ADHD can certainly present challenges, but as parents, we must remind our kids and ourselves that these challenges don’t define our potential for success. Just as I have seen many clients’ children flourish despite the difficulties, there are numerous notable individuals who have reached the pinnacle of their fields while managing ADHD. Read on to learn about some of the most well-known people with ADD/ADHD and see how they may have harnessed their unique strengths.
List of Famous People with ADHD:
Will.i.am: The performer, producer, and award-winning founder of the Black Eyed Peas has publicly spoken about having ADHD and is a testament to the fact that ADHD doesn’t limit creativity or success. He has stated that while ADHD makes it hard for him to keep his attention and sit still, these traits have worked well for him in studios and in meetings about creative ideas. He believes that his music helps with his ADHD, allowing him to keep his attention disorder “in order”.- Michael Phelps: Phelps is the most decorated Olympic athlete in history. He was diagnosed with ADHD in sixth grade. Despite facing difficulties, he found solace and focus in swimming. He could swim for up to three hours at the pool after school, even when he couldn’t sit through class without fidgeting. He attributes his success in swimming to his ability to focus intently while in the pool, as being in the water helped slow down his mind. Today, he promotes water safety and healthy living to youth through swimming programs via the Michael Phelps Foundation, hoping the pool can be a beneficial place for kids with ADHD and learning differences.
- Jillian Michaels: Known worldwide as a fitness expert and TV personality, Michaels is another famous person with ADHD who is a brilliant example of how one can have a successful career despite challenges. In the ADHD documentary, The Disruptors, Michaels talks about her struggles with attention and remembering things. And also credits her ADHD for playing a big role in what she has achieved, saying, “If I didn’t have this ADHD brain, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I’m pretty happy with where I am today.”
- Simone Biles: As one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, Biles demonstrates that ADHD does not hinder the pursuit of excellence in sports. She has won multiple Olympic gold medals and set numerous world records, cementing her place in gymnastics history. Biles used gymnastics as a way to cope with ADHD. She found that the sport was a good outlet for her to expend energy, which also helped her sleep better. Despite the challenges posed by ADHD, especially in a competitive sport like gymnastics, Biles was able to use ADHD to her advantage, using it to help her focus and expend energy. She has also used her platform to speak about mental health issues and the stigma surrounding ADHD.
- Trevor Noah: The South African comedian, writer, and television host is also part of our list of famous people with ADHD. Noah was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. He credits his ADHD as a factor in his ability to persevere and succeed despite the challenges he faced growing up in South Africa. After his diagnosis, he started treatment and implemented strategies to manage his symptoms, such as setting specific goals and creating a structured environment to aid his focus. He’s also embraced strengths associated with ADHD, like thinking creatively and adapting to changing situations quickly.
- Channing Tatum: Tatum also appears in the documentary, The Disruptors. Despite his challenges with ADHD and dyslexia, he has become a successful Hollywood actor, starring in hit movies like Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, and Step Up. Tatum has talked about how he manages his ADHD and his reading issues, saying that everyone’s on a spectrum and some people really need medications to help them while others might go a different route. He emphasizes the importance of using whatever you do to your benefit.
- Justin Timberlake: One of the most famous people with ADHD on our list, Timberlake has publicly mentioned he has both ADHD and OCD. In an interview with Collider, he has referenced the struggle of living with those two conditions. Despite this, he has achieved great success in his music and acting career, winning numerous awards and selling millions of albums worldwide.
- Howie Mandel: the comedian, actor, and television host, has also been diagnosed with ADHD. Despite challenges because of his ADHD and the effects it had on his social skills, he has become a successful comedian and TV personality, hosting shows like Deal or No Deal and America’s Got Talent. Mandel has used his ability to think creatively and come up with innovative ideas, allowing him to be successful in his career. He credits his family for playing a big role in preserving his self-esteem amidst the negative feedback ADHD had brought, “I don’t have a GED, and that really was bothersome. But my parents always laughed where it was funny, always hugged me when I needed it and you know, that was enough. That was really enough to get me to where I am today. I just felt they were my safety net.”
- Terry Bradshaw: Bradshaw is a former NFL quarterback and television personality who has also been diagnosed with ADHD. Despite his challenges with focus and attention, he has become one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl championships in the 1970s. While he was referred to as “hyper boy”, Bradshaw says, “I was always better in school when it was an activity, PE. Demonstrations, I loved that,” underscoring how the struggles he had in one area, academics, was balanced by the energy and talent he had in sports.
- Glenn Beck: Beck is a conservative political commentator, author, and television host who has also been open about his ADHD diagnosis. He has become one of the most influential voices in American politics, hosting hit TV shows like Glenn Beck and The Glenn Beck Program and writing several New York Times bestselling books. He has shared about the lots of negative feedback he’d get as a child, making him feel “stupid”. But later in life, he’d credit his ADHD for his ability to process many different inputs at the same time, “And, […] the only reason why I can do it is because of ADHD. And the more intense it gets, the better I am.”
Will.i.am: The performer, producer, and award-winning founder of the Black Eyed Peas has publicly spoken about having ADHD and is a testament to the fact that ADHD doesn’t limit creativity or success. He has stated that while ADHD makes it hard for him to keep his attention and sit still, these traits have worked well for him in studios and in meetings about creative ideas. He believes that his music helps with his ADHD, allowing him to keep his attention disorder “in order”.
Michael Phelps: Phelps is the most decorated Olympic athlete in history. He was diagnosed with ADHD in sixth grade. Despite facing difficulties, he found solace and focus in swimming. He could swim for up to three hours at the pool after school, even when he couldn’t sit through class without fidgeting. He attributes his success in swimming to his ability to focus intently while in the pool, as being in the water helped slow down his mind. Today, he promotes water safety and healthy living to youth through swimming programs via the Michael Phelps Foundation, hoping the pool can be a beneficial place for kids with ADHD and learning differences.
