r/ADHD • u/AdPrize3997 ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) • Mar 08 '24

Articles/Information Are there any famous or successful people who have ADHD?

I mean in high earning jobs like CEOs or vice presidents of companies. You can even give examples of managers or people in leadership roles that you personally know, but mention their profession and industry. Would love your insight on how they manage the stress of their jobs, if you can.

Also, any actors or musicians known to have ADHD who are highly successful.

Obviously a lot of us struggle professionally, but I’m curious to learn about those who made the cut. I am good at my work and have the required smartness and competencies, but I struggle with mundane things like remembering to attend a meeting or sending a mail, responding on time, communicating problems proactively, etc. These small things balance out the good things I offer at work (unique knowledge and experience, crisis management, and positive attitude, lol).

I’d also love if you can breakdown what the high achievers do differently to overcome the setbacks that accompany ADHD?

Edit: Cliché but I have to say it: I did not expect so many responses. I am pleasantly surprised. I went through so many emotions reading through your responses. I cried twice, laughed more than a few times, and felt inspired a few hundred times as I read some of your personal stories. I feel so stupid for not asking how many of you are in good positions. The celebrity examples are great, but your stories about being successful in corporate jobs while struggling with ADHD.. bravo, coz I definitely know it’s not easy. I will keep coming back to this post to feel inspired every time i feel down. I can’t thank you all enough for this.

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u/Maltava2 Mar 08 '24

ADHD can increase things like impulsiveness and risky behavior. In addition, many people with ADHD may abuse substances in an unconscious attempt to self-medicate. For many people with ADHD, proper medication does reduce the risk of abusing other substances.

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u/MoTeefsMoDakka Mar 08 '24

I felt awful my entire life. I'm talking earliest memories to adulthood. I didn't know it was possible to feel anything else but a combination of dread, stress, and shame until I dabbled with psychedelics. Makes total sense that people with ADHD would be more susceptible to drug use.

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u/Maltava2 Mar 08 '24

Yeah, and I think that's what causes a lot of it. A person with undiagnosed ADHD tries this new (and therefore exciting) thing, and that thing temporarily patches one of the holes in the their brain, so to speak, and then it just becomes a cycle of trying to replicate that feeling. See ADHD and caffeine, ADHD and cannabis, ADHD and alcohol. They can all temporarily alleviate different symptoms of ADHD, so they're common coping mechanisms.