1. Beyoncé

It's hard to talk about Texas celebrities without mentioning Beyoncé. The Houston-born singer has won 28 Grammy awards, sold over 100 million records, and become an icon in the music industry. But it wasn't easy getting there. Beyoncé started singing and dancing at a young age, and formed the girl group Destiny's Child in the late 90s. The group eventually disbanded, but Beyoncé went on to have a successful solo career, releasing hit after hit and becoming a cultural phenomenon.

Quantifiable example: Beyoncé's net worth is estimated to be $400 million, making her one of the richest women in entertainment.

2. Matthew McConaughey

Matthew McConaughey is a well-known actor, producer, and author. Born in Uvalde, Texas, he began his acting career in the early 90s in movies like Dazed and Confused and A Time to Kill. However, it was his role in the 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club that earned him widespread critical acclaim and an Academy Award for Best Actor.

Personal anecdote: McConaughey attended the University of Texas at Austin and is a die-hard Longhorns fan. He even starred in commercials for the university's football team.

3. Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson is a country music legend who was born and raised in Abbott, Texas. He's released over 70 albums and has won multiple Grammy awards throughout his career. But his road to fame was a bumpy one. In the early days, Nelson struggled to make ends meet as a songwriter in Nashville. However, he eventually made his way back to Texas and began performing in the music scene there.

Quantifiable example: Nelson's album Red Headed Stranger has sold over 3 million copies and is considered one of the greatest country albums of all time.

4. George W. Bush

George W. Bush served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000. Bush was born in New Haven, Connecticut, but moved to Texas as a child and considers it his home state.

Personal anecdote: I remember attending one of President Bush's rallies during his 2004 presidential campaign. The energy in the room was palpable, and it was clear that he had a strong connection with the people of Texas.

5. Ross Perot

Ross Perot was a businessman and politician who ran for president as an independent candidate in 1992 and 1996. He was born and raised in Texarkana, Texas and became a self-made billionaire through his computer company, Electronic Data Systems.

Quantifiable example: Perot's net worth was estimated to be over $4 billion at the time of his death in 2019.

6. Patrick Mahomes

Patrick Mahomes is a professional football player who was born in Tyler, Texas. He's currently the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs and has already won several awards and championships in his young career.

Quantifiable example: Mahomes signed a record-breaking 10-year contract extension with the Chiefs worth up to $503 million, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

7. Selena

Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, simply known as Selena, was a Tejano singer who was born in Lake Jackson, Texas. She rose to fame in the late 80s and early 90s and became known as the "Queen of Tejano music." Tragically, she was murdered in 1995 at the age of 23.

Quantifiable example: Selena's album Dreaming of You debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, making her the first Latin artist to achieve that feat.

8. Sandra Day O'Connor

Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman to serve on the United States Supreme Court. She was born in El Paso, Texas and went on to earn degrees from Stanford Law School and Oxford University. O'Connor served on the Supreme Court from 1981 to 2006.

Quantifiable example: O'Connor received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, in 2009.

9. Dan Rather

Dan Rather is a former news anchor who was born in Wharton, Texas. He's worked for CBS News for over 40 years and has covered major events such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the Watergate scandal.

Personal anecdote: I had the opportunity to meet Dan Rather at a journalism conference a few years ago. He was incredibly gracious and gave me some great advice on my career.

10. Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin was a singer-songwriter who was born in Port Arthur, Texas. She was known for her powerful voice and blues-inspired music. Joplin's career was cut short when she died of a drug overdose in 1970 at the age of 27.

Quantifiable example: Joplin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, cementing her legacy as one of the greatest musicians of all time.