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15 Infamous Narcissists: A Look at the Dark Side of Fame and Power

Throughout history, many famous figures have exhibited traits of narcissism, like an inflated sense of self-importance and a lack of empathy. This includes notorious leaders,artists like Frank Lloyd Wright known for their arrogance and self-absorption, alienating friends and family.

Other famous narcissists include Donald Trump, Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Tom Cruise, and Simon Cowell among others. While visionary in their fields, their egocentrism caused interpersonal problems. Ultimately, narcissism propelled their ambition, but impaired their ability to connect. 

In this article, we have discussed 15 famous narcissists they include the following;

1. Donald Trump

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Donald Trump was the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Before becoming president, he was a very famous and rich businessman. He owned many hotels, casinos, and real estate properties. As president, Trump was very controversial. Many people liked his ideas and style, while others criticized him harshly. He focused on issues like trade, immigration, and “making America great.”

However, his presidency was chaotic at times and he made untrue claims about winning reelection. Overall, Trump was an extremely confident leader who divided public opinion between those who loved him and those who disliked him during and after his presidency.

2. Kanye West

Kanye West is an extremely famous and successful rapper and fashion designer. However, he is also known for his very big ego and self-centered behavior. He often makes very bold claims about being the greatest artist alive or the most talented and influential person in fashion.

While he has achieved great success, his extreme self-confidence and lack of humility towards others come across as narcissistic. He rarely admits mistakes or thanks others for helping him in his career too. Many find his bragging about himself to be too much and in line with having a narcissistic personality despite his talents and accolades.

3. Simon Cowell

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Simon Cowell is a famous reality TV judge who has been characterized as narcissistic. As a judge, he was widely known for his incredibly harsh, arrogant, and blunt criticisms of contestants. Cowell often made fun of people without appearing to have much empathy or care for their feelings. He has embraced playing the villain on reality shows and being brutally honest even if it comes across as egotistical.

Many see Cowell as clearly narcissistic through his overly critical personality and tendency to focus on himself rather than the contestants he is judging. His self-assured and ego-driven screening style fits the definition of having a narcissistic personality.

4. Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian is a world-famous reality TV personality. She is known for openly focusing a lot of attention on her own body, fame, and lifestyle through social media and her TV show. Many critics feel Kim is far too obsessed with herself, constantly taking sexy selfies and expecting others to admire both her looks and expensive possessions. She also shares private details about her relationships very publicly.

Kim seems to crave being the center of attention and affirmation from others frequently. Some mental health experts feel her overconfidence and extreme self-focus without much care for privacy reflect narcissistic traits. While very famous, Kim’s apparent need for constant validation and lack of embarrassment in discussing even intimate aspects of her own life are seen as clear signs of narcissism by her critics.

5. Tom Cruise

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Tom Cruise is considered one of the biggest movie stars ever. However, he has also gained a reputation for egotistical and narcissistic behavior. Cruise is known for openly boasting about his abilities and achievements in films to the media. He demands excessive accommodations on movie sets also.

In interviews over the years, Cruise has come across as self-focused by frequently steering conversations back to himself and how talented he believes he is. While respected for being a dynamic leading man, his tendency toward arrogant and self-aggrandizing conduct reflects pronounced narcissistic qualities according to critics and mental health professionals. They see Cruise as a prime example of narcissism in Hollywood.

6. Madonna

Madonna is one of the most famous pop singers and performers ever. She has also long been criticized for her narcissistic, self-focused attitudes and behaviors. Throughout her career, Madonna has repeatedly crafted her music, videos, and public persona to draw constant attention back to herself no matter the controversy.

Many experts feel her drive to repeatedly reinvent herself and push boundaries reflects extreme narcissism. Madonna also seems to crave media headlines about herself and demand admiration for her boldness and talent more than most celebrities. Her relentless focus on feeling special, adored, and influential points to clear narcissistic traits, even as her fans remain devoted to the image she projects of a confident diva.

7. Cristiano Ronaldo

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Cristiano Ronaldo is widely considered one of the greatest soccer players ever. He is also often seen as quite narcissistic in how he presents himself. Ronaldo is frequently boldly self-congratulatory about his skills, and achievements and looks off the field. He poses for many self-admiring, muscle-flexing photos to post on social media as well. While hugely talented, Ronaldo’s apparent constant need to proclaim his abilities as superior to others and openly expect recognition comes across as self-obsessed.

Experts attribute his lack of humility and extreme self-focus as matching the pattern of a narcissistic sports celebrity. His exceptional playing abilities have enabled and reinforced his openly narcissistic personality traits as well.

