It might come as a surprise, but some of the most famous people are adopted. While some people are born into a great family, others find their family over time. For these famous adoptive people, their family might not be blood relatives, but they have a closer bond than most. On the other hand, Hollywood stars have a reputation for adopting children from around the globe, such as Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Ted Danson, Hugh Jackman, and Brad Pitt. In most cases, the adoptive parents raise these individuals as their own in a loving and caring household. Luckily, this solid upbringing has helped many of these people become famous actors, inventors, singers, writers, and civil rights leaders. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the most famous adopted people.  18 Famous Adopted People 

  1. Frances McDormand Matteo Chinellato/Shutterstock Legendary actress Frances McDormand is the second woman in history to win the Academy Award for Best Actress three times. The iconic Hollywood star was born Cynthia Ann Smith in 1957 in Illinois. Her childhood and upbringing played a role in her career choices. At 18 months old, Noreen and Pastor Vernon McDormand adopted Cynthia, renaming her Frances Louise McDormand. Frances also grew up with an adoptive sister and brother. She’s one of the most famous adopted people in the world.
  2. Steve Jobs stevenote/YouTube Often considered a brilliant inventor, Steve Jobs changed how we consume information, entertainment, and even communicate. Shortly after Jobs’s birth in 1955, Paul and Clara Jobs adopted Steve since they could not have any more kids of their own. Jobs grew up in a supportive household with his adoptive sister Patti. His biological parents separated because they were of different religious backgrounds. Regardless, Jobs grew up in the best environment possible. 
  3. Nicole Richie DFree/Shutterstock Fashion designer Nicole Richie gained widespread fame in the popular reality series The Simple Life. Richie’s the daughter of Peter Michael Escovedo and Karen Moss. Richie’s birth parents struggled to raise her so the then three-year-old Nicole went to live with music icon Lionel Richie. Best known for the hit single “Hello,” Lionel adopted Nicole when she was nine. She remained with Lionel even when he remarried. Furthermore, Richie’s famous song “Ballerina Girl” is about Nicole.
  4. Jamie Foxx Cubankite/Shutterstock The Academy and Grammy Award-winning Jamie Foxx has starred in critically acclaimed movies and released chart-topping singles. Foxx was born in 1967 to Darrell Bishop and Louise Dixon. Seven months later, Foxx’s mother left him with her adoptive parents, Estelle Marie and Louise Dixon. Foxx would have little to zero contact with his biological parents. Despite growing up in a strict household, Foxx’s grandmother encouraged his sense of humor and musical talents. He often credits his adoptive grandmother for his immense success. 
  5. Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Actress Marilyn Monroe is a pop culture icon who transcends time. Decades after her death, Monroe remains a sex symbol of the 1950s and 1960s. She became a significant Hollywood star with roles in The Seven Year Itch and Some Like It Hot. Monroe’s childhood was difficult as her mother struggled financially. Because of this, her mother placed Monroe in a foster home. Struggling with mental health issues, Monroe’s mother eventually gave her daughter up for good. From that point on Monroe bounced around from foster home to foster home and 12 orphanages until she married at the age of 16. 
  6. Sarah McLachlan s_bukley/Shutterstock Canadian icon Sarah McLachlan is best known for the albums Surfacing, Mirrorball, and Wintersongs. Her adoptive parents were incredibly supportive of her extraordinary talents. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1968, her biological parents put her up for adoption shortly after her birth. Later, the McLachlan family took her in and adopted her. McLachlan had no intention of finding her birth mother, but a mutual friend introduced them when she was 19. Regardless, McLachlan was disinterested in meeting her mother. She said in Parents, “Perhaps I was too young to understand it, really, but it just never was a big issue to me. I never had this empty place in me thinking that I’ve missed out somewhere or that I was abandoned.”

