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Actors, musicians and athletes spend years honing their craft. All they care about is being the best at what they do and being world famous for it. They also want all the benefits that come with being a celebrity. They want the money, the lavish mansion and the fleet of cars. They want to be the star on the red carpet with an even more famous celeb hanging off their arm. They want the endorsement deals and their own merchandise line. They dream of starring in all the biggest movies and television shows. Some celebs sacrifice everything to achieve their goals and the fame is far more important than family. However, other celebs dream of having a family and living a normal life.
There are many celebs that put their careers over everything including their own families. Fame is the most important thing in their life and they never want to lose it. In fact, even when they start a family they quickly go back to focusing on the fame and fortune. On the other hand, there are a number of celebs that have given up careers for their family. Here is a look at 10 Celebs Who Chose Family Over Fame (And 10 Who Dropped Their Families).
Dropped - Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen is one of the most recognizable celebrity names in the world. At one time he was the highest paid actor on TV. He is best known for starring in the sitcom Two and a Half Men. He left the series after having a very public feud with the series creator. He starred in several memorable films, including, Platoon, Wall Street, and Major League.
Sheen is also known for loving the wild partying lifestyle and everything that comes with it. That includes the women, money, and the partying. In 2002, Sheen married actress Denise Richards and together they have two kids. They divorced in 2006 due to Sheen becoming scary, and his various problems. In 2008, he married his third wife Brooke Mueller and they have twin sons together. They divorced due to Sheen’s volatile and out of control behavior. Despite being married twice he couldn’t give up the women and the partying. He is infamously known for his love to party all night long. He spent some time in rehab but continues to struggle with his personal demons. Many celebs give up the Hollywood lifestyle to focus on their wife and kids. Sheen tried to do it twice but the fame and fortune apparently is just too much for him to give up.
Family Over Fame - Candace Cameron Bure
Candace Cameron Bure first rose to fame with her role as D.J. Tanner in the popular sitcom Full House. After the series concluded, she chose to step away from the spotlight to focus on her family. In 1996, she married retired hockey player Valeri Bure. They have three children and both focus on raising a family. She rarely made any film or TV appearances aside from a few guest roles. In 2014, she returned to acting to portray Aurora Teagarden in the Hallmark made for TV movie mystery series. In 2016, she returned to the role of D.J. Tanner for the Netflix series Fuller House. She then became a co-host on the morning talk show The View.
However, her family is always her first priority and she will give up lucrative opportunities for them. Her husband and kids are the center of her world and she won’t let anything get in the way of that. She decided to leave The View to spend more time with her family. She said, “The commute of going West Coast to East Coast every single week for me has been tough on me and hard for my family as well and I want to make sure that I'm able to spend as much time with my children and invest in all the projects that I do to the fullest extent.” (People)
Dropped - Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson is known all over the world. She is one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood. She starred in several memorable films, such as The Horse Whisperer, Lost in Translation and The Prestige. She currently portrays Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She is one of the most in demand stars in Hollywood.
Her mother, Melanie Sloan, began taking Johansson to auditions from a very young age. She eventually became her manager and guided her career. However, it was clear that Sloan was far more interested in fame and fortune than the well being of her daughter. She relied financially on Johansson who eventually was fed up with her mother.
In 2009, Johansson fired Sloan as her manager and signed on with new management. According to the New York Daily News, “Johansson had tired of being her mother's cash cow,” and “Johansson eventually cut her off because Sloan was living outside her means.”
She gave her mother a very generous severance package and continued to support her. In 2012, Sloan was caught up in some real estate issues but Johansson wouldn't bail her out “because she's fed up with her former mom-ager's extravagant lifestyle.” (NYDailynews) However, they still remain close and Johansson even took her mother to the 2017 amfAR New York Gala.
Family Over Fame - Jennifer Garner
Jennifer Garner takes her work very seriously but has always put her family first. She's best known for portraying Sydney Bristow in the ABC series Alias. She went on to star in several popular films, including, 13 Going on 30, Juno and Dallas Buyers Club.
From 2005 to 2017, she was in a highly publicized relationship with actor Ben Affleck. They became close while working on the films Pearl Harbor and Daredevil. They married in 2005 and have three kids. During their marriage, they took turns taking care of the children while the other focused on their career.