8. Floyd Mayweather Jr. (boxer)

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is one of the best professional boxers of all time with an undefeated record. He was known for his exceptional defensive skills in the ring and his ability to avoid taking punches. However, outside the ring, Mayweather gained notoriety for his incredibly cocky, arrogant and flashy personality. He flaunted his wealth constantly by wearing expensive jewelry, driving luxury cars, and lavish spending.

Mayweather was very outspoken in proclaiming his talents too, referring to himself as the greatest ever. While undoubtedly a skilled fighter, his tendency for hubris, attention-seeking and extreme self-confidence reflected highly narcissistic qualities. His pride, ego and desire to self-promote enhanced his boxing profile as fans tuned in hoping to see him finally lose.

9. Lance Armstrong

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Lance Armstrong seems like a narcissist. He cheated to win races by doping but would not admit it. He sued people who told the truth. He made himself out to be a hero to get fame. Even after he confessed about doping, he still thought the rules did not apply to him. He put his image first, not caring who he hurt.

Armstrong seems to care mostly about himself and feeding his ego, not about being honest or treating people well. His actions fit with narcissism – feeling entitled, wanting attention and praise, and lacking empathy for others. In the end, his deception caught up with him.

10. Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell seems to show signs of narcissism too. She demands special treatment everywhere she goes. She has lashed out violently when displeased, like throwing phones at assistants. It’s like she thinks normal rules don’t apply to her. She craves and feels entitled to fame, fortune, attention, and praise for her beauty.

But she seems to lack care or remorse when mistreating people. Her selfish ego seems more important to her than having healthy relationships. Campbell appears to fit the pattern of thinking she is extra-special and letting emotions rule her conduct.

11. Elizabeth Taylor

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Elizabeth Taylor seems to have had some narcissistic qualities. She was obsessed with maintaining her beauty and sought constant praise for her appearance. She demanded luxury in her lifestyle with multiple mansions, jewelry, and more like she felt entitled to great wealth and comfort. Taylor went through many marriages, focusing a lot on passionate romance and excitement rather than building healthy lifelong relationships.

She could be very manipulative with men to get what she wanted. And when involved in her glamorous acting career, she did not always consider how her actions impacted others. Overall, Taylor appears to have exhibited some narcissistic selfishness and attention-seeking during her lifetime as an actress in the spotlight.

12. Howard Stern

Howard Stern exhibits some narcissistic traits. Hecraves constant attention and fame, putting himself at the center of his shows. He seems obsessed with having power and influence to boost his ego. Stern demands praise and special treatment as a radio celebrity. He can be very insensitive, mocking people simply to get a reaction that keeps the focus on him.

Stern has trouble empathizing and often disregards how his words impact others. His self-absorption and emotional reactions indicate narcissistic selfishness. While his radio persona is extreme, Stern’s real personality appears quite ego-driven as well.

13. Alex Rodriguez

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Alex Rodriguez have narcissistic qualities too. He cheated in his baseball career with performance-enhancing drugs, showing a willingness to break rules for personal gain. Rodriguez seems very self-focused – even admiring himself in the mirror during games! His ego appears quite big. After one scandal, he lacked remorse and thought he deserved a second chance to play without consequences.

Rodriguez craves being viewed as superior. He left his wife for more fame with a celebrity girlfriend too. His continual self-absorption and ego-boosting behaviors fit the pattern of narcissism.

14. Jordan Belfort

Jordan Belfort exhibits many signs of narcissism. As a young stockbroker, he was greedy and engaged in fraud to earn an extreme fortune fast so he could live an outrageously lavish, celebrity-like lifestyle. He shows little remorse for wiping out clients’ life savings in his pump-and-dump schemes. Even after going to prison, he still seems focused on money, power, and attention rather than making genuine amends.

His motivational speaking emphasizes glamorizing his past misdeeds rather than encouraging ethical behavior. Belfort’s persistent self-absorption, pattern of overconfidence, and shaky morality all demonstrate classic narcissistic traits like entitlement, lack of empathy, and desire to be viewed as superior despite his crimes.

15. Elizabeth Holmes

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Elizabeth Holmes shows many narcissistic red flags in how she ran her company Theranos. She exaggerated greatly about their blood testing abilities, lying to get billions in investments and fame for herself as a genius inventor and billionaire female tech CEO. Even when flaws in testing were exposed, she manipulated employees to hide problems rather than fix them responsibly.

She punished those who questioned her. Holmes focused obsessively on herself as visionary and protegee, not the real-world effects on people. She displayed a pattern of overconfidence, control, lack of remorse and living in a fabricated fantasy world about the technology. In the end the deception collapsed. She exhibits many classic narcissistic behaviors.

Narcissistic behavour is very bad. It make one thing of him/ herself forgetting the pain they may cause to others through their behaviour. This individuals are possessed with fame and they always fight to be the stars.