There are many examples of people in the spotlight who have ADHD. Learning about them can help us to realise that our ADHD can sometimes be an advantage, but more importantly that we’re not alone. Everyone in the categories below has a self-declared diagnosis.
Entertainment and Media
Ant McPartlin
Commonly known as one half of Ant and Dec. Ant went through a troubling time in the public eye back in 2018, leading him to be assessed and confirm an ADHD diagnosis.
Jessie J
A world renown singer, Jessie J announced in 2024 that she had been diagnosed with ADHD and OCD.
Gerta Gerwig
A director, screenwriter and actress Gerta has spoken in interviews about being high energy as a child and then later getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult.
Sports
Simone Billes
Decorated olympian and gymnast, Simone has 11 Olympic medals including 7 Gold. She publicly confirmed an ADHD diagnosis in 2016, when her public medical records were leaked after a cyber attack on the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Michael Phelps
The most decorated Olympian in history, Michael has won 28 medals altogether in swimming events. He has publicly discussed his ADHD diagnosis over the course of many years, stating he struggled in school as a child.
Lucy Bronze
England international football player and UEFA Woman’s Euro 2022 winner. Lucy has spoken openly about her diagnosis of AuDHD (Combined Autism and ADHD) in 2021.
Bussiness and Entrepreneurship
Sir Richard Branson
Richard Branson is best known as the founder of Virgin Group. Though not officially diagnosed with ADHD he has stated previously that he thinks it’s quite likely he has it.
Sara Blakely
A self-made millionaire through founding the company Spank. Sara has been very open about crediting her success to the hyperfocus she experiences as part of her ADHD.
David Neeleman
Has built five successful airline companies. Diagnosed in 2002, he credits his success to his ADHD which he says allows him to look at complex problems in different ways.
Politics and Public Life
Olivia Blake
The current sitting MP for Sheffield Hallem, under the Labour Party. She publicly disclosed a late ADHD diagnosis in 2022.
Tom Watson
A member of the House of Lords since 2022. He talked about his late in life ADHD diagnosis in June 2022.
Dame Andrea Jenkyns
The current sitting Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, under the Reform Party. She publicly confirmed her ADHD diagnosis in 2023.
Authors and Creatives
Dav Pikley
The children’s author of the well loved underpants series, as well as Dog man. Was diagnosed with ‘Hyperkinetic Reaction of Childhood’ as a child in the 70s. This is now what we refer to as ADHD.
Claire Allan
A bestselling Northern Irish author of psychological thrillers. Diagnosed with ADHD at age 47 and confirmed this in 2023.
FL Everett
A British Journalist and cosy crime writer. She was diagnosed as an adult and declared this very recently.
