From pop singers posing with snakes to boxers caring for tigers, these stars took pet ownership to another level. Their choices reveal a fascinating mix of extravagance, fascination, and pure boldness. Here are eighteen times famous people swapped the ordinary for the wild and proved that in the world of celebrities, even pets can make headlines.
1. Mike Tyson
The heavyweight champion once kept three Bengal tigers at his Las Vegas mansion. He famously played with them like house cats and spent thousands on their care before giving them up for safety reasons.
2. Michael Jackson
Jackson’s beloved chimpanzee, Bubbles, was his constant companion in the 1980s. The two were often seen together, and Bubbles even attended award shows before moving to a sanctuary.
3. Nicolas Cage
Never one to shy away from eccentricity, Cage owned a shark, an octopus, and a two-headed snake. He claimed the octopus helped him become a better actor.
4. Elvis Presley
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll had a soft spot for animals, including a chimp named Scatter and several kangaroos gifted to him by fans.
5. Justin Bieber
Bieber caused an international stir when German customs confiscated his capuchin monkey, Mally, after he failed to provide proper papers while touring.
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6. Salvador Dalí
The surrealist artist was often spotted in public with his pet ocelot, Babou, even taking it to restaurants where he insisted it was a regular house cat.
7. Tippi Hedren
After filming Roar, Hedren adopted a lion named Neil, who lived freely in her home. Photos from the time show Neil lounging on her couch and by the pool.
8. Paris Hilton
Among her many pets, Hilton once had a kinkajou named Baby Luv, a tropical rainforest animal related to the raccoon.
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9. Hugh Hefner
The Playboy founder maintained a personal zoo at the Playboy Mansion, filled with peacocks, monkeys, and even flamingos.
10. Tyga
The rapper once owned a tiger cub and later a serval cat, both of which were eventually removed due to wildlife regulations.
11. Miley Cyrus
Cyrus has had everything from a pig named Pig to a blowfish and even a pet pufferfish named Pablow, who inspired one of her songs.
12. Nicole Kidman
While living in Australia, Kidman and her family owned alpacas that roamed freely on their farm.
13. Jackie Chan
Chan is known for his love of animals and once adopted two pandas through a conservation program, later housing exotic birds and turtles.
14. Tori Spelling
Spelling is known for keeping a menagerie over the years, including pet pigs and bearded dragons, which she has mentioned in interviews and on social media.
15. Ice-T
The rapper and actor once kept an aquarium with an unusual resident: a blacktip reef shark, a striking example of his taste for dramatic pets.
16. Josephine Baker
The entertainer kept a cheetah named Chiquita among other exotic animals; Chiquita often accompanied her in public in the 1920s and 1930s.
17. Chris Pratt
Pratt has proudly shown off his bearded dragon, Leo, on social media and celebrated “take your lizard to work” moments.
18. Kristen Stewart
Known for her love of animals, Stewart grew up with wolf-dog hybrids that were treated like family pets rather than wild animals.
Want to see more wild celebrity content?
Check out 20 Yearbook Photos of Billionaires from Before They Were Rich, or take a look at 20 Actresses Who Ruled The Eighties. Finally, if you want to see mugshots of actresses in the past, check out 20 Mugshots of Famous Actresses from the 1970s-1990s.
