Successful People With ADHD: Simone Biles, Bill Gates, And More
Coping with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be challenging, but it is possible to effectively manage this condition and achieve success in various areas of life—from sports to academics to business and more. From captains of industry and historical figures to actors and athletes, many famous and successful people live with ADHD. After taking a brief overview of what it can be like to live with this condition, let’s look at the accomplishments of a few well-known individuals and their histories with ADHD.
What is it like living with ADHD?
ADHD is a form of neurodivergence that’s often diagnosed in childhood, though some don’t receive a diagnosis until later in life. It can manifest in different ways for different individuals depending on the presentation and the severity.
Some people experience hyperactivity, such as restlessness, fidgeting, talking a lot, interrupting others, and experiencing the need to be constantly on the go. Some live with impulsivity, which can make it difficult to stop and weigh the consequences of a decision before making it. Some also experience trouble focusing and paying attention and may be easily distracted. Low self-esteem and difficulties with emotional regulation are also common, and people with ADHD may be at higher risk of experiencing depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health challenges as well.
Although these symptoms can make various elements of work, school, and life more difficult, they may also help a person be more creative, energetic, spontaneous, and empathetic. Plus, ADHD is considered to be a treatable condition. Various types of therapy may help address symptoms, sometimes in combination with medication. A doctor or mental health professional might also recommend lifestyle changes like getting regular exercise and enough sleep and employing coping strategies like mindfulness, productivity techniques, and methods for reducing environmental distractions.
Famous figures who live or lived with ADHD
It’s entirely possible for people with ADHD to achieve success in many different ways. For inspiration, see the list below of several famous people from past and present who were or are at the top of their field—despite or perhaps even thanks to their ADHD.
Simone Biles
Simone Biles won seven medals at the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro for gymnastics: four gold, one silver, and two bronze. This achievement tied her with Shannon Miller for the most medals ever won by a US gymnast. Biles went on to win 23 World gold medals, making her the most decorated gymnast in the history of the Artistic Gymnastics World Championship. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022, and she broke the US gymnastics title record (one that had stood for 90 years) by winning her eighth US gymnastics title in 2023.
Shortly after the Olympic Games in 2016, the World Anti-Doping Agency database was hacked and Biles’s medical records were leaked to the public. They showed that she took prescription medication for ADHD. While the leak was intended to compromise Biles’s credibility as an athlete, the gymnast responded by confidently confirming her diagnosis and speaking up on behalf of individuals with ADHD. In a post on September 13, 2016, Biles stated that having ADHD and taking medicine for it was nothing to be ashamed of and nothing that she was afraid to let people know. As a result, she has been recognized as a celebrity who is helping end the stigma against ADHD as well as an example of the limitless success that those living with ADHD can achieve.
Bill Gates
Bill Gates is a significant figure in the tech industry and a well-known philanthropist. In 1975, he co-founded the Microsoft Corporation, a technology company that created the Windows operating system, the Xbox gaming console, and the Microsoft 365 suite of applications. With his ex-wife Melinda, Gates also founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an organization that funds charity work in areas related to global health, development, and education. Gates has also achieved significant financial success, holding the title of “richest person in the world” for seventeen non-consecutive years between 1995 and 2017. As of March 2024, Gates has an estimated wealth of over $128 billion.
Bill Gates is also known to be living with ADHD. In interviews, he has shared the struggles he faced in his academic career as a result of this condition, which led to him dropping out of college—and then pursuing personal ventures that eventually led to the founding of Microsoft. Gates has also publicly discussed his tendency to fill his days with constant activity, which could indicate a need for consistent stimulation or a response to potential restlessness due to ADHD.
Albert Einstein
Born in 1879, Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist credited with the creation of the theory of relativity and the mass-energy equivalence formula E=mc2—contributions that significantly impacted the fields of astronomy, quantum mechanics, and theoretical physics. Einstein was famous in many parts of the world and received a variety of honors and awards during his lifetime, including:
- Honorary doctorates from the Universities of Geneva, Rostock, Princeton, Madrid, Paris, Oxford, Yeshiva, ETH, Manchester, and Harvard
- The 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics
- A Copley medal from the Royal Society of London
- A gold medal from the Royal Astronomical Society
- The Max-Panck-Medal from the German Physical Society
- The Benjamin Franklin Medal from the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia
Einstein was suspected to have lived with ADHD, though this can’t be definitively confirmed because ADHD diagnoses were not yet commonplace during his lifetime. As such, this hypothesis is based on reports of his behavior from when he was alive. Although he was highly intelligent, he’s reported to have struggled with disorganization and forgetfulness as well as inattentiveness in school—all common symptoms of ADHD. He’s also likely to have experienced hyperfocus, which involves a person becoming completely absorbed in a task to the point where they tune everything else out, which is common in those with ADHD as well.
