Successful obese Americans are just as unique as people born with naturally pointed ears or red hair; this article is only meant to show some beautiful examples of how obesity has been overcome in certain areas. So without further ado, This article will look at the top 20 most successful obese Americans that have made it to the top of their game. The list will be based on careers and skills, but it is not completely limited to that.
1. Steve Ballmer
Steve Ballmer was born in 1956 as Steven Paul Ballmer. He is a 63-year-old American business executive who currently serves as Microsoft’s Chief Executive Officer. Microsoft’s chief executive oversees all of its products and services. Ballmer was born with a weight problem, which he described as “fat”. Growing up in California, he would eat at McDonald’s daily for lunch and call them “God’s golden arches”. At age 12, he weighed 285 pounds and had been sickly from birth.
2. Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney was born in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1941. He is an American politician who was the 46th Vice President of the United States under George W. Bush. In 1973, he was selected by Gerald Ford as his running mate in the 1976 presidential election. In that election, they won against Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. Following his vice presidency, Cheney headed Halliburton energy services at large before returning to government service in 1989 as Secretary of Defense during George H. W. Bush’s administration. He weighed about 300 pounds at this time.
3. Tom Brady
1977 saw the birth of Tom Brady in San Mateo, California. He is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He weighed 180 to 210 pounds as a quarterback in high school and college. In 2000, while at the University of Michigan, he was 270 pounds and won the Heisman Trophy.
4. Kevin James
Kevin James was born in 1972. He is a comedian and actor who has starred in several comedic movies and T.V. The King of Queens, for example, and Friends. In 2004, he was considered obese at 292 pounds.
5. Steve Carell
Steven Carell was born in Champaign, Illinois, in 1961. He is a director, producer, voice actor, and actor from the United States.
6. Mia Farrow
Los Angeles, California, was the birthplace of Mia Farrow in 1945. She is an activist and American actor who made her professional debut as a child fashion model. She was obese at age 11, weighing 248 pounds.
7. Samuel L. Jackson
Samuel L. Jackson was born in 1948 in Washington, D.C. For his roles, he is a well-known actor in Pulp Fiction, Jurassic Park, and the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Nick Fury. As a child, he weighed 300 pounds and was considered obese by many people at the time.
8. Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin was born in 1942. She is an American singer-songwriter known for her gospel recordings and her successful career spanning six decades. In 2007, she weighed 269 pounds.
9. Kate Moss
She was born on January 16, 1974, to Kate Moss. She is a model and fashion designer working for Rimmel cosmetics and Burberry, among others. Her weight is estimated to be 115 kg or 253 pounds.
10. John Goodman
1952 saw the birth of John Stephen Goodman in St. Louis, Missouri. He is an American actor and voice actor. Despite his obesity, he is still quite successful and well-known today; one of the top 10 most successful obese Americans.
11. Robert Downey Jr.
In 1965, Robert Downey Jr. was born in New York. He is a famous actor and producer known for his notable roles as Ironman, Tony Stark, and Sherlock Holmes. In 1990 he was considered obese at 267 pounds.
12. Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 12, 1943. She is an American tennis player and activist who won 61 Grand Slam singles titles during her professional career from 1962 to 1983. As a child, she weighed 250 pounds, and aged 7 weighed 257 pounds.
13. Rosie O’Donnell
On March 21, 1962, Rosie O’Donnell was conceived. She is an American comedian, writer, actress, and television host known for her roles in The Simpsons and Sesame Street. In 2003 she weighed around 280 pounds; she is considered obese. She was born in Commack, Long Island, in 1962. In 2004 she weighed 185 pounds.
14. Angie Everhart
Angie Everhart was born in 1969 and is a television personality. She has appeared on various T.V. shows such as The Real Housewives of Orange County, The Man Show, and Big Girls Don’t Cry. In 1993 she was obese at 195 pounds and lost about 50 pounds.
15. Harold Hamm
Harold Hamm was born in Hayesville, Oklahoma. He is an American businessman and engineer who created the oil and gas drilling technique known as Shale Drilling. He is considered obese at 6’5″ and weighs over 300 pounds.
16. Anthony Kiedis
Anthony Kiedis was born in Chicago on August 20, 1962; he is a famous musician who has played guitar for the band Red Hot Chili Peppers since 1983. Today he weighs close to 300 pounds according to his height of 5’7″.
17. Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw was born in 1967. He is an actor and vocalist who performs country music. He has acquired widespread fame as one half of the musical duo Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. McGraw has difficulty walking as his weight is close to 300 pounds; he was once considered obese at 280 pounds.
18. Al Roker
Al Roker was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on March 22, 1954. He is a T.V. weatherman and journalist who has been featured as the primary host of NBC’s Today show since 1996. Roker weighs close to 300 pounds.
19. Joseph Antonio Cartagena
Joseph Antonio Cartagena was born in 1944. He has appeared in many films as an actor. Movies and T.V. shows such as The Hangover, Supernatural, and The Vampire Diaries. In 1997 he was considered obese at 400 pounds.
20. Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck was born in 1936. He is an American actor best known for his role as Thomas Magnum in Magnum, P.I. Through the years, he lost weight because of his career and continued to lose weight even after he retired from acting in 2010. Today he weighs around 250 pounds; he was obese at 94, weighing 195 pounds.