By McKay Coppins
If at first you don't succeed ... you're in good company. It turns out that some of the world's most successful inventors, artists, and captains of industry had to rebound from epic failures before they made their millions. NEWSWEEK takes a look at some of the people who put plenty of sweat—and probably a few tears—into ideas that initially failed, and how their efforts eventually paid off.
PHOTO: Thomas Edison poses in front of a display for Edison Day in 1916.