See more about - 24 Celebrity Stage Names And The Stories Behind Them

  1. Malcolm X PennLive.com/YouTube Malcolm X played a crucial role during the civil rights movement. He was an outspoken Muslim minister and a human rights activist. Born in 1925, he was the fourth child of Louise Helen and Earl Little. An outspoken pastor, Earl had several run-ins with the white supremacist group Black Legion. Malcolm’s father mysteriously died in a streetcar accident when he was still young. After his father’s death and his mother’s hospitalization, Malcolm and his siblings were separated and sent to different foster homes. The siblings stayed in touch and reunited later. Furthermore, they secured their mother’s release from hospital 24 years later. 
  2. Faith Hill Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock The Grammy-Award-winning Faith Hill is best known for her chart-topping albums Breathe, Cry, and Fireflies. She began pursuing her dream at a young age thanks to her adoptive parent’s encouragement. Adopted in 1967, Edna and Ted Perry took Hill in as an infant. She grew up with two adoptive brothers. However, Hill’s biological parents eventually married and had a son. Hill later met her birth parents and biological brother.
  3. Nelson Mandela Alessia Pierdomenico/Shutterstock Known as the father of the nation, Nelson Mandela was the first President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was a famous anti-apartheid activist who served 27 years in prison. His birth father and adoptive father influenced Mandela’s path as a rebellious leader. Born in 1918, Mandela’s father died when he was nine. After his father’s death, Thembu Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo raised Mandela at the Mqhekezweni palace. It proved a critical moment in Mandela’s life that would shape him for his future challenges.
  4. Colin Kapernick  ESPN/YouTube Quarterback Colin Kaepernick rose to fame as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick made headlines when he began kneeling during the playing of the U.S. National anthem before each game to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Initially, Kaepernick’s adoptive parents remained quiet but soon publicly supported their son. Born in 1987, Kaepernick’s birth parents were a white woman Heidi Russo and an unknown African-American man. At five weeks old, a white couple, Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, adopted Colin and raised him with their two biological sons. 
  5. Kristin Chenoweth Playbill/YouTube Kristin Chenoweth has a long and illustrious career with roles in The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, and Schmigadoon. While many people might struggle with the revelation that they’re adopted, Chenoweth had a different experience. In fact, she considers it one of the best things to happen to her. She wrote in the Huffington Post, “It was never something that was hidden from me, and it is not something I have ever been ashamed of.” Adopted in 1968, chemical engineers Junie and Jerry Morris Chenoweth brought Kristin home five days after her birth. She is grateful for her adoptive parents and added, “I recognize how fortunate I am to have parents who love and support me unconditionally. The fact that they are not my biological parents does not change the fact that they are simply, my parents.” Chenoweth later met her biological mother.
  6. John Lennon TheMMProducties/YouTube The iconic John Lennon became a household name as a member of the famous Beatles. Born in 1940, Lennon’s birth father disappeared for six months leading to his mother remarrying. However, Lennon’s aunt, Mimi, complained to Child Services about the environment Lennon was growing up in. Lennon moved in with his aunt and her husband, George Smith. Lennon grew up in a supportive household and continued to visit with his mother on the weekends. 

See more about - 15 Richest Celebrity Couples In The World

  1. Ray Liotta Cigar & Spirits Magazine/YouTube Ray Liotta was best known for his roles in Something Wild, Field of Dreams, and Goodfellas. Liotta had a reputation for taking on roles shaped by his childhood. Liotta’s birth parents abandoned him at an orphanage shortly after his birth. Six months later, Mary and Alfred Liotta adopted Ray and raised him with an adoptive sister Linda. In 2000, Liotta hired a private detective to track down his birth mother and discovered that he had one biological sister, one biological half-brother, and five biological half-sisters. 
  2. Keegan-Michael Key Chapman Magazine/YouTube Keegan-Michael Key is best known as the co-creator and co-star of the hit sketch comedy series Key & Peele. He was born in 1971 to a Polish mother and an African-American father. His parents gave him up for adoption at a young age. Social workers Michael Key and Patricia Walsh adopted him soon after. Later, Key found his birth mother and discovered he had two half-brothers who had died by that point. 
  3. Dave Thomas Weird History Food/YouTube The founder of the famous Wendy’s restaurant, Dave Thomas, was known as an advocate for adoption. Thomas could relate due to his own upbringing and adoption. Born in 1932, Thomas’s birth parents gave him up shortly after he was born. Between six weeks and six months later, Rex and Auleva Thomas adopted him. Thomas had such a great childhood and experience that he created the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.  
  4. Snooki

