Many well-known folks may be narcissists. It takes a specific amount of narcissism to want to be entrance and heart and identified by everybody.
Right here we’ve got created a listing of public figures, each previous and current, who can probably be labeled as having narcissistic persona dysfunction.
These aren’t “official” designations, however they’re critiques of those people actions, quotes, habits and potential manipulation of the general public and friends which have been reviewed by psychologists to label these well-known public figures as potential, maybe even seemingly, narcissists.
These critiques, after all, are primarily based on the general public persona. Notably within the instances of historic figures the place it may be more difficult to determine who could have been a narcissist.
What Is a Narcissist?
A narcissist is an individual who shows persona traits in step with signs of narcissistic persona dysfunction (NPD). The psychological dysfunction can develop by genetics or from being raised round narcissistic folks. One examine, particularly, finds that grandiosity and entitlement are two widespread traits youngsters could inherit.
Narcissists have predictable persona traits and traits as acknowledged within the Diagnostic and Statistical Handbook of Psychological Problems, fifth Version (DSM-5 PDF). They’ve a false sense of self-importance and an outsized ego that requires fixed stroking.
Their actions and responses are linked to low shallowness and a relentless want for consideration. To deal with poor self-image and unworthiness, they search to claim management over others. This may occasionally result in ruthless behaviors if they’re unable to really feel regret.
Why Society Shuns Narcissists
On the core of narcissism is a excessive lack empathy or the lack of ability of a narcissist to attach with the emotional expertise of others. Treating others like a method to an finish turns into easy. A one-sided or transactional relationship will ultimately emerge.
These excessive on the narcissism scale usually tend to resort to psychological manipulation. It entails utilizing numerous methods to affect your ideas or acquire management, energy, fame, wealth, or relationship advantages. Techniques embrace guilt-tripping to get compliance, gaslighting to distort your actuality, and triangulation to instill insecurity.
As emotionally dangerous as it’s, psychologists describe manipulation as a coping technique narcissists use to buffer their insecurity and low self-worth.
However right here’s the clincher. Relationships with a narcissist are sometimes purely transactional and could be profoundly damaging to your psychological well being. In his guide, Invoice Eddy, LCSW, Esq, agrees that narcissists are one in every of 5 Kinds of Folks Who Can Destroy Your Life.
High Indicators Somebody Is likely to be a Narcissist
An individual might probably be a narcissist in the event that they present the next traits, traits, or habits on a persistent foundation:
- Overstating their significance
- Making grand statements about themselves (E.g.,“I’m the very best.“)
- Exhibiting little to no care on your opinions and emotions (lack of empathy)
- Overvaluing themself (superiority advanced) whereas devaluing others
- Disobeying guidelines, authority, and bounds
- Believing they’re particular or distinctive
- Creativity
- Obsessing over limitless wealth, energy, or magnificence
- Reacting negatively, with anger or defensiveness, to criticism
- Envying others and believing they’re envied by folks
- Controlling relationships by coercion and manipulation to safe their wants
- Exhibiting ongoing conceitedness or detachment from actuality (delusions)
- Taking part in the sufferer to keep away from duty or acquire assist
High Celebrities with Daring Narcissistic Traits
Within the dazzling world of the leisure trade, sure entertainers stand out not just for their exceptional achievements but in addition for his or her pronounced narcissistic traits.
These people usually exhibit a powerful tendency to hunt fixed admiration, basking within the highlight whereas showcasing management types that prioritize self-promotion over collaboration. Their larger-than-life personas captivate audiences, but their behaviors can reveal a fancy interaction of confidence and self-obsession, making them fascinating figures to discover.
Beneath is a listing of notable celebrities whose narcissistic tendencies have sparked intrigue and dialogue
1. Donald Trump
Many individuals suppose Trump shows all of the traits of a basic narcissist. “Many good folks. Most of the finest folks, say it.” As he would say.
His narcissistic interactions are at all times within the highlight. And are likened to these linked to grandiose narcissism. The indicators performed out in public quite a few instances with Trump’s grand claims about his unfettered powers and superpower talents. The assumption is an instance of a delusion of grandeur seen in grandiose narcissists.
