10 Famous People You Didn’t Know Were Adopted

Over the years, many celebrities have shared their stories about being adopted. They love to talk about adoption so they can help shed light on how adoption changed their lives. Here are the stories of 10 famous adoptees.
 

1. Simone Biles

Simone Biles and her sister, Adria, grew up with a birth mother who struggled with alcohol and drug addictions. When their biological mother was in jail, the girls’ biological grandparents, who already had two teenage sons, stepped in to care for them and then legally adopted Simone and Adria a few years later. Biles credits her grandparents with saving her life. Today she Today, she freely talks about her gratitude for being adopted.
 

2. Kristen Chenoweth

Kristen Chenoweth wrote in a blog about adoption, “If anything, I would thank my birth mother for loving me enough to make such a huge sacrifice. It’s a great gift for me to be able to say: “I know that I came from love, and I know that I have love.”
 
Kristen’s parents adopted her when she was one week old, they have always shared this information with her and made her adoption story positive and loving. Her first performances were singing in churches.
 

3. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was an American designer, inventor, co-founder, and chief executive of Apple Computer. When he was an infant, his birth parents placed him for adoption. At twenty-seven years old, he found his biological parents. They had married and had another child, Jobs’s biological sister, Mona.
 

4. Colin Kaepernick

Colin Kaepernick is an American football quarterback and civil rights activist. His adoptive parents welcomed him into their family when he was five weeks old. They already had two children.
 
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kaepernick’s birth mother was only 19 when he was born. Today, Kaepernick says his adoptive family is very important to him.
 

5. Jenna Ushkowitz

Actress, singer and podcaster, Jenna Ushkowitz has performed in Broadway musicals like The King and I and Waitress plus popular television comedy, Glee. Her adoptive parents brought her home from Seoul, South Korea when she was only three months old.
 
Adoption is very important to Ushkowitz. Today, she’s the co-founder of Kindred: The Foundation for Adoption, which gives adoptees and their families support, resources, and other services.
 

6. Faith Hill

Songwriter and country singer Faith Hill is one of America’s most-loved famous adoptees. Faith Hill’s adoptive parents welcomed her into their family when she was an infant in Mississippi. She grew up singing in the Baptist church, which influenced her life and put her on a lifelong journey into country music.
 

7. Nicole Richie

Lionel Richie and his wife raised Nicole and adopted her when she was nine years old. As a young child, her parents’ relationship was in trouble, so Lionel and his wife offered to take care of Nicole until her biological parents could settle things. Time passed, and she ended up becoming their adopted daughter.
 

8. Nelson Mandela

When he was twelve years old, Nelson’s father died of lung disease. Chief Jongintaba Dalindyebo, a high-ranking leader of the Thembu people, adopted him after his father passed away. Mandela left his small village and lived in the capital city with his new family, where he was groomed to become a leader of his people.
 

9. Lana Condor

Well-known actress Lana Condor’s adoptive parents brought her home from Vietnam when she was four months old. Today she’s an advocate for adoption and uses her platform to talk about it. Lana believes it’s important to not tiptoe around adoption but to speak freely about it to help break its stigma. She wants other girls who were adopted to watch her journey and know you can be just as successful as she is. She encourages adoptees to celebrate their adoption.
 

10. Snooki

Snooki, best known for her reality television role, on shows like Jersey Shore, Snooki & JWoww, and Dancing With the Stars. Her adoptive parents brought her home from Chile when she was six months old. She hopes to meet her biological parents someday but says that her adoptive parents are her real family. Snooki feels blessed to have had such an amazing life with her adoptive family’s love and support.
 

Famous Adoptees

You might recognize some of these names, but remember, every single life holds equal worth in the eyes of God. Each adopted child has the potential to make a difference that can resonate through generations, regardless of whether their achievements are publicly acknowledged. It’s important to celebrate all their stories, not just the ones that go viral!
 
Adoptive parents aim to create the best possible opportunities for the children they welcome into their families. These kids, in turn, have the chance to share their joy and inspiration with countless others through their creativity, careers, and advocacy efforts.
 
Thanks to modern adoption practices, children can have a sense of their roots and understand that their birth parents placed them for adoption out of love. Research shows that adopted children thrive best in homes filled with warmth, sensitivity, and attentiveness from their parents. While adoption doesn’t guarantee fame, it does offer a nurturing environment where kids can grow into happy, successful adults.
 
If you’re thinking about adopting your baby or young child, take the time to connect with the adoptive family. Understanding their vision for your child’s future can greatly help you in making this important decision.
 

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on January 24, 2021, and has since been updated.