Nicole “Snooki” LaValle gained widespread fame for her role in the hugely popular reality series The Jersey Shore and several spinoffs. Despite the series’s premise, Snooki has no Italian heritage, although she’s a proud Italian-American. That’s because her adoptive parents, Andy and Helen Polizzi, are Italian-American. Adopted in 1987, Snooki’s parents flew out of Santiago, Chile, to bring her home. They instantly clicked as a family and Snooki never searched for her birth parents. Later, Snooki took two DNA tests to discover her true heritage, revealing that she has Chilean, Asian, Jewish, and European ancestry. 17. Reverend Jesse Jackson Nobel Prize/YouTube Baptist Minister Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941. Jackson’s mother, Helen Burns, was 16 years old at the time of his birth. His father was Helen’s neighbor at the time, a 33-year-old married man named Noah Robinson. One year later, Burns married Charles Jackson, who adopted Jackson. However, Jackson maintained a close relationship with his stepfather and biological father.  18. Scott Hamilton TODAY/YouTube Figure skater Scott Hamilton is a world champion and Olympic Gold medallist. Regarded as one of the greatest figure skaters, Hamilton wowed audiences with his incredible routines and performances. Hamilton was adopted six weeks after his birth in Ohio. Professors Dorothy and Ernest S. Hamilton adopted Scott and raised him in Bowling Green, Ohio. He grew up with his parent’s biological daughter and one younger brother, who was also adopted. Hamilton later adopted two children from Haiti.

See more about - 18 Famous Lesbian Couples 

It might come as a surprise, but some of the most famous people are adopted. While some people are born into a great family, others find their family over time. For these famous adoptive people, their family might not be blood relatives, but they have a closer bond than most. On the other hand, Hollywood stars have a reputation for adopting children from around the globe, such as Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Ted Danson, Hugh Jackman, and Brad Pitt. In most cases, the adoptive parents raise these individuals as their own in a loving and caring household. Luckily, this solid upbringing has helped many of these people become famous actors, inventors, singers, writers, and civil rights leaders. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the most famous adopted people.  18 Famous Adopted People 

  1. Frances McDormand Matteo Chinellato/Shutterstock Legendary actress Frances McDormand is the second woman in history to win the Academy Award for Best Actress three times. The iconic Hollywood star was born Cynthia Ann Smith in 1957 in Illinois. Her childhood and upbringing played a role in her career choices. At 18 months old, Noreen and Pastor Vernon McDormand adopted Cynthia, renaming her Frances Louise McDormand. Frances also grew up with an adoptive sister and brother. She’s one of the most famous adopted people in the world.
  2. Steve Jobs stevenote/YouTube Often considered a brilliant inventor, Steve Jobs changed how we consume information, entertainment, and even communicate. Shortly after Jobs’s birth in 1955, Paul and Clara Jobs adopted Steve since they could not have any more kids of their own. Jobs grew up in a supportive household with his adoptive sister Patti. His biological parents separated because they were of different religious backgrounds. Regardless, Jobs grew up in the best environment possible. 
  3. Nicole Richie DFree/Shutterstock Fashion designer Nicole Richie gained widespread fame in the popular reality series The Simple Life. Richie’s the daughter of Peter Michael Escovedo and Karen Moss. Richie’s birth parents struggled to raise her so the then three-year-old Nicole went to live with music icon Lionel Richie. Best known for the hit single “Hello,” Lionel adopted Nicole when she was nine. She remained with Lionel even when he remarried. Furthermore, Richie’s famous song “Ballerina Girl” is about Nicole.
  4. Jamie Foxx Cubankite/Shutterstock The Academy and Grammy Award-winning Jamie Foxx has starred in critically acclaimed movies and released chart-topping singles. Foxx was born in 1967 to Darrell Bishop and Louise Dixon. Seven months later, Foxx’s mother left him with her adoptive parents, Estelle Marie and Louise Dixon. Foxx would have little to zero contact with his biological parents. Despite growing up in a strict household, Foxx’s grandmother encouraged his sense of humor and musical talents. He often credits his adoptive grandmother for his immense success. 
  5. Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Actress Marilyn Monroe is a pop culture icon who transcends time. Decades after her death, Monroe remains a sex symbol of the 1950s and 1960s. She became a significant Hollywood star with roles in The Seven Year Itch and Some Like It Hot. Monroe’s childhood was difficult as her mother struggled financially. Because of this, her mother placed Monroe in a foster home. Struggling with mental health issues, Monroe’s mother eventually gave her daughter up for good. From that point on Monroe bounced around from foster home to foster home and 12 orphanages until she married at the age of 16. 
  6. Sarah McLachlan s_bukley/Shutterstock Canadian icon Sarah McLachlan is best known for the albums Surfacing, Mirrorball, and Wintersongs. Her adoptive parents were incredibly supportive of her extraordinary talents. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1968, her biological parents put her up for adoption shortly after her birth. Later, the McLachlan family took her in and adopted her. McLachlan had no intention of finding her birth mother, but a mutual friend introduced them when she was 19. Regardless, McLachlan was disinterested in meeting her mother. She said in Parents, “Perhaps I was too young to understand it, really, but it just never was a big issue to me. I never had this empty place in me thinking that I’ve missed out somewhere or that I was abandoned.”