Jillian Michaels: Known worldwide as a fitness expert and TV personality, Michaels is another famous person with ADHD who is a brilliant example of how one can have a successful career despite challenges. In the ADHD documentary, The Disruptors, Michaels talks about her struggles with attention and remembering things. And also credits her ADHD for playing a big role in what she has achieved, saying, “If I didn’t have this ADHD brain, I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I’m pretty happy with where I am today.”
Simone Biles: As one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, Biles demonstrates that ADHD does not hinder the pursuit of excellence in sports. She has won multiple Olympic gold medals and set numerous world records, cementing her place in gymnastics history. Biles used gymnastics as a way to cope with ADHD. She found that the sport was a good outlet for her to expend energy, which also helped her sleep better. Despite the challenges posed by ADHD, especially in a competitive sport like gymnastics, Biles was able to use ADHD to her advantage, using it to help her focus and expend energy. She has also used her platform to speak about mental health issues and the stigma surrounding ADHD.
Trevor Noah: The South African comedian, writer, and television host is also part of our list of famous people with ADHD. Noah was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. He credits his ADHD as a factor in his ability to persevere and succeed despite the challenges he faced growing up in South Africa. After his diagnosis, he started treatment and implemented strategies to manage his symptoms, such as setting specific goals and creating a structured environment to aid his focus. He’s also embraced strengths associated with ADHD, like thinking creatively and adapting to changing situations quickly.
Channing Tatum: Tatum also appears in the documentary, The Disruptors. Despite his challenges with ADHD and dyslexia, he has become a successful Hollywood actor, starring in hit movies like Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, and Step Up. Tatum has talked about how he manages his ADHD and his reading issues, saying that everyone’s on a spectrum and some people really need medications to help them while others might go a different route. He emphasizes the importance of using whatever you do to your benefit.
Justin Timberlake: One of the most famous people with ADHD on our list, Timberlake has publicly mentioned he has both ADHD and OCD. In an interview with Collider, he has referenced the struggle of living with those two conditions. Despite this, he has achieved great success in his music and acting career, winning numerous awards and selling millions of albums worldwide.
Howie Mandel: the comedian, actor, and television host, has also been diagnosed with ADHD. Despite challenges because of his ADHD and the effects it had on his social skills, he has become a successful comedian and TV personality, hosting shows like Deal or No Deal and America’s Got Talent. Mandel has used his ability to think creatively and come up with innovative ideas, allowing him to be successful in his career. He credits his family for playing a big role in preserving his self-esteem amidst the negative feedback ADHD had brought, “I don’t have a GED, and that really was bothersome. But my parents always laughed where it was funny, always hugged me when I needed it and you know, that was enough. That was really enough to get me to where I am today. I just felt they were my safety net.”
Terry Bradshaw: Bradshaw is a former NFL quarterback and television personality who has also been diagnosed with ADHD. Despite his challenges with focus and attention, he has become one of the most successful quarterbacks in NFL history, leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to four Super Bowl championships in the 1970s. While he was referred to as “hyper boy”, Bradshaw says, “I was always better in school when it was an activity, PE. Demonstrations, I loved that,” underscoring how the struggles he had in one area, academics, was balanced by the energy and talent he had in sports.
Glenn Beck: Beck is a conservative political commentator, author, and television host who has also been open about his ADHD diagnosis. He has become one of the most influential voices in American politics, hosting hit TV shows like Glenn Beck and The Glenn Beck Program and writing several New York Times bestselling books. He has shared about the lots of negative feedback he’d get as a child, making him feel “stupid”. But later in life, he’d credit his ADHD for his ability to process many different inputs at the same time, “And, […] the only reason why I can do it is because of ADHD. And the more intense it gets, the better I am.”These are just a handful of the many famous people with ADHD, who have shown that ADHD is not a roadblock to success. They’ve re-framed what ADHD means to them. And have been able to harness their unique qualities associated with ADHD – such as hyperfocus, creativity, and the ability to think outside the box. And turned these qualities into catalysts for their career success.
Having a child with ADHD can often present a lot of unique challenges and questions. With an abundance of advice available, it can be overwhelming to decide what’s truly best for your child and family. To help with this and provide a straightforward guide, I put together a comprehensive online ADHD Masterclass.
This class is a clear and approachable guide for parents. It offers insights into what children with ADHD need, gives practical advice on managing big emotions, and assists in establishing helpful routines and habits tailored to your family’s needs. The Masterclass focuses on maintaining a strong, loving relationship with your child, even during challenging times.
If you’re looking for a source of reliable, actionable support, I encourage you to explore the Masterclass page. It’s designed to give you clarity and confidence as you navigate the journey of parenting a child with ADHD.
References:
- https://disruptorsfilm.com/a-listers
- https://additudemag.com
- https://additudemag.com
- https://www.ldrfa.org/comedian-trevor-noah-adhd/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trevor-noah-the-daily-show-60-minutes-2022-06-19/
- https://www.understood.org/en/articles/celebrity-spotlight-how-michael-phelps-adhd-helped-him-make-olympic-history
- https://www.understood.org/en/articles/channing-tatum-on-his-adhd-and-dyslexia
Photo credits:
will.i.am
Image by Toglenn, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Michael Phelps
Agência Brasil Fotografias, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jillian Michaels
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Simone Biles
Agência Brasil Fotografias, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Trevor Noah
Hayden Schiff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Channing Tatum
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Justin Timberlake
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Howie Mandel
Akumalbay12, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Terry Bradshaw
The ASI Show, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Glenn Beck
Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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