Knowing that famous people have ADHD can help us to feel inspired and ‘normal’!

A few summers ago, I had a conversation with a 9-year-old little boy who had been diagnosed with ADHD because he was struggling in school. He hated having ADHD. It made him feel different from everyone else, and he didn’t think it was fair that he had to struggle so much with things that all his friends found easy.

Clearly, he was hurt—and I really wanted to help. So, I asked him a few questions. As it turned out, he loved sports, and since the Summer Olympics was fresh in everyone’s mind, I told him about Michael Phelps having ADHD.

I had never seen such a rapid change in someone’s mood. Instantly, this little boy was thrilled. For the first time, he knew he would be OK. In fact, he believed he was going to be more than—because, clearly, having ADHD gave Michael Phelps the winning edge!

As adults, we aren’t that much different from that 9-year-old boy.

Even though we try to be cool and pretend that celebrities don’t influence us, the truth is—they do.  After all, we live in a celebrity-centric world.

Fortunately, famous people with ADHD can inspire us not only with their victories but also with their stories of struggle. For example, Michael Phelps was bullied as a child, and Tamara Mellon went to rehab.

In many cases, celebrities can show us that using their gifts—often the very ones that non-ADHDers want us to get rid of—is how they became successful. Their success paves the way so that you know success is possible for you, too.

6 Reasons Why Knowing Famous People Have ADHD is Helpful

1. It normalizes the condition – anyone can have ADHD.
2. It shows that it’s possible to have ADHD and still be successful.
3. Their stories can act as an inspiration for us.
4. It validates us. We realize we aren’t alone with quirks and ‘annoyances’.
5. It gives us confidence to use our ADHD strengths.
6. It gives us HOPE!

Here are 15 Famous People Who Have ADHD.

1) Tom Hanks

Movie star. Tom Hanks has won two Oscars for ‘Best Actor’. Interestingly, he credits his success to having ADHD (not in spite of it). He has starred in many brilliant movies including Philadelphia, Bridge of Spies, Forrest Gump, Saving Private Ryan, The Da Vinci Code, and Toy Story.

2) Richard Branson

Billionaire and founder of all things Virgin. Richard has achieved success in many areas of life, including business, relationships, and humanitarian work. You can learn more about the secrets of his success here.

3) Michael Phelps

Swimmer and most decorated Olympian ever! He has a total of 28 Olympic medals—23 of which are gold—and has competed in five Olympics. Learn about the lessons we can learn from him here.

4) Justin Timberlake

Singer-songwriter, actor, record producer. JT is an all-around performer. He can sing, dance, and has incredible stage presence. He is funny, genuine, and can fill a huge stadium in 6 minutes.

5) Robin Williams

Everyone loved Robin Williams. When he passed away, the sad news affected people all over the world on a deep level. We know he was a talented actor and comedian, and after his death, many people shared personal stories of how he touched their lives. He had empathy and a sweetness that resonated with us all.

6) Tamara Mellon

Founder of Jimmy Choo, the luxury shoe brand. Tamara thought of the idea of creating a shoe brand while she was in rehab. When she shared her idea, people suggested perhaps she could work in a shoe store first. However, like many ADHDers, Tamara was a big thinker and created the Jimmy Choo empire. You can read all about her life and adventures in her memoir called ‘In my shoes.’

7) Seth Godin

Author of 18 bestselling books including Tribes, Purple Cow, and What to Do When It’s Your Turn. He is a thought leader, entrepreneur, and writes on his blog every day.

8) John. F. Kennedy

The 35th President of the United States. One of the qualities that people who met him use to describe him was his vibrant energy.

9) Simone Biles

At just 19 years old, Simone Biles holds the title of being the most decorated American gymnast.

10) Albert Einstein

Theoretical physicist. Truly, there are no words needed to describe this legend.

11) Michael Jordan

Professional superstar basketball player. Considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time, MJ is known for his skill, talent, and burning desire to win.

12) Will Smith

Singer and actor. Will has won four Grammy Awards. He is also a two-time Oscar-nominated actor for his role in Ali, a movie about Muhammad Ali, and The Pursuit of Happyness. You can read all about his life in his memoir ‘Will‘

13) Salma Hayek

Oscar-nominated actress. Salma is also a director and producer and brought Mexican painter Frida Kahlo to life in the movie Frida.

14) Britney Spears

Pop icon. Britney is a Grammy Award–winning singer. She has sold 100 million albums and over 100 million singles, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

15) Ryan Gosling

Oscar-nominated actor, writer, and director. Ryan began his career starring in Disney Channel’s Mickey Mouse Club. He has starred in movies such as The Notebook, Lars and the Real Girl, and The Big Short.

Who is your favorite famous ADHDer? Leave their name in the comments below so we can add to this list!

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