Famously Weird or Weirdly Famous?
Sep 09, 2025
Today seems like a good day to recognize the weirdos among us. When you were growing up, did the other kids ever call you “weird” too, like they did me? Then let’s celebrate us, too!
We humans put a lot of stock in conformity, when in fact it’s our uniqueness that sets us apart and makes us special. Some people are a bit more special than others, in more ways than one. Here’s a list of history’s top 5 weirdos, what made people consider them weird, and what made them special.
- Nikola Tesla - The man who created radio technology, alternating current electricity, and paved the way for getting power from thin air had an intense phobia of jewelry and round objects, kept erratic hours, and told people he received signals from outer space. His visionary technology concepts are the reason we carry computers in our pockets, have huge, efficient electrical grids, and his memory is honored by having a car brand named after him.
- Salvador Dali – Inspired by melting brie cheese, his vision redefined 20th century art. He enjoyed blurring the line between genius and eccentricity, showing up to events wearing crazy things like a deep sea diving suit, and of course there was that larger-than-life, crazier-than-cartoon mustache of his. The surrealist artist inspired several generations of artists and graphic designers, and he’s still a household name.
- Howard Hughes – This man wasn’t the first American billionaire – John D. Rockefeller beat him by about 20 years. He was far and away the most eccentric, though, living in dark hotel rooms for years, burning any clothing that he even thought had been in the vicinity of someone with any sort of illness, and of course there was his extreme reclusiveness due to his fear of germs. He was fascinated by both Hollywood and aviation, making a fortune as a filmmaker and revolutionizing aircraft design.
- Lady GaGa – This Catholic girl, raised in a stable, upper-middle-class family, knew she was born to make a splash. Some would say a scene. Wearing a dress made of raw meat, leaping from the top of the stadium to kick off her Superbowl halftime show, and smearing what appeared to be her own blood on her face during her performance at the Video Music Awards TV show, this is clearly a woman who’s comfortable being the center of attention no matter how weird she has to be to get there. She’s also considered an icon of the 21st century, influencing art, fashion, music, and the acting world.
- Steve Jobs – Is there anyone who doesn’t know his name? Of the world’s cell-phone users, half of them use his products. He was the co-founder and driver of Apple, a company with an almost cult-like following of users. Because of his barefoot business meetings, his fruitarian diet, and his mercurial personality, people never really knew how to react to him. He left a global tech empire that includes personal computing, phones, music, and animation.
If the highest of high achievers can be considered weird, then we’re in good company, right? If you were considered weird, was it because of anything as radical as a meat dress or hearing aliens talking to you?
When I was a kid, I wore glasses and was the new kid in school every year or two, because Dad was in the military and we moved often. As an adult, my life went to the dogs – literally – when I was about 21. I’ve never been without at least two dogs since then, sometimes many more than two, and my sports, travel, and vacations have mainly been connected with dog sports and dog people. Are there people who consider me weird? Most certainly. Do I care? Most certainly not.
If you are sometimes made fun of, mocked, or treated like you’re not quite good enough, remember the five people in this note. They were, too, and look where their weirdness took them.
