Singer, bouncer, and teacher: Surprising jobs world leaders held before politics

As a child, Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped his father in selling tea at a train station. He also worked a tea stall with his brother at a bus station.

Narendra Modi – Tea Seller

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is taking on Russia in the ongoing war, had worked in comedy and media before entering politics. Interestingly, he played the role of president of the Ukraine on the TV show 'Servant of the People.'

Volodymyr Zelenskyy – Comedian

The German chancellor worked as a barmaid while studying quantum physics. "I got an extra 30 pfennig for each sold glass," she once told a biographer.

Angela Merkel – Barmaid

As a teenager, the Turkish president earned money by selling lemonade. Before entering politics, he also played semi-professional football.

Recep Tayyip Erdoan – Lemonade Seller

Before entering politics, Canada’s Justin Trudeau had a diverse range of jobs. He worked as snowboard instructor, bouncer, and teacher.

Justin Trudeau – Bouncer, Teacher

The Russian president was famously a KGB officer for 16 years before resigning in 1991.

Vladimir Putin - KGB officer

Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister of Italy, was a singer before entering politics.

Silvio Berlusconi - Singer

In his homeland of Buenos Aires, the pope of the Roman Catholic Church worked as a bouncer.

Pope Francis - Nightclub bouncer

While his real estate and commercial positions are more well-known, Trump's first job was picking up discarded bottles from his father's building sites to redeem for cash, which he credits with teaching him the importance of hard labour.

Donald Trump - Collecting Bottles