This tool is based on the work of user Arachobia on RPG Crossing with his permission. He had taken a list of tables from Dragon magazine #422 in an article called "Building Character" by Matt Sernett and updated them for 5th edition. I've turned them into an automatic tool for generating a characters background.

Instructions: Refresh the page to generate a new background story. As always, you can use it however you like and fill in your own details. Your age and acquired proficiencies are listed at the bottom and are based on the results you got. Try to pick a Race/Class/Background combo that fulfills all the proficiencies. Your age may also result in ability score modifiers that can be applied after building your character.

...or ignore everything and do whatever you want. Whatever.
Background Generator

(T.101): If this is your 1st roll on this table, your family was poor. You will have 25% less starting gold. Continue on to Table 2.

(T.2): You were separated from your siblings at birth. Re-roll on this table to determine who they were, ignoring a result of 1, 2 or 20

(T.2): An older sister and a stepbrother.

(T.3): Who doesn't want to run away and join the circus? Clearly not you, as that's just what you did. Roll on Table 30.

[d20 = 2]
(T.30): A juggler. Roll a d20. If you roll less than 12, the circus dumps you at the nearest place on Table 8.

[d20 = 12]
(T.8): A grove sacred to a community of dryads and treants. Roll a d20 now. On a 12 or higher, you manage to convince the fey to let you leave and make your way to the forest on Table 24.

(T.24): You take shelter in a cave that turns out to be the den of a pair of owlbears. When they return from their hunt, you are forced to flee deeper to Table 25.

(T.25): Beneath the earth you are suddenly confronted by a mind flayer. It waves its tentacles and you black out. When you come too, you eerily seem to have new knowledge. You will have proficiency in Arcana and are able to read, write, understand and speak deep speech. You also are somewhere else entirely: roll on Table 8 to see where.

[d20 = 3]
(T.8): A grove sacred to a community of dryads and treants. Roll a d20 now. If lower than 12, they curse you for your transgression. Roll on Table 7.

(T.7): You were cursed to never again taste food or experience any joy from music or song. Can you find the information you need to lift this curse on Table 11?

(T.11): You discover you need more information to find what you seek. You will have proficiency in Investigation. Roll on this table again, but regardless of what you were searching for originally, you now are seeking information.

(T.11): Good idea: Plying folk with drinks to try find information. Bad idea: Drinking so much yourself that you start a brawl in the tavern. Stagger on over to Table 23.

(T.23): You save the tavern owner's life and send the brawling patrons fleeing for their lives. The owner gratefully rewards you with partial ownership of the tavern. You will have +10% starting gold and proficiency in Athletics. Your life of adventure begins.


Total Rolls: 13
Your age is ADULT
Adults are at the most equalized stage of development. From here their physical body will begin to weaken while their minds and personalities benefit from experience.
Adults have no modifiers to their attributes.

Proficiencies:
25% Less Starting Gold
Arcana
Language: Deep Speech
Investigation
10% More Starting Gold
Athletics