Famous Only Children

Who are the most famous only children of all time? This is a comprehensive list of notable people with no siblings, including actors, athletes, singers, and world leaders. You might also be interested in celebrities from huge families and celebs from families of actors. Are you an only child? If so, you're in good company.

Some of history's most admirable and powerful people have also had single child status. United States Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Gerald Ford were both only children. Creative geniuses Leonardo da Vinci, John Lennon, and Robin Williams all grew up without siblings. Oscar-winners Charlize Theron and Natalie Portman are only children, too. 

Only children are a group surrounded by myth and stigma, most of which are entirely false. The stereotype of a socially stunted, spoiled brat stems from a 19th century psychologist named G. Stanley Hall who - among other absurd declarations about children - said, "Being an only child is a disease in itself." Like most psychologists of the time, his research practices were anything but credible, and tended to reflect his own prejudices more than anything else.

Who are the best celebrity only children in history? Modern studies show that once past their initial introduction to kindergarten, only children are just as social those with siblings, with personalities that vary just as much. Scholastically, the number of siblings within a family has also proven to be largely irrelevant. With the average family size shrinking, and only children becoming more common, society is moving beyond outdated stereotypes to recognize that all people can become successful.