































© Getty Images
0 / 32 Fotos
Anna Delvey
- In reality, the case involves Anna Sorokin (her real name), who posed as a wealthy socialite in New York City and made her way through the city's elite scene.
© Getty Images
1 / 32 Fotos
Anna Delvey
- "I can get publicity doing anything," she said. Although she was sentenced to prison for several crimes, including theft and grand larceny, her story was turned into a buzzworthy Netflix series.
© Getty Images
2 / 32 Fotos
Lorena Bobbitt
- She became infamous for her shocking act of cutting off her husband's genitalia, leading to a sensationalized trial.
© Getty Images
3 / 32 Fotos
John Bobbitt
- As a survivor of the violent act, John Bobbitt used his fame to some extent by participating in adult films and making appearances on various media outlets.
© Getty Images
4 / 32 Fotos
Patricia Krentcil
- Known as "Tan Mom," she became a paparazzi favorite after being charged with child endangerment for taking her five-year-old daughter to a tanning bed, which led to her arrest and a ban from more than 60 tanning salons in the New York and New Jersey areas.
© Getty Images
5 / 32 Fotos
Martha Stewart
- She became famous not only for her lifestyle empire, but also for her involvement in an insider trading and securities fraud scandal that eventually earned her a five-month prison sentence in 2004.
© Getty Images
6 / 32 Fotos
Courtney Stodden
- The reality star and tabloid sensation first rose to fame in 2011 when she married her much older acting coach, Doug Hutchison, at the age of 16. Later, she became even more famous due to her extensive plastic surgeries.
© Getty Images
7 / 32 Fotos
Tonya Harding
- The figure skater gained notoriety for her connection to the attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan during the 1994 Winter Olympics. Her story was covered in 'I, Tonya' (2017), starring Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding.
© Getty Images
8 / 32 Fotos
Kato Kaelin
- The aspiring actor lived in O.J. Simpson's guest house during the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, and became a key witness in the case.
© Getty Images
9 / 32 Fotos
Kato Kaelin
- With his newfound fame, he began to land acting roles, often appearing as himself in comedic sketches, reality TV, and talk shows to build and leverage his notoriety. In fact, he has been a household name for over 20 years.
© Getty Images
10 / 32 Fotos
Dan Bilzerian
- He is often referred to as the "King of Instagram" and is a polarizing figure. He is known for his poker success, extravagant lifestyle, and controversial actions, including using women as props and filming disturbing events like the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
© Getty Images
11 / 32 Fotos
Caitlin Upton
- During the Miss Teen USA pageant in 2007, her answer to a question about Americans not being able to find their country on a map became a viral sensation. “I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don’t have maps,” said Upton.
© Getty Images
12 / 32 Fotos
Logan Paul
- Known for his popular YouTube videos, he made headlines for filming himself discovering a suicide victim in a Japanese forest in 2017, sparking outrage with his response and decision to upload the video.
© Getty Images
13 / 32 Fotos
Jake Paul
- Like his brother Logan, Jake Paul is a YouTube sensation, well known for his for-profit antics. In 2017, he received attention and complaints from neighbors for his disruptive stunts at their expense.
© Getty Images
14 / 32 Fotos
Rebecca Black
- The singer-songwriter released her first song 'Friday' in 2011, which went viral for unintended reasons, as the internet roasted her heavily auto-tuned track, often calling it the "worst song ever."
© Getty Images
15 / 32 Fotos
Milli Vanilli
- After they were caught lip-synching during a 1989 MTV event, they were stripped of their Grammy Award and exposed the use of vocal impostors in the music industry.
© Getty Images
16 / 32 Fotos
Josh Ostrovsky
- The comedian, also known as "The Fat Jewish," gained a large following on social media with stolen jokes that he never credited. After backlash in 2015, he lost a development deal with Comedy Central.
© Getty Images
17 / 32 Fotos
Nicole Arbour
- In 2015, Nicole Arbour gained notoriety on YouTube for her video 'Dear Fat People,' where she criticized and mocked overweight individuals, refusing to apologize by labeling it "satire."
© Getty Images
18 / 32 Fotos
Nicole Arbour
- In 2018, she stirred controversy once more by creating her own version of Childish Gambino's 'This Is America,' facing accusations of cultural appropriation, yet remaining unapologetic.
© Getty Images
19 / 32 Fotos
Luis Rubiales
- A controversial kiss on the mouth of Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup final has put the former president of the Spanish Football Federation in the spotlight. Rubiales claimed the kiss was consensual, but...
© Getty Images
20 / 32 Fotos
Jenni Hermoso
- The captain of the Spanish women's soccer team insisted that was not the case. In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, Rubiales finally relented and revealed that he made the decision to resign as president of the Spanish Football Federation, underscoring the international dimension of the case.
