You’d be surprised by how many famous people started out as waiters or bartenders. And a lot of times even when the people leave their serving past way behind, they still respect this tough and nerve-wrecking industry. And the best they can do is to tip their servers well. Or, like in these 25 stories, more than well.

25. Steak ‘n Shake ‘n Cash

Cece Bruce, a waitress from Indianapolis’ Steak ‘n Shake restaurant, couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw this check from one of the regulars. Apparently good job eventually pays off.

24. Generosity is a Gift

Waitress Kathryn from Morehead City’s Olive Garden didn’t even notice the huge tip she received from the family of five that remarkable day last December. It’s especially nice considering almost half of the bill was paid by the gift card.

23. Mystery Tipper

The staff of a farm-to-table restaurant in Phoenix had a very happy end of shift one day in December 2014. They discovered a mystery tipper left them $11,000.