Strange Phobias and Superstitions of the Famous
People who are famous are not immune to strange rituals or illogical fears. If anything, these tendencies seem to be exacerbated by the pressure and scrutiny associated with celebrity.
Some of the greatest individuals in history have either been afraid of commonplace items or believed that certain actions would decide their destiny. Their accomplishments highlight the peculiarities even more: how can someone dominate an industry while being incapable of managing a basic household item?
Alfred Hitchcock and the Oval Objects
Alfred Hitchcock directed some of the most suspenseful films in cinema history, but eggs disturbed him deeply. He found their shape unsettling and disliked being around them.
Accounts of how severely this affected him vary—some sources suggest he avoided them entirely, while others indicate the aversion was strong but not completely debilitating. What’s clear is that Hitchcock had a genuine distaste for eggs that went beyond normal food preferences.
He spoke publicly about finding them repellent. For someone who spent his career crafting scenes designed to unsettle audiences, his own discomfort with such a common object adds an interesting layer to his character.
Nikola Tesla’s Obsession with Three
Nikola Tesla revolutionized electrical engineering, but his personal life was governed by the number three. He would walk around a building three times before entering.
He insisted on doing things in sets of three or multiples of three. Hotel rooms had to be divisible by three, or he wouldn’t stay there.
The compulsion extended to nearly every aspect of his routine. If he started something and got interrupted, he would begin again from the start to maintain the pattern.
Tesla acknowledged the behavior was irrational but felt powerless to stop it. His mind could grasp the complexities of alternating current, but it couldn’t shake the conviction that three was somehow essential to his functioning.
Woody Allen’s List of Everything
Woody Allen has been open about his numerous phobias, which include insects, bright colors, dogs, deer, children, heights, small rooms, and crowds. The list is so extensive that it’s easier to name what doesn’t frighten him.
Elevators terrify him—he’ll climb dozens of flights of stairs rather than step into one. Sunshine makes him uncomfortable, so he avoids going outside during the day when possible.
His films often explore anxiety and neurosis, which makes sense given that he experiences both in abundance. The phobias are real and numerous, even if the exact origins of each fear remain unclear.
Christina Ricci and Indoor Plants
Christina Ricci is afraid of houseplants. Not plants in general—outdoor vegetation is fine.
But put a potted plant inside a building, and she becomes deeply uncomfortable. She’s described them as feeling “dirty” in a way she can’t fully explain.
The fear is specific and intense. Ricci has stated she can’t be in a room with an indoor plant without feeling anxious.
She doesn’t know where the phobia originated and recognizes it makes no logical sense. Plants don’t move, make noise, or pose any threat.
Yet the presence of greenery in an interior space triggers genuine distress.
Michael Jackson’s Paranoia About Germs
Michael Jackson’s germophobia became increasingly severe throughout his life. He wore surgical masks in public, refused to shake hands with fans, and took extensive precautions to avoid contamination.
His concern with cleanliness and sterility became well-documented through photographs and accounts from people who knew him. Jackson would wear gloves constantly and avoided physical contact whenever possible.
He feared contamination to such a degree that it affected his ability to function normally. The behavior intensified after the first allegations against him in 1993, though people close to him said the tendencies existed earlier.
By the end of his life, the fear had become increasingly consuming.
Charles Darwin and His Mysterious Illness
Charles Darwin suffered from severe anxiety and social difficulties throughout much of his adult life. After returning from his voyage on the Beagle, he became increasingly unable to handle public gatherings or unfamiliar environments.
He would become physically ill before social engagements and often cancelled appearances at the last minute. Darwin lived as a recluse for much of his adult life, rarely leaving his home.
He conducted his revolutionary scientific work through correspondence and specimen collection by others. The Origin of Species changed biology forever, written by a man who struggled deeply with social situations.
His condition was so debilitating that he kept detailed logs of his symptoms, trying to understand what was happening to him. Whether his struggles stemmed from anxiety disorders, panic attacks, or chronic physical illness remains debated by historians and medical experts.
Lyle Lovett and His Ranch Irony
Lyle Lovett is afraid of cows, which is particularly unfortunate given that he grew up on a Texas ranch. A childhood incident involving aggressive cattle left him with a lasting fear.
He’s stated he won’t go near them and experiences genuine anxiety around livestock. The fear is notable mainly because of the context.
