The world's most powerful leaders are generally churned out of law offices, think tanks, boardrooms, and the occasional military coup. It's boring.
But on their way to high office, a handful of world leaders have tasted more interesting lives across a variety of fields — whether it's hawking goods, driving buses, or recording a funk album.
Some have leaned heavily on this to feign a popular touch while campaigning. For others, their surprising pasts are now all but forgotten.
Insider's completely subjective ranking here takes into account the weirdness of the job, the humility of their beginnings, and the sheer incongruity of their pasts with their future roles.