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was an artist, architect, engineer, inventor, scientist, and theorist of the Italian Renaissance who is known for numerous contributions to various fields. He’s credited with many different accomplishments, including:
- Creating the first concepts for the helicopter, tank, and airplane
- Advancing the study of civil engineering, hydrodynamics, and anatomy
- Conceptualizing concentrated solar power, plate tectonics, the double hull, and the calculator
- Painting the Last Supper and the Mona Lisa
As with Einstein, there’s no way to definitively confirm whether da Vinci had ADHD, since he lived in the 15th century before such a diagnosis had been conceptualized. However, in 2019, neuroscience researchers formally analyzed biographical information and historical documents in order to determine whether da Vinci may have experienced ADHD symptoms. Their findings indicate that da Vinci may have struggled with procrastination and time management since childhood, characteristics that can be related to ADHD. His higher levels of intellectual ability may also point to ADHD.
Greta Gerwig
Greta Gerwig is a director, writer, and actor who may be known best for directing the 2023 movie Barbie. The film made over $1.3 billion in worldwide box office sales, placing it in the top 20 highest-grossing films of all time (when adjusted for inflation) and making Gerwig the first solo female director to create a billion-dollar movie. Gerwig has written and directed other successful films as well, including Lady Bird and Little Women.
In a 2023 interview, Gerwig confirmed that she was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. The director also discussed her experiences as a child before receiving the diagnosis, including her excess energy and her mother’s tendency to sign her up for activities that would “tire her out.” Gerwig also talked about having “really deep feelings,” describing herself as “emotional.” It’s not uncommon for those with ADHD to experience emotional symptoms, such as trouble with mood regulation and effects like rejection sensitivity disorder (RSD).
Michael Phelps
Michael Phelps is a former Olympic swimmer who holds numerous all-time Olympic records, including:
- Most Olympic gold medals
- Most Olympic medals in individual events
- Most Olympic gold medals in individual events
Phelps participated in five separate Olympic games: the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, the 2004 Olympics in Athens (winning six gold medals), the 2008 Olympics in Beijing (winning eight gold medals), the 2012 Olympics in London (winning four gold medals), and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (winning five gold medals). He is recognized as the most decorated Olympian of all time.
In a 2017 interview, Phelps discussed his ADHD diagnosis, which he received as a child. He recalls struggling in school and even being told by teachers that he would never be successful. Phelps went on to discuss some of the childhood behaviors he now believes were connected to ADHD, such as “constantly bouncing off of the walls.” He continues to be an advocate for ADHD and mental health care, discussing his experiences openly and supporting treatment approaches like therapy.
Can online therapy help with ADHD?
While some celebrities have endorsed online therapy for addressing conditions like ADHD, does it really work? Research on the topic suggests that this type of therapeutic intervention may indeed be effective. For example, in one meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials of individuals with ADHD, findings indicate that online interventions may be effective in improving social function and attention deficit in adults and children with ADHD.
Speaking with a therapist may offer individuals a safe space to discuss their experiences with ADHD and discover healthy, effective techniques for coping with symptoms like inattention, impulsivity, emotional dysregulation, and more. Those who have trouble finding a qualified provider in their area might turn to online therapy instead, where you can get matched with a licensed therapist and meet with them from anywhere you have an internet connection.
Takeaway
Many successful celebrities and historical figures live with (or may have lived with) ADHD. Examples include Simone Biles, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Greta Gerwig, and Michael Phelps. Their stories may serve as inspiration for others living with this form of neurodivergence. Also know that treatment for ADHD is available. If you’re living with symptoms of this condition, it’s typically recommended that you meet with a doctor or therapist for evaluation and support, either online or in person.
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