Rags to riches (also rags-to-riches) refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, and in some cases from absolute obscurity to heights of fame, fortune and celebrity —sometimes instantly. This is a common archetype in literature and popular culture, such as the writings of Horatio Alger, Jr.

Rags to Riches is essentially what the American Dream can be condensed to. A child grows up with oppressive living conditions or authority figures, usually in poverty, and overcomes them to end the story with wealth, status, a companion, and usually a kingdom of some kind.

The "rags to riches" stories that Horatio Alger Jr. wrote in the late nineteenth century helped Americans believe the myth that anyone could work hard and become a rich, "self-made man." His readers ignored the moral qualities of his heroes and instead focused on their success.

The "Rags to Riches" plot is one of the classic story archetypes identified by Christopher Booker in his book The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories. In "Rags to Riches" stories, the protagonist begins in a lowly state and achieves a significant transformation through a series of events, often involving wealth, status, or power.

Rags to riches refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, and in some cases from obscurity to fame--sometimes instantly.