#14: Nicole Richie
Growing up in the spotlight is tough, and for Nicole Richie, it came with an extra layer of complexity. Born in Berkeley, California, in 1981, she was adopted as an infant by music superstar Lionel Richie and his first wife, Brenda Harvey. Her biological parents, friends of Lionel’s, were unable to provide for her. She grew up in the opulent world of a famous person household, a privileged life played out in the public eye. Richie has since spoken openly about the unique challenges of being adopted into such a famous family and how it shaped her identity as she navigated a very public youth and into adulthood.
