Famous Former Foster/Adopted Kids

Public Figures


  • Oprah Winfrey
    Media Mogul
    Kinship Care

  • Bill Clinton
    42nd President
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Steve Jobs
    Apple Founder
    Adopted

  • Dave Thomas
    Wendy's Founder
    Adopted

  • L.L. Bean
    Outfitter
    Adopted

  • Thomas Monaghan
    Domino's Founder
    Foster Care

  • Gerald Ford
    38th President
    Adopted

  • Sam Goldwyn
    Movie Studio Founder
    Foster Care

  • Vidal Sassoon
    Stylist/Business Owner
    Foster Care

  • Herbert Hoover
    31st President
    Kinship Care

  • Malcolm X
    Activist
    Foster Care

  • Nelson Mandela
    Activist/Politician
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Larry Ellison
    Oracle Founder
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Dr. Ruth
    Writer/Sex Expert
    Foster Care

  • Eleanor Roosevelt
    First Lady
    Foster Care

  • Jesse Jackson
    Activist
    Adopted

  • Coco Chanel
    Fashion Designer
    Foster Care/Kinship Care

  • James Michener
    Writer
    Adopted

  • Truman Capote
    Writer
    Adopted

  • Antwone Fisher
    Writer
    Foster Care

  • Maya Angelou
    Writer
    Kinship Care

  • Robert Peters
    United States Senator
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Tony Shellman
    Fashion Designer
    Adopted

  • Henry L. Jost
    Mayor, U.S. Congress
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Mickey Ibarra
    White House Advisor
    Foster Care

  • Somerset Moghaum
    Writer
    Kinship Care

  • Ben Nighthorse Campbell
    Politician
    Foster Care

  • David Pelzer
    Writer
    Foster Care

  • Percy Spencer
    Inventor of the Microwave
    Kinship Care

  • Rhonda Sciortino
    Writer
    Foster Care/Kinship Care

  • Tammy Baldwin
    United States Senator
    Kinship Care

  • Regina Louise
    Writer
    Foster Care

  • Dale Wasserman
    Screenwriter
    Foster Care

  • Lorraine Pascale
    Writer/Cook/Model
    Adopted

  • Edward Albee
    Screenwriter
    Adopted

  • Nadja West
    General U.S. Army
    Adopted

  • Ashley Rhodes-Courter
    Writer
    Foster Care

  • Shane Salter
    Speaker/Author
    Foster Care

  • Carl Hancock Rux
    Writer/Theater Director
    Foster Care

  • Harold Robbins
    Writer
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Bruce Oldfield
    Fashion Designer
    Foster Care

  • Kate Adie
    Journalist/BBC
    Adopted

  • Nancy Reagan
    First Lady
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Andy McNab
    Writer
    Adopted

  • Lisa Joyner-Cryer
    Reporter/Adoptive Parent
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Cookie Humphrey
    Celebrity Publicist/Author
    Foster Care

  • Les Brown
    Speaker/Author/Television Personality
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Marcus Lemonis
    Journalist/Investor/Business Personality
    Adopted

  • CT Wilson
    Politician
    Foster Care

  • John Paul DeJoria
    Entrepreneur
    Foster Care

  • Regina Calcaterra
    Attorney/Author
    Foster Care

  • Paula McLain
    Author
    Foster Care

  • Gene Siskel
    Author/Film Critic
    Kinship Care

  • Dr. Wayne Dwyer
    Writer/Speaker
    Foster Care

  • Tom Vilsack
    Politician
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Hugh Leonard
    Writer
    Adopted

  • Henry Darger
    Writer/Artist
    Foster Care

Entertainers


  • Richard Pryor
    Comedian/Actor
    Kinship Care

  • Keegan-Michael Key
    Actor/Comedian
    Adopted

  • Tim McGraw
    Country Singer
    Adopted

  • Jim Hoffmaster
    Actor
    Foster Care

  • Stevie "Little Stevie" Van Zandt
    Musician/Actor
    Adopted

  • Anita Baker
    Singer
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Charlene Tilton
    Actress
    Foster Care

  • Grand Master Flash
    Rapper/DJ
    Foster Care

  • Art Clokey
    Creator of Gumby
    Foster Care

  • John Lennon
    Singer/Beattles
    Kinship Care

  • Pitbull
    Rapper
    Foster Care

  • Chad L. Coleman
    Actor
    Foster Care

  • Kirk Franklin
    Musician/Entertainer
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Andy Dick
    Actor/Comedian
    Adopted

  • Gianna Simone
    Actress
    Foster Care

  • Barry Keoghan
    Actor
    Foster Care/Kinship Care

  • Courtney Love
    Singer/Actress
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Jamar Neighbors
    Comedian/Actor
    Foster Care