See more about - 24 Celebrity Stage Names And The Stories Behind Them

  1. Malcolm X PennLive.com/YouTube Malcolm X played a crucial role during the civil rights movement. He was an outspoken Muslim minister and a human rights activist. Born in 1925, he was the fourth child of Louise Helen and Earl Little. An outspoken pastor, Earl had several run-ins with the white supremacist group Black Legion. Malcolm’s father mysteriously died in a streetcar accident when he was still young. After his father’s death and his mother’s hospitalization, Malcolm and his siblings were separated and sent to different foster homes. The siblings stayed in touch and reunited later. Furthermore, they secured their mother’s release from hospital 24 years later. 
  2. Faith Hill Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock The Grammy-Award-winning Faith Hill is best known for her chart-topping albums Breathe, Cry, and Fireflies. She began pursuing her dream at a young age thanks to her adoptive parent’s encouragement. Adopted in 1967, Edna and Ted Perry took Hill in as an infant. She grew up with two adoptive brothers. However, Hill’s biological parents eventually married and had a son. Hill later met her birth parents and biological brother.
  3. Nelson Mandela Alessia Pierdomenico/Shutterstock Known as the father of the nation, Nelson Mandela was the first President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was a famous anti-apartheid activist who served 27 years in prison. His birth father and adoptive father influenced Mandela’s path as a rebellious leader. Born in 1918, Mandela’s father died when he was nine. After his father’s death, Thembu Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo raised Mandela at the Mqhekezweni palace. It proved a critical moment in Mandela’s life that would shape him for his future challenges.
  4. Colin Kapernick  ESPN/YouTube Quarterback Colin Kaepernick rose to fame as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick made headlines when he began kneeling during the playing of the U.S. National anthem before each game to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Initially, Kaepernick’s adoptive parents remained quiet but soon publicly supported their son. Born in 1987, Kaepernick’s birth parents were a white woman Heidi Russo and an unknown African-American man. At five weeks old, a white couple, Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, adopted Colin and raised him with their two biological sons. 
  5. Kristin Chenoweth Playbill/YouTube Kristin Chenoweth has a long and illustrious career with roles in The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, and Schmigadoon. While many people might struggle with the revelation that they’re adopted, Chenoweth had a different experience. In fact, she considers it one of the best things to happen to her. She wrote in the Huffington Post, “It was never something that was hidden from me, and it is not something I have ever been ashamed of.” Adopted in 1968, chemical engineers Junie and Jerry Morris Chenoweth brought Kristin home five days after her birth. She is grateful for her adoptive parents and added, “I recognize how fortunate I am to have parents who love and support me unconditionally. The fact that they are not my biological parents does not change the fact that they are simply, my parents.” Chenoweth later met her biological mother.
  6. John Lennon TheMMProducties/YouTube The iconic John Lennon became a household name as a member of the famous Beatles. Born in 1940, Lennon’s birth father disappeared for six months leading to his mother remarrying. However, Lennon’s aunt, Mimi, complained to Child Services about the environment Lennon was growing up in. Lennon moved in with his aunt and her husband, George Smith. Lennon grew up in a supportive household and continued to visit with his mother on the weekends. 

