Famous People with ADHD

Michael Phelps

From ADHD Kid to Olympic Gold Medalist

When Michael Phelps was in the sixth grade, he was fidgety and had trouble paying attention in the classroom. His pediatrician diagnosed him with ADHD and prescribed some medication. His teacher told his mother that her son would never succeed at anything because he couldn't focus on anything for a long enough time. His mother, too, was skeptical that her son could do well. Defying his teacher's and his mother's grim predictions, Michael Phelps went on to become the most decorated athlete in the history of the Olympics with 14 gold medals at the Athens and Beijing Olympics. But swimming isn't just a winning sport for Phelps; it's a way for him to cope with his ADHD.

Phelps' mom Debbie described her son's exhibition of classic ADHD symptoms: not sitting still or being able to focus. However, he channeled that into swimming, and with "continuous praise and positive reinforcement" Phelps had the encouragement he needed to score the golds.

Justin Timberlake

The Grammy-winning singer said in an interview with Collider.com that he has "ADD mixed with OCD. Well that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a famous musician and actor.

 Will smith

Actor, singer and a dad said on the Celebrities with Diseases website that growing up, he was the "fun one who had trouble paying attention", and that today, he would've been diagnosed with ADHD. He also recalls having trouble reading -- these days he follows along with books on tape.

 Jim Carrey

Funny man Jim Carrey is well known for his zany, all-over-the-place antics -- but he said on the Celebrities with Diseases website that's a result of his ADHD. He remembers coping by being the class clown, and said that it's "hard for me to come down from what I do."

Ty Pennington

Pennington, who was diagnosed with ADHD in college, said in the London-based Metro newspapers that carpentry is what helps keep him focused. Looks like his gig as the bundle-of-energy Extreme Makeover: Home Edition host couldn't be more perfect for him.

Sir Richard Branson

Virgin Founder and adventurer Sir Richard Branson has ADHD -- but that hasn't stopped him from owning a major airline, sending tourists into space, or building an underwater plane.

Branson's living proof of the statistic reported in Psychology Today that people with ADHD are 300% more likely to start their own company -- indeed, he started up his own magazine called Student when he was just 16.

Paris Hilton

The socialite/heiress/reality TV starlet said in her interview with Larry King on CNN that she takes Adderall to manage her ADHD, which she's struggled with since she was, 12.

Paul Orfalea, Founder of Kinko's

Paul Orfalea's dyslexia and "ADD to the max" may have caused him to flunk second grade and earn Cs and Ds in college -- but, in an interview with ADDitude magazine, he credits ADHD with helping him start the copy chain Kinko's (so-called for his own nickname, due to his curly hair). "With ADD, you're curious, “he said.

David Neeleman, Founder of JetBlue Airways

David Neeleman reported in an interview with ADDitude magazine his ADHD prevents him from being detail-oriented and completing doing day-to-day tasks, saying, "I have an easier time planning a 20-aircraft fleet than I do paying the light bill."

But Neeleman credits his success, and creation of JetBlue, with his ADHD -- saying that, with the disorder comes creativity and the ability to think outside the box.

For Further information, please read the following articles:
ADHD in children
Symptoms of ADHD
What causes ADHD
What teachers can do to help children with ADHD