This list contains information about celebrities who have learning disabilities, loosely ranked by fame and popularity. Many famous actors, musicians, and game-changing businessmen have learning disabilities. Some of these celebrities have dyslexia while others suffer from ADHD. Two of the most brilliant computer scientists of all time overcame learning disabilities.
Who is the most famous person who has a learning disability? Justin Timberlake tops our list. This triple threat has ADHD and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Jim Carrey has received treatment for ADHD since he was a child. Adam Levine was diagnosed with ADHD. He says, "My doctor diagnosed me with ADHD in my early teens. What was really helpful to me was learning that this was a real medical condition – I had ADHD. The diagnosis helped explain the challenges I was having in school, including my difficulty focusing, sitting down and getting my school work done."
Bill Gates and Steve Jobs both had LDs. Jobs struggled in school, thanks to his dyslexia. The Apple founder even dropped out due to his frustrations. Gates suffered from ADHD, but he has triumphed over the disorder to become one of the most successful businessmen on the planet.
Are you surprised that so many famous and successful people and movie stars have learning disabilities? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Whoop Goldbeg says that she was labelled "dumb" in school. It wasn't until she was an adult that she realized that she had dyslexia. She also has ADHD.
Born: 11-13-1955
Age: 67
Birthplace: Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States of America
It is thought that Leonardo da Vinci was dyslexic because he wrote his notes backwards. Many historical accounts also note that he displayed many of the symptoms associated with ADHD.
Ozzy Osbourne has said of his dyslexia, "The only good thing about having dyslexia is that dyslexics are usually very creative people, or so I’ve been told. We think in unusual ways." He also has ADHD.
As Danny Glover struggled with reading growing up, his school staff labeled him retarded. His dyslexia gave him the feeling that he was not worthy to learn, and that the people around him would not care of what would happen to his education. He also has ADHD.
Nikola Tesla is thought to have had dyslexia because he described himself as not seeing things properly saying, "In my boyhood I suffered from a peculiar affliction due to the appearance of images."
As a teen, Cassius Clay struggled with high school. "Many of my teachers labeled me dumb," he said. "I could barely read my textbooks." He was later found to be dyslexic.
President Woodrow Wilson did not learn to read until he was about 12 years old. He had difficulty reading due to dyslexia and ADD, but as a teenager, he taught himself shorthand and was able to excel academically through determination and self-discipline.
Tim Tebow has dyslexia. He says, "You can be extremely bright and still have dyslexia. You just have to understand how you learn and how you process information. When you know that, you can overcome a lot of the obstacles that come with dyslexia."
"The looks, the stares, the giggles... I wanted to show everybody that I could do better and also that I could read," said Magic Johnson about growing up with dyslexia. He was also diagnosed with ADHD.
Born: 08-14-1959
Age: 63
Birthplace: Lansing, Michigan, United States of America
Caitlyn Jenner has dyslexia and ADHD. Caitlyn says, "If I wasn't dyslexic, I probably wouldn't have won the Games. If I had been a better reader, then that would have come easily, sports would have come easily... and I never would have realized that the way you get ahead in life is hard work."
Born: 10-28-1949
Age: 73
Birthplace: Mount Kisco, New York, United States of America
Richard Branson has dyslexia and ADHD. He says, "I was dyslexic, I had no understanding of schoolwork whatsoever. I certainly would have failed IQ tests. And it was one of the reasons I left school when I was 15 years old. And if I - if I'm not interested in something, I don't grasp it."
Born: 07-18-1950
Age: 72
Birthplace: Blackheath, London, London, United Kingdom
Jules Verne didn't let dyslexia stop him from writing successful novels like Journey to the Center of the Earth. Research also suggests that he displayed the symptoms of ADHD.