See more about - 15 Richest Celebrity Couples In The World

  1. Ray Liotta Cigar & Spirits Magazine/YouTube Ray Liotta was best known for his roles in Something Wild, Field of Dreams, and Goodfellas. Liotta had a reputation for taking on roles shaped by his childhood. Liotta’s birth parents abandoned him at an orphanage shortly after his birth. Six months later, Mary and Alfred Liotta adopted Ray and raised him with an adoptive sister Linda. In 2000, Liotta hired a private detective to track down his birth mother and discovered that he had one biological sister, one biological half-brother, and five biological half-sisters. 
  2. Keegan-Michael Key Chapman Magazine/YouTube Keegan-Michael Key is best known as the co-creator and co-star of the hit sketch comedy series Key & Peele. He was born in 1971 to a Polish mother and an African-American father. His parents gave him up for adoption at a young age. Social workers Michael Key and Patricia Walsh adopted him soon after. Later, Key found his birth mother and discovered he had two half-brothers who had died by that point. 
  3. Dave Thomas Weird History Food/YouTube The founder of the famous Wendy’s restaurant, Dave Thomas, was known as an advocate for adoption. Thomas could relate due to his own upbringing and adoption. Born in 1932, Thomas’s birth parents gave him up shortly after he was born. Between six weeks and six months later, Rex and Auleva Thomas adopted him. Thomas had such a great childhood and experience that he created the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.  
  4. Snooki

Nicole “Snooki” LaValle gained widespread fame for her role in the hugely popular reality series The Jersey Shore and several spinoffs. Despite the series’s premise, Snooki has no Italian heritage, although she’s a proud Italian-American. That’s because her adoptive parents, Andy and Helen Polizzi, are Italian-American. Adopted in 1987, Snooki’s parents flew out of Santiago, Chile, to bring her home. They instantly clicked as a family and Snooki never searched for her birth parents. Later, Snooki took two DNA tests to discover her true heritage, revealing that she has Chilean, Asian, Jewish, and European ancestry. 17. Reverend Jesse Jackson Nobel Prize/YouTube Baptist Minister Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941. Jackson’s mother, Helen Burns, was 16 years old at the time of his birth. His father was Helen’s neighbor at the time, a 33-year-old married man named Noah Robinson. One year later, Burns married Charles Jackson, who adopted Jackson. However, Jackson maintained a close relationship with his stepfather and biological father.  18. Scott Hamilton TODAY/YouTube Figure skater Scott Hamilton is a world champion and Olympic Gold medallist. Regarded as one of the greatest figure skaters, Hamilton wowed audiences with his incredible routines and performances. Hamilton was adopted six weeks after his birth in Ohio. Professors Dorothy and Ernest S. Hamilton adopted Scott and raised him in Bowling Green, Ohio. He grew up with his parent’s biological daughter and one younger brother, who was also adopted. Hamilton later adopted two children from Haiti.

See more about - 18 Famous Lesbian Couples 

It might come as a surprise, but some of the most famous people are adopted. While some people are born into a great family, others find their family over time. For these famous adoptive people, their family might not be blood relatives, but they have a closer bond than most. On the other hand, Hollywood stars have a reputation for adopting children from around the globe, such as Nicole Kidman, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Ted Danson, Hugh Jackman, and Brad Pitt.

In most cases, the adoptive parents raise these individuals as their own in a loving and caring household. Luckily, this solid upbringing has helped many of these people become famous actors, inventors, singers, writers, and civil rights leaders. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the most famous adopted people. 

18 Famous Adopted People 

1. Frances McDormand

Matteo Chinellato/Shutterstock

Legendary actress Frances McDormand is the second woman in history to win the Academy Award for Best Actress three times. The iconic Hollywood star was born Cynthia Ann Smith in 1957 in Illinois. Her childhood and upbringing played a role in her career choices.

At 18 months old, Noreen and Pastor Vernon McDormand adopted Cynthia, renaming her Frances Louise McDormand. Frances also grew up with an adoptive sister and brother. She’s one of the most famous adopted people in the world.

2. Steve Jobs

stevenote/YouTube

Often considered a brilliant inventor, Steve Jobs changed how we consume information, entertainment, and even communicate. Shortly after Jobs’s birth in 1955, Paul and Clara Jobs adopted Steve since they could not have any more kids of their own.

Jobs grew up in a supportive household with his adoptive sister Patti. His biological parents separated because they were of different religious backgrounds. Regardless, Jobs grew up in the best environment possible. 

3. Nicole Richie

DFree/Shutterstock

Fashion designer Nicole Richie gained widespread fame in the popular reality series The Simple Life. Richie’s the daughter of Peter Michael Escovedo and Karen Moss. Richie’s birth parents struggled to raise her so the then three-year-old Nicole went to live with music icon Lionel Richie.

