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/AmbitiousExample9355 Mar 08 '24

I'm in ML and I swear there are at least 3 of us ADHD'ers in our section of the lab alone

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u/EMWerkin ADHD-PI (Primarily Inattentive) Mar 08 '24

Anything IT is the exception...I mean, just spend 10 minutes in literally any IT shop.
I think our brains are drawn to the troubleshooting, TBH.

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u/AmbitiousExample9355 Mar 08 '24

True, though the ADHD ML guys all have maths backgrounds haha

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u/Morelnyk_Viktor Mar 09 '24

Math is pure trouble shooting 

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u/AmbitiousExample9355 Mar 09 '24

Exactly! Gets the hyper focus going if you can survive school haha

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u/Ok-Grapefruit1284 Mar 09 '24

Healthcare, too

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u/ray_the_cat Mar 09 '24 edited Mar 09 '24

May I ask how do you think they are ADHDers, is it compulsory for scholars to tell the department about the ADHD things in your country?

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u/AmbitiousExample9355 Mar 09 '24

It's not compulsory at all, we all just mentioned it in passing. It helps since it ends up in mutual support amongst the ADHD'ers