© Getty Images
21 / 32 Fotos
PewDiePie
- PewDiePie, the YouTuber with the most subscribers and who is known for his highly insulting humor, has faced controversy for making offensive remarks and unapologetically using the N-word, often labeling them as jokes, which has garnered support from the alt-right movement.
© Getty Images
22 / 32 Fotos
Monica Lewinski
- The former White House intern became famous due to her involvement in the White House sex scandal involving President Bill Clinton.
© Getty Images
23 / 32 Fotos
Anthony Weiner
- The former U.S. Congressman's career crumbled due to a sexting scandal that played out in the public eye.
© Getty Images
24 / 32 Fotos
Kaitlin Bennett
- In 2018, Kaitlin Bennett gained attention for openly carrying firearms on the campus of Kent State University, which had a tragic history of student protests in the 1970s.
© Getty Images
25 / 32 Fotos
Kaitlin Bennett
- She later caused controversy by posing at Chick-fil-A, which is known for its anti-LGBTQ+ stance, and mocking Parkland survivor David Hogg.
© Getty Images
26 / 32 Fotos
Mike Cernovich
- Known for his far-right views, Mike Cernovich gained notoriety online for spreading conspiracy theories, including Pizzagate (fake news that claimed that Hillary Clinton ran a child-sex ring).
© Getty Images
27 / 32 Fotos
Kim Davis
- This Kentucky county clerk made headlines in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, claiming she was "under the authority of God." Her actions sparked legal and political controversy, and led to her temporary imprisonment.
© Getty Images
28 / 32 Fotos
Kim Davis
- In addition, conservatives arranged an awkward meeting with Pope Francis during his 2015 visit to the United States. But the Vatican issued a statement to distancing itself from Davis' actions.
© Getty Images
29 / 32 Fotos
Dinesh D'Souza
- Dinesh D'Souza, a prominent voice in modern conservatism, has been critical of multiculturalism, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial equality. He gained notoriety when Donald Trump pardoned him in 2018 after a 2014 conviction for illegal campaign contributions.
© Getty Images
30 / 32 Fotos
Dinesh D'Souza
- In early 2018, D'Souza drew further controversy for mocking survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School incident.
Sources: (Ranker)
See also: Meet the stars who changed religions
© Getty Images
31 / 32 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 32 Fotos
Anna Delvey
- In reality, the case involves Anna Sorokin (her real name), who posed as a wealthy socialite in New York City and made her way through the city's elite scene.
© Getty Images
1 / 32 Fotos
Anna Delvey
- "I can get publicity doing anything," she said. Although she was sentenced to prison for several crimes, including theft and grand larceny, her story was turned into a buzzworthy Netflix series.
© Getty Images
2 / 32 Fotos
Lorena Bobbitt
- She became infamous for her shocking act of cutting off her husband's genitalia, leading to a sensationalized trial.
© Getty Images
3 / 32 Fotos
John Bobbitt
- As a survivor of the violent act, John Bobbitt used his fame to some extent by participating in adult films and making appearances on various media outlets.
© Getty Images
4 / 32 Fotos
Patricia Krentcil
- Known as "Tan Mom," she became a paparazzi favorite after being charged with child endangerment for taking her five-year-old daughter to a tanning bed, which led to her arrest and a ban from more than 60 tanning salons in the New York and New Jersey areas.
© Getty Images
5 / 32 Fotos
Martha Stewart
- She became famous not only for her lifestyle empire, but also for her involvement in an insider trading and securities fraud scandal that eventually earned her a five-month prison sentence in 2004.
© Getty Images
6 / 32 Fotos
Courtney Stodden
- The reality star and tabloid sensation first rose to fame in 2011 when she married her much older acting coach, Doug Hutchison, at the age of 16. Later, she became even more famous due to her extensive plastic surgeries.
© Getty Images
7 / 32 Fotos
Tonya Harding
- The figure skater gained notoriety for her connection to the attack on fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan during the 1994 Winter Olympics. Her story was covered in 'I, Tonya' (2017), starring Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding.
© Getty Images
8 / 32 Fotos
Kato Kaelin
- The aspiring actor lived in O.J. Simpson's guest house during the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, and became a key witness in the case.
© Getty Images
9 / 32 Fotos
Kato Kaelin
- With his newfound fame, he began to land acting roles, often appearing as himself in comedic sketches, reality TV, and talk shows to build and leverage his notoriety. In fact, he has been a household name for over 20 years.
© Getty Images
10 / 32 Fotos
Dan Bilzerian
- He is often referred to as the "King of Instagram" and is a polarizing figure. He is known for his poker success, extravagant lifestyle, and controversial actions, including using women as props and filming disturbing events like the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
© Getty Images
11 / 32 Fotos
Caitlin Upton
- During the Miss Teen USA pageant in 2007, her answer to a question about Americans not being able to find their country on a map became a viral sensation. “I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because some people out there in our nation don’t have maps,” said Upton.