Best known for the hit single “Hello,” Lionel adopted Nicole when she was nine. She remained with Lionel even when he remarried. Furthermore, Richie’s famous song “Ballerina Girl” is about Nicole.

4. Jamie Foxx

Cubankite/Shutterstock

The Academy and Grammy Award-winning Jamie Foxx has starred in critically acclaimed movies and released chart-topping singles. Foxx was born in 1967 to Darrell Bishop and Louise Dixon. Seven months later, Foxx’s mother left him with her adoptive parents, Estelle Marie and Louise Dixon.

Foxx would have little to zero contact with his biological parents. Despite growing up in a strict household, Foxx’s grandmother encouraged his sense of humor and musical talents. He often credits his adoptive grandmother for his immense success. 

5. Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Actress Marilyn Monroe is a pop culture icon who transcends time. Decades after her death, Monroe remains a sex symbol of the 1950s and 1960s. She became a significant Hollywood star with roles in The Seven Year Itch and Some Like It Hot.

Monroe’s childhood was difficult as her mother struggled financially. Because of this, her mother placed Monroe in a foster home. Struggling with mental health issues, Monroe’s mother eventually gave her daughter up for good. From that point on Monroe bounced around from foster home to foster home and 12 orphanages until she married at the age of 16. 

6. Sarah McLachlan

s_bukley/Shutterstock

Canadian icon Sarah McLachlan is best known for the albums Surfacing, Mirrorball, and Wintersongs. Her adoptive parents were incredibly supportive of her extraordinary talents. Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1968, her biological parents put her up for adoption shortly after her birth. Later, the McLachlan family took her in and adopted her.

McLachlan had no intention of finding her birth mother, but a mutual friend introduced them when she was 19. Regardless, McLachlan was disinterested in meeting her mother. She said in Parents, “Perhaps I was too young to understand it, really, but it just never was a big issue to me. I never had this empty place in me thinking that I’ve missed out somewhere or that I was abandoned.”

See more about - 24 Celebrity Stage Names And The Stories Behind Them

7. Malcolm X

PennLive.com/YouTube

Malcolm X played a crucial role during the civil rights movement. He was an outspoken Muslim minister and a human rights activist. Born in 1925, he was the fourth child of Louise Helen and Earl Little. An outspoken pastor, Earl had several run-ins with the white supremacist group Black Legion. Malcolm’s father mysteriously died in a streetcar accident when he was still young.

See more about - 24 Celebrity Stage Names And The Stories Behind Them

After his father’s death and his mother’s hospitalization, Malcolm and his siblings were separated and sent to different foster homes. The siblings stayed in touch and reunited later. Furthermore, they secured their mother’s release from hospital 24 years later. 

8. Faith Hill

Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

The Grammy-Award-winning Faith Hill is best known for her chart-topping albums Breathe, Cry, and Fireflies. She began pursuing her dream at a young age thanks to her adoptive parent’s encouragement.

Adopted in 1967, Edna and Ted Perry took Hill in as an infant. She grew up with two adoptive brothers. However, Hill’s biological parents eventually married and had a son. Hill later met her birth parents and biological brother.

9. Nelson Mandela

Alessia Pierdomenico/Shutterstock

Known as the father of the nation, Nelson Mandela was the first President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was a famous anti-apartheid activist who served 27 years in prison. His birth father and adoptive father influenced Mandela’s path as a rebellious leader.

Born in 1918, Mandela’s father died when he was nine. After his father’s death, Thembu Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo raised Mandela at the Mqhekezweni palace. It proved a critical moment in Mandela’s life that would shape him for his future challenges.

10. Colin Kapernick 

ESPN/YouTube

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick rose to fame as a member of the San Francisco 49ers. Kaepernick made headlines when he began kneeling during the playing of the U.S. National anthem before each game to protest racial inequality and police brutality. Initially, Kaepernick’s adoptive parents remained quiet but soon publicly supported their son.

Born in 1987, Kaepernick’s birth parents were a white woman Heidi Russo and an unknown African-American man. At five weeks old, a white couple, Rick and Teresa Kaepernick, adopted Colin and raised him with their two biological sons. 

