Nicole was raised by family friend Lionel Richie from a very young age and he legally adopted her at 9 years old. Who knew?

Steve Jobs was given up and adopted at birth. We wonder if his parents knew how successful he would be...

Before becoming Marilyn Monroe, Norma Jean Baker grew up with various family members and even lived in foster homes.

Lennon was raised by his aunt and uncle after his father's military desertion.

Foxx was adopted at 7 months old by his grandmother after his parents split up.

Clinton was raised by his grandparents after his father died, and he eventually took his stepfather's name.

The gymnastics star is currently being raised by her grandparents.

The former First Lady was raised by her aunt and uncle and was later adopted by her stepfather.

The Metro Station singer's real mom might be Tish Cyrus, but he was formally adopted into the Cyrus fam by Billy Ray Cyrus at the age of 4.

Mandela was raised by a tribe chief after his father died at 9 years old.

The woman behind those depressing dog commercials was given up and adopted at birth.

Before Ruth became a baseball star, he was raised in several orphanages. 

The Jersey Shore alum was adopted at 6 months old!

Hill was given up shortly after being born and ended up being adopted right away.

The Goodfellas actor might seem Italian, but he's actually Scottish! His adoptive parents, on the other hand, were as Italian as it gets.

The human rights activist grew up in an orphanage following his father's death and his mother's mental breakdown.

Armstrong was adopted by his stepfather at age 3.

The Blondie front woman was given up at 3 months old and adopted shortly after.

Ice-T was raised by his aunts after his parents died.

The controversial comedian was adopted at birth.

McGraw was raised by his stepfather and thought that was his real father until he was an adult.

Cole was adopted at 2 years old after her father died.

Allan Poe was raised in a foster home after his mother died and his father abandoned him.

The king of jazz was abandoned by his parents which led to him living in a foster home and being raised by various family members.

Dave Thomas, the founder of Wendys, was adopted at 6 months old and later founded the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption to reduce adoption costs.

The broadway baby was adopted at a young age and continues to advocate for adoption. She even works with the Dave Thomas Foundation!

The former football player and activist was abandoned shortly after his birth and adopted by a couple that was looking for a son after losing two kids to birth defects. 

Crawford was adopted by actress Joan Crawford and later wrote a book detailing the abuse she dealt with growing up.

Carver was born into slavery and ended up being raised by his master after the abolition of slavery.

Skrillex was adopted and raised by a family friend.

Tolstoy was adopted by relatives after his parents died at a young age.

D.M.C. was adopted at birth and didn't even find out until he was 35 years old.

The former wife of Elvis Presley was raised by her stepfather after her biological father died in a plane crash.

Roosevelt was only 10 years old when her parents died, which caused her to be raised by her grandmother.

Hughes was raised by his grandmother after his parents divorced.

Before stepping into politics, Gingrich was raised by his stepfather after his parents split. 

Key was given up at birth and adopted almost immediately.

Kristin's stepfather stepped up and adopted her when she was only three years old.

Clapton actually grew up believing that his grandparents were his actual parents and that his mother was his sister.

Plot twist: Gerald Ford isn't actually a Ford. He was adopted by his stepfather when he was 2 years old, and his mother immediately changed his last name. 

The Black Eyed Peas artist was adopted from the Philippines when he was 14 by an American sponsor for young abandoned children.

Frances was adopted along with her siblings by a minister and his wife.

The award-winning director was given up and adopted at birth.

Coleman was given up and adopted at a young age and still advocated for abandoned kids throughout his adult life.

Jackson was born to a 16-year-old and a married man, so he was eventually adopted by his mother's new husband.