As co-owner of the celebrated Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills, Beverly Cohen is sitting on top of the world. But the Four Seasons Hotel mogul made the hard climb to the top from unlikely roots. As a child, Beverly lived with her mother and Yiddish-speaking grandparents on a chicken farm in Cleveland, Ohio. Because they were poor the poultry was their staple, and her grandfather drove a horse and buggy to market to sell surplus chickens. Her mother was divorced and usually working. As the eldest of four, Beverly worked 12-hour days to help support the family, leaving little time for school. She did not begrudge her fate, however: In fact, she saw life as a challenge and an opportunity, and was determined to be successful.

When Beverly was 13 the family moved to Los Angeles, where her mother opened the only kosher chicken-killing plant on Santa Monica Boulevard, therefore becoming quite well known in the community. That same year, Beverly met her partner in life, Robert Cohen. Robert asked for Beverly’s hand when she was 16. When her mother asked how Robert was going to take care of her daughter, he answered, “Someday I’m going to be very rich...”