© Getty Images
12 / 32 Fotos
Logan Paul
- Known for his popular YouTube videos, he made headlines for filming himself discovering a suicide victim in a Japanese forest in 2017, sparking outrage with his response and decision to upload the video.
© Getty Images
13 / 32 Fotos
Jake Paul
- Like his brother Logan, Jake Paul is a YouTube sensation, well known for his for-profit antics. In 2017, he received attention and complaints from neighbors for his disruptive stunts at their expense.
© Getty Images
14 / 32 Fotos
Rebecca Black
- The singer-songwriter released her first song 'Friday' in 2011, which went viral for unintended reasons, as the internet roasted her heavily auto-tuned track, often calling it the "worst song ever."
© Getty Images
15 / 32 Fotos
Milli Vanilli
- After they were caught lip-synching during a 1989 MTV event, they were stripped of their Grammy Award and exposed the use of vocal impostors in the music industry.
© Getty Images
16 / 32 Fotos
Josh Ostrovsky
- The comedian, also known as "The Fat Jewish," gained a large following on social media with stolen jokes that he never credited. After backlash in 2015, he lost a development deal with Comedy Central.
© Getty Images
17 / 32 Fotos
Nicole Arbour
- In 2015, Nicole Arbour gained notoriety on YouTube for her video 'Dear Fat People,' where she criticized and mocked overweight individuals, refusing to apologize by labeling it "satire."
© Getty Images
18 / 32 Fotos
Nicole Arbour
- In 2018, she stirred controversy once more by creating her own version of Childish Gambino's 'This Is America,' facing accusations of cultural appropriation, yet remaining unapologetic.
© Getty Images
19 / 32 Fotos
Luis Rubiales
- A controversial kiss on the mouth of Jenni Hermoso after the World Cup final has put the former president of the Spanish Football Federation in the spotlight. Rubiales claimed the kiss was consensual, but...
© Getty Images
20 / 32 Fotos
Jenni Hermoso
- The captain of the Spanish women's soccer team insisted that was not the case. In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan, Rubiales finally relented and revealed that he made the decision to resign as president of the Spanish Football Federation, underscoring the international dimension of the case.
© Getty Images
21 / 32 Fotos
PewDiePie
- PewDiePie, the YouTuber with the most subscribers and who is known for his highly insulting humor, has faced controversy for making offensive remarks and unapologetically using the N-word, often labeling them as jokes, which has garnered support from the alt-right movement.
© Getty Images
22 / 32 Fotos
Monica Lewinski
- The former White House intern became famous due to her involvement in the White House sex scandal involving President Bill Clinton.
© Getty Images
23 / 32 Fotos
Anthony Weiner
- The former U.S. Congressman's career crumbled due to a sexting scandal that played out in the public eye.
© Getty Images
24 / 32 Fotos
Kaitlin Bennett
- In 2018, Kaitlin Bennett gained attention for openly carrying firearms on the campus of Kent State University, which had a tragic history of student protests in the 1970s.
© Getty Images
25 / 32 Fotos
Kaitlin Bennett
- She later caused controversy by posing at Chick-fil-A, which is known for its anti-LGBTQ+ stance, and mocking Parkland survivor David Hogg.
© Getty Images
26 / 32 Fotos
Mike Cernovich
- Known for his far-right views, Mike Cernovich gained notoriety online for spreading conspiracy theories, including Pizzagate (fake news that claimed that Hillary Clinton ran a child-sex ring).
© Getty Images
27 / 32 Fotos
Kim Davis
- This Kentucky county clerk made headlines in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, claiming she was "under the authority of God." Her actions sparked legal and political controversy, and led to her temporary imprisonment.
© Getty Images
28 / 32 Fotos
Kim Davis
- In addition, conservatives arranged an awkward meeting with Pope Francis during his 2015 visit to the United States. But the Vatican issued a statement to distancing itself from Davis' actions.
© Getty Images
29 / 32 Fotos
Dinesh D'Souza
- Dinesh D'Souza, a prominent voice in modern conservatism, has been critical of multiculturalism, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial equality. He gained notoriety when Donald Trump pardoned him in 2018 after a 2014 conviction for illegal campaign contributions.
© Getty Images
30 / 32 Fotos
Dinesh D'Souza
- In early 2018, D'Souza drew further controversy for mocking survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School incident.
Sources: (Ranker)
See also: Meet the stars who changed religions
© Getty Images
31 / 32 Fotos
Figures who are famous for the wrong reasons
The not-so-glamorous side of fame
© Getty Images
In the world of fame and notoriety, it's often said that any publicity is good publicity. But what happens when individuals find themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons? In this gallery, we introduce a list of notorious people who, through a series of unfortunate events, became famous for reasons they never intended. Or did they?
From breaches of consent to attempts at social climbing, you are going to need your best sneakers to walk the rocky road to infamy listed here! Click on if you dare...
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