did not prevent her from competing and coming out on top against the best in her sport. Discover what true perseverance is by watching her story.

We used to think that vinyl records were nothing more than museum pieces, until fans around the world rediscovered the nostalgic roots of music. Sales are on the rise again, proving that analog hasn’t completely disappeared yet. I love seeing how such an old technology has managed to make a comeback.

A young peasant woman with no military training should not have been able to lead an army to victory, and yet that is exactly what she did during the Hundred Years’ War. At a time when France had suffered years of humiliating defeats, she was responsible for a series of remarkable turnarounds that changed the course of the conflict. Her rise from obscurity to the rank of military leader is one of the most improbable comebacks in military history.

Chicago hadn’t won the World Series since 1908, which had led fans to come up with all sorts of legends to explain this century-long drought. But Cubbies fans around the world regained their enthusiasm when their team beat the Indians in 2016, after even managing to come back from a 3-1 deficit in the series. Watching their comeback will restore your faith.

While most automakers went bankrupt during the 2008 recession, Ford began liquidating its assets to stay afloat. The company bet on itself by restructuring its product lineup to focus on efficiency and technology. Its success will make you realize the difficult decisions companies must make to survive.

In the late 1960s, the “King of Rock ’n’ Roll” had spent years making unremarkable movies and felt increasingly left behind by the changing music scene. He took the small stage, dressed in a black leather suit, and delivered a raw, powerful performance that reminded the whole world why he was a legend. This unique televised event successfully relaunched his career.