Garner said, “I've never been away for more than, I think, four days. Maybe once I was gone from my kids for five days… I sit down at the beginning of the movie and say to the people making the schedule, ‘Let's look at this.’ Then I figure out where I'm going to take the kid and when I can get home.” (USMagazine)
In 2017, Garner and Affleck’s divorce was finalized but they work together as co-parents. Garner still puts her family first before her fame. Affleck has also praised his ex-wife. He said, “Jen is a superhero mom. She is an amazing mother, and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with.” (E!News)
Dropped - Nick Carter
Nick Carter first rose to fame as a member of the famous boy band, The Backstreet Boys. He has since embarked on a solo career. His younger brother, Aaron Carter, also found a great deal of success. However, they both had their ups and downs throughout their careers. Their mother, Jane Carter, is accused of putting fame over her family. Jane began taking Nick to auditions at a very young age.
Both Nick and Aaron were financially supporting their entire family since they were kids. However, they’ve both had problems with their parents over the years. Nick became fed up with being the family's only financial resource and is estranged from his mother. Additionally. Jane doesn’t approve of Nick’s wife Lauren Kitt.
Nick posted a message to Twitter, “Wish my mother would stop sending hurtful and hateful emails to me and my wife. Can’t people just be happy for me? Or leave me alone. #hurt.” A source close to Nick notes that he feels used by his family. The source said, “The family has always been after him. They’re always wanting something from Nick… money or support, or this and that. It’s never like, ‘We love you. We care about you.’ It’s always been like, ‘We need this and we need that.’” (Radar)
Family Over Fame - Jamie Lynn Spears
Jamie Lynn Spears was poised to follow in her famous older sisters footsteps. However, she went in a completely different direction in life. Spears is the younger sister of pop icon Britney Spears. From 2005 to 2008, Spears starred as Zoey Brooks in the Nickelodeon teen sitcom Zoey 101.
In 2007, Spears shockingly announced her pregnancy and effectively took a hiatus from Hollywood. Her pregnancy created a great deal of controversy because she was only 16 at the time. Many in the media felt she was glamorizing teen pregnancy. However, she took responsibility for her actions and focused on her family. In 2008, her first daughter, Maddie, was born.
She said, “I put myself in an adult situation, so I needed to handle it like an adult. My age was never an excuse for me — because, you know what, my daughter didn't ask for that.”
In 2013, she launched a country music career but her family is still her number one priority. She said, “I brought this little girl into this world, and it's my job to make sure that she has the best life that she possibly can have — no one else's. You've got to take responsibility for your actions and that's what I try my best to do every single day.” (People) In 2018, she gave birth to her second child, Ivey
Dropped - Bill Hudson
Musician Bill Hudson rose to fame as a member of The Hudson Brothers. In 1976, Hudson married actress Goldie Hawn and together they have two children, Kate and Oliver. Kate Hudson has become a famous Hollywood celeb in her own right. In 1980, Hudson and Hawn divorced and Hudson went back to his previous lifestyle. He essentially abandoned his wife and kids to focus on his career. Kate and Oliver's mother and her longtime significant other, Kurt Russell, raised them. In fact, Kate and Oliver consider Russell to be their father.
In 2015, Oliver sent out an Instagram pic with Bill and Kate on Father’s Day, which read, “Happy Abandonment Day.” Bill wasn’t pleased with the message.