  • Monroe Martin III
    Comedian/Actor
    Foster Care

  • Robert Kelly
    Comedian/Actor/Podcast Innovator
    Foster Care

  • Joe DeRosa
    Comedian
    Adopted

  • Sam Morril
    Comedian/Actor
    Adopted

  • Adrienne Iapalucci
    Comedian
    Adopted

  • Pom Klementieff
    Actress
    Kinship Care

  • Angel Olsen
    Singer/Songwriter
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Candie Marie
    Actress
    Foster Care

  • Barbara Stanwyk
    Actress
    Kinship Care

  • Ella Fitgerald
    Singer
    Kinship Care

  • Tina Turner
    Singer
    Kinship Care

  • Tallulah Bankhead
    Actress
    Kinship Care

  • Willie Nelson
    Singer/Activist
    Foster Care

  • Carol Burnett
    Actress
    Kinship Care

  • Trent Reznor
    Singer, Nine Inch Nails
    Kinship Care

  • Tiffany Haddish
    Actress
    Foster Care

  • Marilyn Monroe
    Actress
    Foster Care

  • Jimmy Wayne
    Singer
    Foster Care

  • George Lopez
    Actor/Comedian
    Kinship Care

  • Angela Shelton
    Director/Actress
    Foster Care

  • Ingrid Bergman
    Actress
    Kinship Care

  • Bessie Smith
    Singer
    Kinship Care

  • Ice-T
    Actor
    Foster Care

  • Earl "DMX" Simmons
    Rapper/Actor
    Foster Care

  • Ray Charles
    Singer/Pianist
    Foster Care

  • Kid President
    Internet Sensation
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Ger Douny
    Model
    Foster Care

  • Sylvester Stallone
    Director/Actor
    Foster Care

  • Frank Stallone
    Singer/Actor
    Foster Care

  • Cher
    Actress/Singer
    Foster Care

  • Eddie Murphy
    Actor/Comedian
    Foster Care

  • Charlie Murphy
    Actor/Comedian
    Foster Care

  • Ray Liotta
    Actor
    Adopted

  • Cassidy Mack
    Actress
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Leonardo DiCaprio
    Actor/Director
    Kinship Care

  • Frances McDormand
    Actress
    Kinship Care

  • Eartha Kitt
    Actress
    Foster Care

  • Michael Bey
    Producer/Director
    Adopted

  • Billie Holliday
    Singer
    Kinship Care

  • Rachel Crow
    Actress/Singer
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • James Hetfield
    Singer/Metallica
    Kinship Care

  • Louis Armstrong
    Trumpeter
    Foster Care

  • Jack Nicholson
    Actor
    Kinship Care

  • The Game
    Rapper
    Foster Care

  • Faith Hill
    Singer
    Adopted

  • Xzibit
    Rapper/Actor
    Foster Care/Kinship Care

  • Rosie Perez
    Actress
    Foster Care

  • Skrillex
    DJ
    Foster Care

  • Art Linkletter
    Host/Producer
    Foster Care

  • Keisha Cole
    Singer
    Foster Care/Kinship Care

  • Leland Chapman
    Bounty Hunter
    Foster Care

  • Victoria Rowell
    Actress
    Foster Care

  • Steve Odecek
    Comedian
    Adopted

  • Tommy Davidson
    Comedian/Actor
    Adopted

  • Kristen Chenoworth
    Actress/Singer
    Adopted

  • Melissa Gilbert
    Actress
    Adopted

  • Eric Clapton
    Singer/Guitarist
    Adopted

  • James Brown
    Godfather of Soul
    Foster Care

  • Allan Pineda a.k.a apl.de.ap
    Rapper/Black Eyed Peas
    Adopted

  • James Dean
    Actor
    Foster Care

  • Felicia "Snoop" Pearson
    Actress/The Wire
    Foster Care

  • Jamie Foxx
    Actor/Singer
    Adopted

  • Snooki
    Reality Television
    Adopted

  • Steve Pemberton
    Actor/Singer
    Adopted

  • Gary Coleman
    Actor
    Adopted

  • Bo Diddely
    Singer/Guitarist
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Francois Truffaut
    Director
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Alison Anders
    Director
    Foster Care

  • Richard Burton
    Actor
    Adopted

  • Charlotte Ayana
    Actress/Model
    Foster Care

  • Priscilla Presley
    Actress
    Adopted

  • Rajesh Khanna
    Actor
    Foster Care

  • Debra Harry
    Singer/Blondie
    Adopted

  • Dame Kiri Kanaw
    Singer
    Foster Care

  • Derek Clark
    Speaker/Rapping Dad
    Foster Care

  • Sarah McLachlan
    Singer
    Adopted

  • Lee Majors
    Actor
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Little Richard
    Singer
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Darryl "DMC" McDaniels
    Rapper/Run DMC
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Eriq LaSalle
    Actor
    Foster Care