Growing up in rural Texas surrounded by cattle, then developing a career that often celebrates country and western themes, makes the phobia especially ironic. Lovett has been open about the fear in interviews, acknowledging that it’s not something you’d expect from someone with his background.
Adele’s Fear of Seagulls
Adele has a well-documented terror of seagulls. She’s described as “rats with wings” and becomes visibly distressed when they’re nearby.
A childhood incident in which a seagull stole her ice cream cone apparently triggered a lifelong aversion. The fear is intense enough that it’s become a running joke in interviews, but for Adele it’s genuinely distressing.
She recognizes the fear is disproportionate but can’t override the response when she sees the birds. The phobia hasn’t stopped her from traveling to coastal areas, but it certainly makes those visits more stressful.
Steve Jobs and His Restrictive Diets
Steve Jobs had unusual eating habits that reflected unconventional beliefs about health. For weeks at a time, he would eat only one type of food—usually carrots or apples.
According to various accounts, he believed these restrictive diets had purifying effects on his body. Jobs reportedly thought his extreme dietary practices reduced body odor, leading him to skip regular bathing at times.
Coworkers at Apple complained about hygiene issues early in his career. He also practiced extended fasting, which he believed enhanced his mental clarity and creativity.
Medical professionals who treated him later suggested these dietary extremes may have contributed to his health problems, though the exact connections remain debated.
Billy Bob Thornton’s Antique Furniture Dread
Billy Bob Thornton has a phobia of antique furniture. He finds old furniture deeply unsettling and can’t be in rooms with it.
The fear stems from a belief that the items carry energy from the past. Thornton has described the sensation as feeling like the furniture is “alive” in some way.
He can’t touch antique pieces and becomes anxious when they’re nearby. Modern furniture doesn’t trigger the same response—only items with history.
He’s also afraid of certain types of silverware, particularly old or ornate pieces, for similar reasons related to their age and previous ownership.
Jennifer Aniston’s Pre-Flight Rituals
Jennifer Aniston performs a specific ritual before every flight. She taps the outside of the plane with her right foot before boarding, always entering with her right foot first.
If she forgets or does it wrong, she believes the flight will be unsafe. The behavior started after a particularly turbulent flight early in her career.
Aniston has acknowledged the ritual is superstitious but feels compelled to do it anyway. She’s also stated she won’t fly on Friday the 13th under any circumstances.
The superstitions haven’t stopped her from traveling extensively, but they’ve definitely added complications to her schedule.
Cameron Diaz and Her Doorknob Avoidance
Cameron Diaz is a self-described germophobe who goes to great lengths to avoid touching doorknobs. She’s stated that she opens doors with her elbows whenever possible to avoid contact with surfaces that countless hands have touched.
The fear extends beyond just doorknobs to public surfaces in general. Diaz has spoken openly about her concerns with contamination and the measures she takes to avoid germs.
She’s acknowledged the behavior can be excessive but feels compelled to maintain these practices anyway. It’s a phobia that creates constant minor inconveniences but one she’s learned to navigate in daily life.
Megan Fox and Dry Paper
Megan Fox has a fear of dry paper. She can’t touch receipts, newspapers, or cardboard without feeling nauseated.
The texture triggers a physical response that she describes as overwhelming. She avoids handling paper products when possible or finds ways to minimize contact.
Fox has stated the aversion developed in childhood but she doesn’t know why. The fear is specific to paper in its dry state—wet paper doesn’t bother her.
It’s an unusual phobia that creates constant minor challenges in daily life, from handling documents to dealing with everyday paper items that most people don’t think twice about.
Why the Successful Stay Superstitious
These rituals and fears endure because, at least in the minds of those who engage in them, they are effective. Any behavior that came before success becomes potentially sacred when you’re at the top of your field.
If you wore lucky socks prior to your big audition, they might end up becoming a staple in your closet. The same brilliant minds can persuade themselves that unrelated actions are causally connected to favorable results.
A talented director is unable to overcome his disgust for eggs. A gifted musician bases his life on multiples of three.
Irrational thinking does not go away with success. Sometimes it simply provides you with the means to fully accommodate it.
More from Go2Tutors!
- The Romanov Crown Jewels and Their Tragic Fate
- 13 Historical Mysteries That Science Still Can’t Solve
- Famous Hoaxes That Fooled the World for Years
- 15 Child Stars with Tragic Adult Lives
- 16 Famous Jewelry Pieces in History
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
