When Nicole Richie was 3, her parents found it difficult to provide for her, so they agreed to have her move in with Lionel and his wife, Brenda. She was legally adopted by the Richies when she was 9. (Photo: Instagram)
Jamie Foxx, whose mother was also adopted, was adopted by his maternal grandparents shortly after birth. (Photo: Instagram)
Kristin Chenoweth was adopted into the Chenoweth family as an infant. She credits her success to her adoptive parent’s unconditional love and support. (Photo: Instagram)
Jack Nicholson was adopted by his maternal grandmother as an infant. He grew up believing she was his mother. His actual biological mother, was his sister. He didn’t find out the truth until he was 37 years old and both his mother and grandmother were already deceased. (Photo: Archive)
Nicole Snookie Polizzi was born in Chile before being adopted by an Italina-American family. (Photo: Instagram)
After his parents separated and decided they could no longer care for him, John Lennon was adopted by his aunt and uncle. His biological parents were in and out of his life. (Photo: Archive)
Steve Job’s biological father was Abdulfattah Jandali, a Syrian Muslim. Jandali’s girlfriend at the time was Joanne Schieble, but her parents objected to their mixed relationship, resulting in Steve Jobs’ adoption at birth by Paul and Clara Jobs. (Photo: Instagram)
Bill Clinton was adopted by his grandparents. His mother was widowed before he was born, so Bill was sent to live with his grandparents from a young age. (Photo: Instagram)
Faith Hill was adopted as an infant by her adoptive parents. When she was an adult, Faith searched for, and found, her biological mother. She was able to meet with her, and corresponded with her until her mother’s death. (Photo: Instagram)
When Ice T was 8, his mother passed away from a heart attack, and just four years later, he lost his father the same way. He was then raised and later adopted by his aunts. (Photo: Instagram)
Some of your favorite celebrities share a past that looks like something straight out of a movie. These singers, actors, politicians, and tech geniuses were welcomed by loving families at an early age.
The unconditional love, affection, and support of these families allowed some of the greatest names of our time build successful careers and leave their mark on the world. The lives of these 10 celebrities might have been very different if they had grown up with their biological families.
They say it takes more love to adopt a child than to have a kid of your own, and these celebrities know it first-hand. Click through our gallery to learn about 10 celebrities that your probably didn’t know were adopted.