Now the notion of whether or not his narcissism is an efficient factor or a nasty factor is way more nuanced. You is usually a narcissist, particularly in politics, and maybe do “good issues”. I’d even enterprise so far as to say that politicians and actors quite common professionals for all narcissists, and Trump has been each.
The president shows robust self-centeredness traits, usually referring to himself numerous instances, indicators of NPD, based on Dr John Zinner, a psychoanalyst and medical professor on the George Washington College College of Medication.
2. Oprah Winfrey
Many individuals love Oprah. She could also be a pressure for good on the planet. However do not suppose that precludes her from being a narcissist.
Oprah Winfrey’s identify reveals up on a number of lists of narcissistic celebrities. Winfrey is a profitable American discuss present host, actress, producer, and philanthropist. Who can neglect her grand gestures on her Oprah Winfrey present?
Grandiosity is an indication of overt and communal narcissism, says Dr. Patrice Le Goy, a psychologist and Licensed Marriage and Household Therapist.
Winfrey introduced herself as an extremely charming one that donated tens of millions to causes to point out how a lot she cares about folks. Psychology specialists can see proper by that facade. Oprah is extensively seen as an egotistical, self-obsessed particular person whose aim is self-promotion. She could do a ton of web good, however she would possibly nonetheless be a narcissist.
Take a better have a look at the traits of a communal narcissist. You could discover many match the Coloration Purple actress completely.
3. Elon Musk
How does, the richest particular person on the planet find yourself there? Elon Musk, proprietor of Tesla and Area X, owes it to his braggadocios and attention-seeking habits.
Musk habitually makes use of his social media platform, X, as an attention-seeking software for highlighting his brilliance and accomplishments. He persistently reminds tweeters he’s the richest on the planet.
The issue with narcissists like Musk is that they attract us with their charism whereas concurrently turning us off with their conceited, haughty, and controlling habits.
4. Kim Jung-Un
Whether or not you consider him as well-known or just notorious, Kim Jong-un isn’t a fan of empaths. The North Korean chief’s seen lack of empathy, or disregard for the struggling of others, contradicts every little thing empaths embrace.
The empathetic void is evidenced in Jung-un’s ruthless governance over his folks. For instance, the demise sentence for “importing or distributing international content material.”
Recognized for his draconian rulership and threats to make use of nuclear weapons, on the West and their allies, Jung-un continues to painting himself as a “god”. Exalting himself as particular and distinctive above different human beings align with the signs of narcissistic persona dysfunction.
Analysis confirms Kim Jung-un reveals a “maladaptive persona” in step with DSM-V. Kim’s major persona sample reveals he’s an extrovert who’s dominant and controlling on the core.
5. Ye (aka Kanye West)
The infamous rapper and Kim Kardashian’s ex-husband, Ye, is described within the media as a “grandiose”, “conceited”, “self-obsessed”, and “delusional narcissist”. To not point out controversial and over-the-top like Donald Trump who he associates with. Birds of a feather?
The style designer referred to himself as a “genius” a number of instances, based on Politico’s Editor, Joanna Weiss. He advised Wendy Williams on her present, “I’m the primary human being in music. Which means any person who’s residing or respiratory is quantity two.”
Bragging about themselves is an overt narcissist’s means of exaggerating their self-worth.
At his 2014 live performance in Sydney, Australia, the “Donda” singer ordered everybody to face up in the event that they needed him to proceed singing. “Until you bought a handicap move and also you get particular parking and sh*t,” he ordered.
6. Kim Kardashian
From a public POV, Kim Kardashian, the well-known socialite and actuality TV star, has a narcissistic persona.
The Conserving Up with the Kardashians star is appropriately dubbed ‘the selfie queen’. The truth is, she virtually constructed her profession by capitalizing on her look.
Within the context of narcissism, continuously posting selfies reveals an obsession with self and a starvation for consideration and validation of her seems to be. Life Administration and hypnotherapist, Kim Friedmutter, endorses it as “a type of narcissistic habits.”
7. Mark Zuckerberg
Mark Zuckerberg’s management model, characterised by strategic risk-taking and a deal with innovation over moral issues, aligns with narcissistic traits resembling a necessity for admiration and a scarcity of empathy, as famous by psychologists analyzing his public persona.
