As life progresses, many people fall into routine, but certain events serve as major turning points. Fame, wealth, and power can significantly alter a person’s behavior, often making them seem like a completely different individual. For most of us, we only encounter celebrities after they’ve reached stardom. That’s why internet users have been sharing their experiences with celebrities they knew before they became famous—how they were back then and how their fame changed them.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy reading through the most interesting stories. Don’t forget to upvote your favorites and share your own experiences with celebrities before they hit it big!
#1
My Aunt and Uncle lived next door to Patrick Stewart. He had a terrible childhood. His dad was traumatised during the War like so many were. He changed so much it became untenable and his mum used to send him to relatives to keep him safe. Very sad . He is a lovely man and he keeps in touch with friends he made many years ago.
#2
I was in the first Harry Potter film as Dan Radcliffe’s body double. So…all the characters had already been announced and were newly famous.
Gets my back up now when people say that this person or that person “seemed like a d**k”.
Genuinely all really nice kids (hopefully still are as adults). Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) wrestled a little bit with the idea of forever being known as a villain…funny because he was the coolest guy there and got me into Limp Bizkit! We all used to play THPS2 in his dressing room, he would always win.
So yeah…all really nice people.
#3
I didn’t go to high school with him by my girlfriend’s grandparents used to rent movies from a local blockbuster and this gentleman always suggested some strange movies to them. They said he was really nice but had a weird name. Turns out it was Quentin Tarantino. They watched one of his movies after he got big and they said “Well that explains a lot of the movie suggestions he gave us.”
The fantasy of becoming famous is something many people entertain, but in reality, it can come with unexpected challenges. While fame and fortune may solve financial problems, they can’t shield someone from making poor decisions. A prime example is actor Nicolas Cage, who found himself $14 million in debt to the IRS due to a string of bad investments and lavish spending. Though he has managed to recover, this highlights how fame doesn’t necessarily protect one from financial turmoil.
Beyond money, fame also carries significant psychological risks, particularly for child stars. The term “child star” is often associated with struggles, from addiction to estrangement, as many young performers miss out on typical childhood experiences and friendships. In many cases, these stars harbor resentment toward parents or guardians who pushed them into the spotlight. While wealth may seem appealing, it often comes at the cost of mental well-being, proving that the price of fame isn’t always worth it.
#4
Went to primary school with Hugh Jackman, total class act and always had the makings of someone who would be successful.
#5
I went to high school with Margot Robbie. We were pretty good friends but I haven’t spoken to her in years. She was absolutely lovely. No one had a bad word to say about her, and she is very intelligent.
#6
Was a freshman when Chris Pratt was a senior. We didn’t interact much, but he was in a lot of the assemblies and I did tech theater for a play he was in.
He was a goofball. Lots of charisma, laid back, class clown. Bout what you’d expect seeing him now.
American journalist Robert Caro once said, “Power doesn’t corrupt, it reveals.” This statement underscores how power doesn’t necessarily change a person but instead exposes their true nature. If someone has tendencies toward selfishness, arrogance, or even irrational behavior, gaining power is often the perfect way to bring those qualities to the surface.
For most celebrities—excluding the so-called “nepo babies”—they begin as regular people with ordinary lives. However, fame grants them a unique level of freedom, allowing them to finally act on their desires and ambitions without the constraints that once held them back. In many cases, this newfound liberty can reveal sides of their personality that were previously hidden.
#7
My mom went on a few dates with Nicholas Cage! I’m not sure exactly what year it was but my mom was a professional ballet dancer in New York. Nic Cage’s dad owned the ballet company my mom danced for. So apparently Nic Cage saw my mom and thought she was cute so they went on a few dates. I asked my mom what he was like and she thought for a second and then said “weird”.
#8
I went to college with Lin Manuel Miranda. I was more of an acquaintance, but we share a lot of the same friends. He is one of the funniest, craziest, most genuine people I’ve ever met. He seems like he hasn’t changed much and is still the same awesome person.
#9
Not me, a classmate’s son my age went to school with Tom Holland. Apparently he’s super sweet and goofy, little scatterbrained and forgetful.
As multiple generations of celebrities have come and gone, society has become increasingly aware of the pitfalls that fame can bring. Many stars now take conscious steps to stay grounded, knowing that fame can easily detach them from the realities of everyday life. Some, like actresses Kristen Bell and Halle Berry, are particularly cautious with their finances, ensuring they maintain a balanced and practical approach to money management. Others, such as Angelina Jolie, use the opportunities that fame provides to make a positive impact, leveraging their platform for philanthropy, like her extensive work with the UN Refugee Agency. These celebrities show that while fame can lead to excess, it can also be harnessed for meaningful change.
#10
I’m cousins with Cardi B and have known her since we were kids. She’s honestly been the same person, kept to herself and is crazy and funny when she’s comfortable. We still see each other at family parties regularly so it’s nice.
#11
My grandmother had a milkshake with Elvis Presley. She loved him and the day he died she kicked my father out of the house because he was being a brat. Around Christmas time she would always get so sad when “Blue Christmas” played on the radio.
#12
My old neighbor grew up with John Mayer and was really close with him. While I never got to meet him, my roommate did on a few occasions. Apparently Mayer was fairly laid back and just wanted to hang out.
The thing that really sticks with me is when my neighbor’s wife took her own life Mayer let my neighbor move into his house for several months. It was sad, but said neighbor couldn’t stand being in his own home anymore knowing his wife lived her last moments there. From what I understand she intentionally OD’d on medication while he was home and came to him saying “I don’t feel well” and then collapsed.
#13
Post Malone and I graduated from high school together! I even have a picture from when our art class recreated the Last Supper with McDonald’s for someone’s art project. He posed as Jesus and I was basically Judas. We weren’t friends, but he was always friendly when we did speak. He had a very chill demeanor and always cracked jokes in our history class. I liked the dude!
#14
I went to middle school with Drake. He was a year older with my older bro and He cried one time in the boys gym change room bc another boy had some designer sweater or something and he didn’t lol…..I don’t remember him being awful or anything just a little whiney…….I actually got invited to his house last summer and met him and told him we went to middle school together etc. and he was really nice.
mrdannyg21 added:
He went to my high school, though in different grades so I didn’t know him. He was already famous from Degrassi High, and he was hilariously pompous. This school had quite a few rich families, and the rich kids loved him of course.
I mean, he was a very rich kid named Aubrey, living in a rich white/Jewish area. His ‘started from the bottom’ stuff in songs and ‘street’ accent is hilariously fake.
#15
I went to high school with Nancy Cartwright (Bart Simpson). We hung out as we were both in the marching band. She was nice and had an outlandish personality way back then (late 70’s) but wasn’t snobby or anything like that.
#16
My mother grew up with Courtney Cox. She was a massive b**ch. The stories are horrible. She’s from Mountain Brook, Alabama.. an incredibly wealthy suburb of Birmingham. (Same town as Natalee Holloway that disappeared in Aruba.)
#17
Went to school with Khalid, he was one of those kids that always pretended to be stoned but never smoked, he acted very flamboyant and used that to always be around girls, never made a move on them though, strange fellow.
#18
My brother went to high school with Taylor Swift. She was actually super mean to people and got booed off the stage at her junior year talent show.