  • Esai Morales
    Actor
    Foster Care

Athletes


  • Scott Hamilton
    Olympic Figure Skater
    Foster Care

  • Billy Mills
    Olympic Runner
    Foster Care

  • Mike Tyson
    World Champion Boxer
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Babe Ruth
    Professional Baseball
    Foster Care

  • Greg Louganis
    Olympic Diver
    Adopted

  • Simone Biles
    Gymnast/Olympian
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Demetrius Jackson
    Professional Basketball
    Foster Care

  • Dorial Green-Beckham
    Professional Football
    Foster Care

  • Carlin Isles
    Professional Rugby/Olympian
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Tori Bowie
    Olympic Runner
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Darold Williamson
    Runner/Olympian
    Foster Care/Kinship Care

  • Ra'shede Hageman
    Professional Football
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Caleb Swanson
    Professional Basketball
    Adopted

  • Rich Swann
    Pro Wrestler
    Kinship Care

  • Michaela DePrince
    Ballerina
    Adopted

  • Quan Cosby
    Professional Football
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Tim Green
    Football Player/Author
    Adopted

  • Makana Kema-Kaleiwahea
    Professional Football
    Foster Care

  • Deland McCullough
    Professional Football Coach
    Adopted

  • Albert Wilson
    Professional Football Player
    Foster Care

  • Matt Breida
    Professional Football Player
    Adopted

  • Takkarist Mckinley
    Professional Football Player
    Kinship Care

  • Alonzo Mourning
    Professional Basketball
    Foster Care

  • Jimmy Graham
    Professional Football
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Aaron Judge
    Professional Baseball
    Adopted

  • Colin Kaepernick
    Professional Football
    Adopted

  • Michael Oher
    Professional Football
    Foster Care

  • Patrick Willis
    Professional Football
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Tyrann Mathieu
    Professional Football
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Scott Fujita
    Professional Football
    Adopted

  • Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah
    Triathlete
    Foster Care

  • Jim Thorpe
    Professional Football/Olympic Runner
    Foster Care

  • Duante Culpepper
    Professional Football
    Adopted

  • Lopez Lomong
    Olympic Runner
    Kinship Care/Adopted

  • Guor Marial
    Olympic Runner
    Foster Care

  • Dan O Brien
    Olympic Decathlete
    Adopted

  • Anthony DiCosmo
    Professional Football/XFL
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Reese Hoffa
    Olympic Shotputter
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Aaron Parchem
    Olympic Figure Skater
    Adopted

  • Toby Dawson
    Olympic Skier
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Brian Tyms
    Profesional Football
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Lorenzo Mauldin
    Professional Football
    Foster Care

  • Glen Davis
    Professional Basketball
    Foster Care

  • Kevin Van Noy
    Professional Football
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Sharrif Floyd
    Professional Football
    Kinship Care

Historical Figures


  • Andrew Jackson
    President
    Foster Care

  • Alexander Hamilton
    American Statesman
    Adopted

  • J.R.R Tolkien
    Writer
    Foster Care

  • George W. Carver
    Inventor
    Foster Care

  • John Keats
    Writer
    Adopted

  • Sir Francis Bacon
    Writer
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Edgar Allan Poe
    Writer
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • James West
    Boy Scouts Founder
    Foster Care

  • Wordsworth
    Writer
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Leonard Tolstoy
    Writer
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Dale Lambert
    Priest/Activist
    Adopted

  • Art Anderson
    Founder, Business Owner
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Ben Hooper
    Writer
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Juilette Drouet
    Actress
    Foster Care

  • Johann S. Bach
    Composer
    Adopted

  • Ivan the 4th
    Ruler
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Tocumseh
    Leader
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Johannes Kepler
    Scientist
    Foster Care

  • John Church
    Clergyman
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Bertrand Russell
    Philosopher
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Edward Langworthy
    Teacher/Politician
    Foster Care

  • Jean Rousseau
    Composer
    Kinship Care

  • Joseph Conrad
    Writer
    Kinship Care

  • Mariano Galvez
    Doctor
    Adopted

  • Simon Bolivar
    Leader
    Foster Care/Adopted

  • Henry Morton Stanley
    Explorer
    Foster Care

  • Leo Tolstoy
    Author of War & Peace
    Kinship Care

  • Aristotle
    Philosopher
    Kinship Care

  • Jonathan Swift
    Author of Gulliver's Travels
    Kinship Care

Look What We Can Do!

Movies

Music

Business

Sports

Did some of the names surprise you?

If you utilize this list to educate or inform, please be so kind as to cite Foster Focus magazine as your source. Thanks!