Dr. Amy Brunell, a psychologist at Ohio State College, means that narcissists like Zuckerberg prioritize self-centered objectives, which may hinder collaborative decision-making, as seen in his controversial dealing with of Fb’s person information.
8. Tiger Woods
The headline, “Tiger Woods Is Branded a ‘Pathological Narcissist,” appeared in a number of articles in 2019. Cheater? Sure. However narcissist? Stunning, proper? The headlines adopted Roaring Again – the Fall and Rise of Tiger Woods, a biography authored by Curt Sampson.
Within the guide, Sampson sought to show the American golf champion’s relationships which Sports activities Illustrated author, John Garrity, describes as self-serving. Sampson quotes Garrity as saying, ‘All of his human relationships had been transactional.’ Woods solely aligned himself with individuals who might advance his profession or meet his wants.
9. Mariah Carey
Without end a diva in her personal eyes, Mariah Carey exudes an air of superiority. The trait turns into evident in cases the place she suggests she’s past the norm. How about when the “I’ll Be There” singer advised US Weekly she swims in “night robes and heels?”
On yet one more event, Carey displayed the blame-shifting and superiority nature of narcissism. It was New Yr’s Eve, 2016, when as a substitute of a smashing efficiency, the singer reportedly had an lip–syncing catastrophe.
She advised Rolling Stone, “Even the dancers ought to have stopped dancing and helped me off the f—ing stage…It was a multitude, and I blame everyone.”
11. Madonna
Madonna’s relentless pursuit of the highlight and her rigorously curated public picture replicate narcissistic traits, notably her obvious want for fixed admiration from followers and media. Her tendency to reinvent herself whereas sustaining a larger-than-life persona aligns with what psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula describes as “narcissists’ drive to stay the focus, usually prioritizing their picture over authenticity”
12. Elizabeth Holmes
Elizabeth Holmes is the founding father of Theranos. The biotechnology businesswoman is serving time in jail for fraud and conspiracy for mendacity to buyers. Seemingly charming on the skin, Holmes is thought to be a“poisonous boss who exhibited narcissistic habits,” by her ruthless remedy and unempathic discard of workers.
Holmes is likened to a narcissist with a excessive absence of empathy, and presumably even a sociopath. Word the NINE key variations between Sociopaths VS Narcissists.
14. Beyonce Knowles
The Bee Hive could also be in denial, however there’s a superb likelihood their beloved and adored Beyonce Giselle Knowles is a narcissist.
The singer tells GQ Journal, “I now know that sure, I’m highly effective.” “I’m extra highly effective than my thoughts may even digest and perceive.” These are two of many grandiose statements the singer made about herself all through her profession.
Word: Knowledgeable psychologist or psychotherapist must medically assess the people on the lists of well-known narcissists to verify they’re, actually, DSM-5 narcissists.
Historic Figures with Narcissistic Aptitude
Narcissistic tendencies in historic figures, resembling grandiose actions or relentless self-promotion, can solely be inferred from their recorded deeds and the tales handed down by time. With out direct psychological analysis, historians and psychologists depend on accounts of their management types and public personas to take a position about narcissistic traits.
That being mentioned we share lots of well-known folks from the previous who’re almost definitely historic narcissists.
15. Adolf Hitler
Stephen A. Diamond, Ph.D., a licensed medical and forensic psychologist in Los Angeles, examined “How Mad Was Hitler?” Diamond concluded, “There is no such thing as a query that Hitler’s persona included…psychopathic narcissism and…narcissistic persona dysfunction.”
Adolph Hitler was the infamous chief of Nazi Germany. Historians described him as a charismatic however self-entitled, controlling, and manipulative power-drunk chief.
He believed he was a particular particular person born to create probably the most highly effective German empire and rule Europe.
16. Alexander the Nice
Alexander the Nice’s conquests and self-proclamation as a god-king recommend a narcissistic drive for everlasting glory and unwavering adulation from his followers. Psychologist Dr. Sam Vaknin, creator of Malignant Self-Love, argues that “Alexander’s obsession along with his divine standing and relentless campaigns mirror the narcissistic want for fixed validation.”
