Well, here's a start. It's not a perfect fit since this is just GED graduates and some may have gone on to college, but it does show you can move up even with just the GED and nothing further (though getting certificates from trade schools can always be a plus).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_notable_GED_recipients
Actors and comedians
* Christina Applegate, actor
* Bill Cosby, actor, comedian, and television personality
* Michael J. Fox, actor
* D.L. Hughley, actor and comedian
* Brandon Lee, actor
* Joshua Leonard, actor
* Kelly McGillis, actor
* Chris Rock, comedian, who also parodied the GED as a "Good Enough Diploma" in his comedy special Bring the Pain
* Michelle Rodriguez, actor
* Richard Schiff, actor
* Christian Slater, actor
* Talan Torriero, television personality
* Mark Wahlberg, actor
* Tori Welles, pornographic actor
[edit] Athletics & games
* Joe Bartholdi, Jr., professional poker player
* Michael Chang, professional tennis player
* Eddie Guerrero, professional wrestler
* T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver
* Stephen Leicht, stock car driver
* Tommy Nunez, NBA referee
* Danica Patrick, Indy Racing League driver
* Mary Lou Retton, Olympic medal-winning gymnast
* Mario Torres, Mexican soccer player
* Ron Turcotte, Triple Crown-winning jockey
* Oscar De la Hoya, professional boxer
[edit] Business people
* Wally Amos, founder of Famous Amos
* Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's Restaurant
* Jim Anderson Flowers, founder of Amaletzer & Co.
[edit] Computers and technology
* Christopher Blizzard, open source developer
[edit] Entertainers
* Aaron Carter, entertainer
* Paris Hilton, socialite and entertainer
* Pink, entertainer
* Jessica Simpson, entertainer
* Ana Voog, entertainer
* Eric West, entertainer
[edit] Journalists
* Peter Jennings, ABC News anchor
[edit] Musicians and singers
* 50 Cent, rapper
* Bo Bice, singer
* Julian Casablancas, lead singer of The Strokes
* Chris Cornell, lead singer of Audioslave and formerly Soundgarden
* Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead vocalist and guitarist
* Chad Ginsburg, guitarist of CKY
* Waylon Jennings, singer and guitarist
* Stefan Lessard, Dave Matthews Band bassist
* Bonnie McKee, singer-songwriter
* Rob Thomas, singer-songwriter, solo artist and lead singer for matchbox twenty
* John Michael Montgomery, singer
* Remy Shand, Canadian R&B singer
* Corey Taylor, lead singer of Slipknot
* Kip Winger, musician
* Elliott Yamin, singer
[edit] Politicians
* Ben Nighthorse Campbell, former U.S. Senator from Colorado
* Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States
* Jim Florio, New Jersey Governor 1990-1994
* Ruth Ann Minner, Governor of Delaware
* Harold Ray Presley, former sheriff of Lee County, Mississippi
* Paull Shin, member of the Washington State Senate
* John Huntsman Jr, Utah Governor 2004-Present
[edit] Writers and publishers
* Walter Anderson, editor of Parade
* Augusten Burroughs, writer
* Fran Lebowitz, author
* Steve Levicoff, motivational writer
[edit] GEDs in progress
* Fantasia Barrino, singer
* Jaime King, actor and fashion model
* Jack Osbourne, entertainer
Though I figure a good number of them went forward to get a college degree later on, I'll bet that a good number of them still went on working their way up before they got the degrees. It's possible, not to mention other work that can be said in this thread.
NOTE: Deliberately left off the "crime connections" and "fictional characters" parts. I'd say it's pretty hard to be a fictional character unless you have sheer determination and the criminal connection thing had a mix of victims and criminals and I'd strongly discourage you from being either.
