18 Adopted Celebrities and Their Tales

Chances are you’ll assume you recognize all the things about your favourite celebrities. In any case, you comply with them on each platform and take a eager curiosity of their lives. Nonetheless, a few of the most well-known celebrities have saved intimate particulars of their lives non-public—like their adoption tales.

Past Hollywood, one in 25 American households has adopted a baby. With November acknowledged as Nationwide Adoption Month, there is no higher approach to have fun than by sharing the adoption tales of beloved public figures.

Beneath, we have rounded up a couple of celebrities you may not know had been adopted, together with a U.S. president, an award-winning director, and plenty of extra.

Nicole Richie

Actuality TV star Nicole Richie was adopted by singer Lionel Richie and his first spouse, Brenda Harvey, after her organic dad and mom may not afford to assist her. In 1983, when she was round 4 years previous, her dad and mom allowed her to maneuver in with the Richies. 5 years later, Lionel and Brenda formally adopted her, and she or he took on the Richie household identify.

Nelson Mandela

The primary president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, was adopted by Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo after his father died of lung illness in 1930. Mandela was raised alongside the royal household within the palace and attended a Methodist college.

Simone Biles

Seven-time gold medal gymnast Simone Biles and her youthful sister, Adria, had been adopted by their maternal grandparents in 2001. Biles usually credit her grandparents, Ronald and Nellie, for her success and refers to them as “Mother and Dad” in interviews.

Nancy Reagan

Nancy Reagan, born Anne Frances Robbins, skilled her dad and mom’ divorce in 1928. After spending time together with her aunt and uncle in Maryland, she moved to Chicago together with her mom, who had remarried. In 1938, her mom’s new husband, a outstanding neurosurgeon, formally adopted her. At the moment, she legally modified her identify to Nancy Davis and referred to her stepfather as her father from then on.

John Lennon

Though John Lennon’s dad and mom, Julia and Alf Lennon, by no means formally divorced, his mom’s sister, Mimi, took custody of him. Lennon ultimately misplaced contact together with his organic father however remained in contact together with his mom till her loss of life in 1958.

Snooki

Actuality TV star Nicole “Snookie” Polizzi describes her adoption as “destiny.” Born in Chile, she was adopted at six months previous by an Italian-American couple from New York. In interviews, Polizzi has steadily mentioned she has by no means looked for her beginning dad and mom as a result of she is content material with the household she has.

Invoice Clinton

Former President Invoice Clinton’s organic father, William Jefferson Blythe III, died three months earlier than Clinton was born. In 1950, when Clinton was 4 years previous, his mom would marry Roger Clinton Sr., giving him the final identify he’s now identified for. Clinton’s private expertise with adoption could have influenced the Adoption and Protected Households Act, which he signed into regulation in 1997. The regulation offers monetary incentives to extend adoptions from the general public foster care system.

Lana Condor

To All of the Boys I Beloved Earlier than star Lana Condor and her brother had been adopted from Vietnam in 1997 when she was 5 months previous. Her adoptive dad and mom, Mary Carol and Robert Condor, renamed her Lana Therese Condor. In July 2024, Condor shared on Instagram that her adoptive mom had died.

Sarah McLachlan

Certainly one of three adopted youngsters, singer Sarah McLachlan was adopted by the McLachlan household in 1968. At 19, she met her organic mom and realized that her mom had been a pupil when she gave beginning to her.

Jamie Foxx

At seven months previous, actor Jamie Foxx was adopted by his grandparents, Estelle and Mark Talley. Nonetheless, Foxx didn’t uncover he was adopted till he was 5 years previous. To this present day, he doesn’t have a relationship together with his organic dad and mom.

Religion Hill

In 1967, nation singer Religion Hill was adopted shortly after her beginning by Ted and Edna Perry, a pair from Mississippi. Hill has mentioned in interviews that her adoptive dad and mom had been all the time open together with her about her adoption, which made her really feel comfy with it. Ultimately, Hill reconnected together with her organic mom, who she later realized is an expert painter. Moreover, she found that she has a organic brother. To encourage individuals to contemplate adoption when beginning a household, Hill hosts an annual vacation particular that options tales from adopted youngsters and their dad and mom.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple, grew up figuring out he was adopted. His organic dad and mom weren’t allowed to marry because of his maternal grandfather’s disapproval of his father, who’s Syrian. Initially, Jobs’ organic mom refused to signal the adoption papers as a result of the potential adoptive dad and mom, Paul and Clara Jobs, didn’t have a university schooling. When Jobs was older, he met his organic mom and sister.

Keegan-Michael Key

Keegan-Michael Key was adopted at beginning by social employees Michael Key and Patricia Walsh. Though his dad and mom later divorced, he maintained a detailed relationship together with his stepmother and adoptive mom. Conscious of his adoption, he looked for his organic mom in his mid-twenties.

Hint Cyrus

Hint Cyrus is the organic son of Tish Cyrus, the ex-wife of nation singer Billy Ray Cyrus. He was adopted by Billy Ray Cyrus when he was 4 years previous. After the adoption, he legally modified his identify from Neil Timothy Helson to Hint Dempsey Cyrus.

Skrillex

Grammy Award-winning artist Skrillex, born Sonny John Moore, didn’t discover out he was adopted till he was 16 years previous. His organic mom was a household buddy who steadily checked in on him. In response to the information, Skrillex ran away from his residence in Los Angeles, California, and headed to Georgia.

Bella Poarch

TikTok influencer Bella Poarch was adopted from the Philippines when she was three years previous by an American man within the navy and a Filipina lady. In an interview, she revealed that she and her brother endured bodily and verbal abuse from their adoptive father all through their childhood.

Jordan Fisher

After successful Dancing with the Stars in 2017, triple-threat performer Jordan Fisher opened up about his adoption story. He shared that he was adopted by his maternal grandparents, Rodney and Pat Fisher, in 2005 when he was 11 years previous. His organic mom was 16 when he was born and struggled with substance abuse. Fisher’s two siblings had been additionally adopted by his grandparents.

Michael Bay

Award-winning director Michael Bay, finest identified for the film Dangerous Boys and the Transformers franchise, was adopted when he was two weeks previous. His adoptive dad and mom had been Harriet and Jim Bay. Michael was capable of finding his organic mom later in life however nonetheless doesn’t know who his organic father is.