17. Henry VIII
Henry VIII’s relentless pursuit of energy and insistence on absolute loyalty, exemplified by his dissolution of monasteries and a number of marriages, replicate narcissistic traits like a necessity for admiration and management. Dr. Mark Hofer, a medical psychologist, notes in his evaluation of historic leaders that “Henry VIII’s grandiose self-image and disrespect for others’ wants align carefully with narcissistic persona traits.”
18. Steve Jobs
Opinions are break up on whether or not the Founder and CEO of Apple Inc., the late Steve Jobs, was a narcissist. For Relly Nadler, Psy.D., M.C.C., a licensed psychologist and creator, it’s a “Sure.” Nadler explored the Job’s persona profile in a Psychology In the present day article.
“It seems to be like Jobs clearly matches 6 of the 9” of the DSM-V behavioral expressions for NPD, writes Nadler.
19. Jim Jones
Have you ever ever heard the time period “evil narcissist?”
Jim Jones and Hitler match this prognosis completely. The ever-so-charming Jim Jones’ use of his place of energy to brainwash and in the end homicide his cult-like followers is demonstrative of a sociopathic narcissist.
A narcissistic sociopath’s immense lack of empathy allows them to effortlessly lie, deceive, manipulate, break the regulation, and disrespect the lives and security of others. They’re indifferent from actuality and unable to really feel regret for hurting others.
This led Jones to order the suicide/murders of over 900 folks.
20. Cleopatra
A psychiatric evaluation of Cleopatra utilizing historic info concludes her traits match inside the realm of narcissistic persona. Cleopatra the Nice was a dynamic lady and highly effective Egyptian Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom. But, she couldn’t stand dropping.
Holding herself out as a goddess speaks to a self-inflated and manufactured self-importance. Historian, Stacy Schiff, paperwork her grandiose sense of self in his guide, “Cleopatra: A Life.”
Her starvation for adoration and manipulative habits stood out amongst different maladaptive traits of narcissism. Historical past manufacturers her a “grasp manipulator” who seduced others to realize and retain energy.
21. Pablo Picasso
In terms of creativity Picasso will get an A+. In terms of being an ideal particular person. Not a lot.
Picasso was definitely troubled in his life. Suicide is usually an answer for people who find themselves narcissists and really feel they don’t seem to be correctly acknowledged.
Whereas Picasso is tough to show as being a full blown narcissist and never simply another type of psychological well being points, the well-known “ear” situation is an enormous clue to his narcissism. Slicing off your ear to “show your love” to somebody is a really narcissistic factor to do. Inflicting trauma on the sufferer of your “reward” for no good objective.
22. Napoleon Bonaparte
Napoleon is commonly cited as one of many excellent examples of a narcissistic persona. Folks usually discuss of the “little man” syndrome to speak about how individuals who may need deep insecurities and self doubt would possibly push themselves to nice achievements but in addition accomplish that in a really self centered and narcissistic method.
23. Richard Nixon
You will have heard of Richard Nixon’s hyperlink to the notorious Watergate Scandal, however do you know he was narcissistic? Yeah. It’s extensively believed the previous Republic president had NPD primarily based on pathological tendencies to lie and manipulate within the political sphere.
Nixon additionally exaggerated his self-importance and exhibited paranoia. Somebody with paranoia experiences a persistent however irrational suspicion that individuals are plotting to hurt them.
Closing Ideas on Well-known Narcissists
Narcissism varieties out of low shallowness which causes the particular person to make use of dangerous methods to dominate others. Nevertheless, folks don’t select to be narcissists, and never all of them deliberately harm others.
It doesn’t imply it’s best to allow them to wreak havoc in your life. Setting boundaries is one efficient solution to actively safeguard your well-being from the unfavourable affect of coping with narcissists.
Dive deeper into the world of narcissism with this different eye-opening article, Are Narcissists Evil? The way to Discover Out.
And should you’re in search of extra assets about narcissists an manipulation, you’ll want to take a look at these weblog posts:
Lastly, if you wish to establish YOUR persona kind, then take one in every of these 11 persona exams to higher perceive what makes you tick.

