15 Famous People With Surprisingly Unusual Pets
A dog or a cat would have been the obvious choice, but some famous people had very different ideas about pets. Salvador Dalà took an ocelot to public appearances, Audrey Hepburn went shopping with a young deer, and Mike Tyson once kept tigers at home. There are plenty of photographs to prove these stories aren’t just celebrity gossip. Some animals became inseparable from their famous owners, while others were unusual gifts or temporary companions. Of course, keeping wild animals in a house wasn’t always safe or fair to the animals themselves. Still, the photos are remarkable. Here are 15 famous people whose animal companions were anything but ordinary.
Salvador Dalà Had an Ocelot Named Babou
The surrealist painter took his spotted wildcat to restaurants and public appearances, occasionally claiming Babou was simply an ordinary cat with a painted coat.
Josephine Baker Had a Cheetah Named Chiquita
The entertainer famously appeared with her pet cheetah, Chiquita, who accompanied her onstage and became part of her glamorous public image in 1930s Paris.
Audrey Hepburn Went Shopping With a Baby Deer
While filming Green Mansions in 1958, Hepburn bonded with a fawn named Pippin and even brought the little deer along on shopping trips in Beverly Hills.
Frida Kahlo Shared Her Home With a Deer
Frida Kahlo kept a deer named Granizo at her famous Casa Azul in Mexico City, alongside monkeys, parrots, and other animals that frequently inspired her art.
The White House Once Had a Pet Raccoon
First Lady Grace Coolidge kept a raccoon named Rebecca, originally intended for Thanksgiving dinner, and even introduced her to children at the White House Easter Egg Roll.
Tippi Hedren Shared Her House With a Tiger
Actress Tippi Hedren lived alongside big cats during the making of Roar, including a tiger photographed roaming around her California home in the early 1980s.
Mike Tyson Once Kept Bengal Tigers
The former heavyweight boxing champion owned several Bengal tigers, including one named Kenya, before later acknowledging the dangers of keeping such powerful wild animals.
George Clooney Had a Pig for Nearly Two Decades
George Clooney’s potbellied pig, Max, lived with the actor for around 18 years and became almost as famous as his owner during the 1990s.
Elvis Presley Was Given a Kangaroo
In 1957, Elvis received a kangaroo as a gift from Australian promoter Lee Gordon. The unusual present eventually went to the Memphis Zoo.
Michael Jackson Had a Chimpanzee Named Bubbles
Michael Jackson’s chimpanzee Bubbles became a celebrity in his own right during the 1980s, accompanying the singer on public appearances and inspiring a famous Jeff Koons sculpture.
Justin Bieber Traveled With a Capuchin Monkey
Justin Bieber brought his pet monkey Mally to Germany in 2013, but airport officials confiscated the animal because the singer lacked the required paperwork.
Paris Hilton Had an Animal Called a Kinkajou
Paris Hilton owned a tropical mammal named Baby Luv, a relative of the raccoon that made headlines after biting its famous owner in 2006.
Tori Spelling Had a Chicken With Its Own Wardrobe
Tori Spelling’s silkie chicken, Coco, wore miniature outfits inspired by the actress’s vintage dresses, including little capes and other handmade accessories.
Salma Hayek Has an Owl Named Kering
Salma Hayek adopted a rescued owl named Kering, who became a regular companion at home and even joined the actress for a celebrity magazine photoshoot.
Nicole Kidman Keeps Alpacas at Home
Nicole Kidman has kept alpacas on her Australian property, adding the fluffy South American animals to a household that also includes more conventional pets.