He responded, “I had five birth children but I now consider myself a father of three. I no longer recognize Oliver and Kate as my own.” He then asked them to stop using his last name. Kate decided to respond by sending love out to the man that helped raise her. She sent out a pic of her with Hawn and Russell. The caption read, “Pa, just simply... thank you. Happy Father’s Day. I love you to the moon and back.” (DailymailUK)
Family Over Fame - Rick Moranis
In the 80’s, Rick Moranis was one of the top leading comedic actors. He starred in several classic 80’s comedies, such as Spaceballs, Ghostbusters, and Honey I Shrunk The Kids. However, he shockingly decided to completely step away from acting. He planned on only taking a short hiatus but it ended up lasting much longer. He said, “I was working with really interesting people, wonderful people. I went from that to being at home with a couple of little kids, which is a very different lifestyle. But it was important to me. I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever. My life is wonderful.” (TheList)
In 1997, his wife lost a long battle with a disease and Moranis dedicated his time to raising his two kids alone. He said, “The decision in my case to become a stay-at-home-dad, which people do all the time, I guess wouldn't have meant as much to people if I had a very simple kind of make-a-living existence … But because I came from celebrity and fame and what was the peak of a career, that was intriguing to people. To me, it wasn't that. It didn't have anything to do with that. It was work, and it was just time to make an adjustment.” (Uproxx)
Dropped - Macaulay Culkin
Kit Culkin had dreams of making it big in showbiz. He had a brief career and mostly worked on Broadway. He never achieved his dreams of being a famous movie star. He's accused of using his children to achieve the fame and glory he never did. He became world famous for managing his famous children, Macaulay, Rory and Kieran Culkin. Macaulay became a household name after starring in the massively popular Christmas classic, Home Alone and its sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. By his teenage years, Macaulay was worth around $50 million. He is regarded as one of the greatest child actors.
Macaulay said that his father often acted out aggressively towards the family. He also noted that his father was “jealous” of him and added, “‘Everything he tried to do in life, I excelled at before I was 10 years old.”
Macaulay eventually fired his father as his manager and sued his parents for his earnings. They were removed as his guardians and he gained control over his fortune. He said, “I was like 'I’m done guys, hope you all made your money because there is no more coming from me.'” (MetroUK)
Family Over Fame - Demi Moore
In the 90’s, Demi Moore was one of the highest paid Hollywood stars in the world. She starred in every major blockbuster film and was in major demand. In 1987, she married Bruce Willis and they became the Hollywood “It” couple. They have three children together and divorced in 2000. She then married Ashton Kutcher but they divorced in 2013. Despite becoming a major Hollywood star, Moore stepped away from Hollywood to focus on being a mom. During their marriage, Moore and Willis moved to Hailey, Idaho to live as normal as possible.
At the time Moore said, “One of my goals is to build a loving relationship so that my children, as adults, will want to share their lives with me. The foundation I lay — if it's not there now, it won't be later.” (TheList)
Her plan paid off and her children are very grateful for her scarifies. Rumer Willis considers herself and her sisters to “have been very, very blessed with not having stage parents.” She said, “because my mom had me when she was 25 and I'm 28 now and just to even imagine myself three years ago starting to have children and be married and have my career, it's pretty trippy and I'm so proud and kind of in awe of her.” (People)
Dropped - Tiger Woods
At one time, Tiger Woods was the highest paid athlete in the world. He's widely regarded as one of the greatest pro golfers of all time. He had several major endorsement deals and was on top of the world. In 2003, he married a former model, Elin Nordegren, and they have two kids. Woods had it all but that still wasn’t enough for him. The family life wasn’t as appealing as the celebrity lifestyle.
In 2009, a large number of women came forward and claimed to have had a relationship with Woods. It turned into a major scandal that cost him several endorsement deals and brought about the end of his marriage. He also went on a career slump that has been difficult for him to get out of. He always tried to be a good father but was clearly not a very good husband. The scandals and controversy was a lot for the family to handle. Nordegren said, “I never suspected, not a one. For the last three-and-a-half years, when all this was going on, I was home a lot more with pregnancies, then the children and my school.” (E!News) He has a much better relationship with his ex-wife and kids now. However, his career comeback is his main priority until he retires.
Family Over Fame - Julia Roberts
There isn’t a person in the world that doesn’t know the name Julia Roberts. She was the Queen of Hollywood and starred in an endless line of classic films. Turns out that there are a few people that don’t know Roberts is a major star and those are her kids.
In 2002, Roberts married cameraman Daniel Moder and they now have three children. Roberts essentially disappeared from Hollywood after starting a family. She has been able to take her kids to places like Disneyland and not be bothered by staying off of social media. This prevents fans from knowing her every step.