11. Kristin Chenoweth

Playbill/YouTube

Kristin Chenoweth has a long and illustrious career with roles in The West Wing, Pushing Daisies, and Schmigadoon. While many people might struggle with the revelation that they’re adopted, Chenoweth had a different experience. In fact, she considers it one of the best things to happen to her. She wrote in the Huffington Post, “It was never something that was hidden from me, and it is not something I have ever been ashamed of.”

Adopted in 1968, chemical engineers Junie and Jerry Morris Chenoweth brought Kristin home five days after her birth. She is grateful for her adoptive parents and added, “I recognize how fortunate I am to have parents who love and support me unconditionally. The fact that they are not my biological parents does not change the fact that they are simply, my parents.” Chenoweth later met her biological mother.

12. John Lennon

TheMMProducties/YouTube

The iconic John Lennon became a household name as a member of the famous Beatles. Born in 1940, Lennon’s birth father disappeared for six months leading to his mother remarrying. However, Lennon’s aunt, Mimi, complained to Child Services about the environment Lennon was growing up in.

Lennon moved in with his aunt and her husband, George Smith. Lennon grew up in a supportive household and continued to visit with his mother on the weekends. 

See more about - 15 Richest Celebrity Couples In The World

13. Ray Liotta

Cigar & Spirits Magazine/YouTube

Ray Liotta was best known for his roles in Something Wild, Field of Dreams, and Goodfellas. Liotta had a reputation for taking on roles shaped by his childhood. Liotta’s birth parents abandoned him at an orphanage shortly after his birth. Six months later, Mary and Alfred Liotta adopted Ray and raised him with an adoptive sister Linda.

See more about - 15 Richest Celebrity Couples In The World

In 2000, Liotta hired a private detective to track down his birth mother and discovered that he had one biological sister, one biological half-brother, and five biological half-sisters. 

14. Keegan-Michael Key

Chapman Magazine/YouTube

Keegan-Michael Key is best known as the co-creator and co-star of the hit sketch comedy series Key & Peele. He was born in 1971 to a Polish mother and an African-American father. His parents gave him up for adoption at a young age. Social workers Michael Key and Patricia Walsh adopted him soon after.

Later, Key found his birth mother and discovered he had two half-brothers who had died by that point. 

15. Dave Thomas

Weird History Food/YouTube

The founder of the famous Wendy’s restaurant, Dave Thomas, was known as an advocate for adoption. Thomas could relate due to his own upbringing and adoption. Born in 1932, Thomas’s birth parents gave him up shortly after he was born.

Between six weeks and six months later, Rex and Auleva Thomas adopted him. Thomas had such a great childhood and experience that he created the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.  

16. Snooki

Nicole “Snooki” LaValle gained widespread fame for her role in the hugely popular reality series The Jersey Shore and several spinoffs. Despite the series’s premise, Snooki has no Italian heritage, although she’s a proud Italian-American. That’s because her adoptive parents, Andy and Helen Polizzi, are Italian-American.

Adopted in 1987, Snooki’s parents flew out of Santiago, Chile, to bring her home. They instantly clicked as a family and Snooki never searched for her birth parents. Later, Snooki took two DNA tests to discover her true heritage, revealing that she has Chilean, Asian, Jewish, and European ancestry.

17. Reverend Jesse Jackson

Nobel Prize/YouTube

Baptist Minister Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville, South Carolina, in 1941. Jackson’s mother, Helen Burns, was 16 years old at the time of his birth. His father was Helen’s neighbor at the time, a 33-year-old married man named Noah Robinson.

One year later, Burns married Charles Jackson, who adopted Jackson. However, Jackson maintained a close relationship with his stepfather and biological father. 

18. Scott Hamilton

TODAY/YouTube

Figure skater Scott Hamilton is a world champion and Olympic Gold medallist. Regarded as one of the greatest figure skaters, Hamilton wowed audiences with his incredible routines and performances.

Hamilton was adopted six weeks after his birth in Ohio. Professors Dorothy and Ernest S. Hamilton adopted Scott and raised him in Bowling Green, Ohio. He grew up with his parent’s biological daughter and one younger brother, who was also adopted. Hamilton later adopted two children from Haiti.

See more about - 18 Famous Lesbian Couples 

See more about - 18 Famous Lesbian Couples