She said, “The strange culture of celebrity and the Internet age — I kind of am too old for that silly mess that goes on. I'm glad about that. It's helped that I'm definitely of a particular age.” (USAToday)
She has done such a good job at separating her career and family that her kids are unaware she’s famous. She said, “It was on a crowded street, and somebody noticed me, and then another person noticed. Somebody said as we were walking past, ‘Oh, that's Julia Roberts.’ We all just kind of kept going, and then Finn said, '’Yeah, my mom's Julia Robinson.’ That's what gives you perspective. It could be Robinson, it could be Johnson, because it has nothing to do with me as a person.” (TheList)
Dropped - Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. He's undefeated with a record of 50-0. He's known for fighting in several highly anticipated fights. He's also known for living up to his nickname “Money”. He lives in a lavish mansion, owns a garage filled with cars and spends his money on ridiculous items. He first competed from 1996 to 2007 and retired. He made a comeback and competed from 2009 to 2015. In 2017, he came out of retirement to face UFC star Conor McGregor in a 12-round boxing fight. Mayweather can’t seem to stay retired and will always come back if the money is right. There is even talk of Mayweather stepping into the Octagon to fight McGregor in a rematch. (TMZ)
Mayweather's love of fame and glory trumps his family and kids. Mayweather was in a long-term relationship with Josie Harris. Mayweather has four kids and often spoils them with extravagant gifts. However, Mayweather is also known for his volatile and out of control rage towards his ex-girlfriend and kids. He has served jail time, house arrest and community service for various incidents. (Newsone)
Family Over Fame - Dave Chappelle
In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, Dave Chappelle was arguably the most famous comedian in the world. He co-created and starred in the critically acclaimed sketch comedy series Chappelle’s Show. He's regarded as one of the greatest stand-up comedians of all time. Chappelle shockingly left the series mid-way through season 3 after disagreements with the network over the direction of the series. He famously hid out in South Africa until the media coverage died down.
Chappelle decided to step back from the spotlight and focus on his family. He said, “I go home and make the kids some integrity sandwiches… It makes no sense at all. There's nothing anyone can say. It's just you do what you feel like you need to do.” (TheList)
He never stopped performing stand up comedy but felt the attention from the series was not good for his home life. He said, “I never stopped being on stage. What I did was step off of the main stage because those lights were hot, and I was trying to do other things with my life. That kind of attention wouldn't have been conducive to raising a family.” (People) He has since made a return to the spotlight after releasing a series of Netflix stand up specials and hosting Saturday Night Live.
Dropped - Kris Jenner
The Kardashian-Jenner clan is one of the most famous celebrity families. They all star in the enormously successful reality series, Keeping Up with the Kardashians. The series has also resulted in numerous popular spinoffs. They've all become world famous but are often stirring up controversy.
The mother of the family, Kris Jenner, has been accused of using her family in order to gain fame and fortune. She responded to the criticism by saying, “I made and created a show that my family was all on board with, and we were so excited because we got to work together.”
However, her youngest child, Kylie Jenner, has openly discussed the difficulty of growing up on a reality show. She said, “I started filming Keeping Up with the Kardashians when I was 9 years old, so I don't know what it's like to not have people know who you are. I think I've lost part of myself.” (BusinessInsider) Additionally, she pushed Kim Kardashian to pose for Playboy in a scandalous photo shoot and once chose to visit Oprah Winfrey over being present for the birth of her granddaughter. Kris is known for living the glamorous lifestyle and is often spotted partying with her young daughters.
Family Over Fame - Chris O’Donnell
In the late 90’s, Chris O’Donnell was the go to guy. He could do it all from romantic films to action movies. His charming good looks and talent made him one of the most in demand celebs. He starred in several memorable films, such as Scent of a Woman, Circle of Friends and Batman Forever. However, from early on he cared more about a stable family life than a movie career. He said, “I knew when I got into this business I couldn't have it both ways: I could live the playboy lifestyle, which is not a bad thing to do, or have a traditional family life, which is how I grew up. And that was more important to me.” (Redbrook)
At the age of 26, he settled down and married Caroline Fentress. They have a large family with five kids. O’Donnell turned down some major film roles to focus on his family life. He said, “I was being offered these huge films that would have taken my career to a different level, and I decided to put on the brakes. I knew if I continued on that track, I probably wouldn’t have gotten married.” (People) In 2009, he began to appear in NCIS: Los Angeles. The role makes it easy for him to spend time with his family.
Dropped - Ariel Winter
In this case, it wasn’t a celebrity that chose fame over their family. It’s a parent that chose fame over their child and used their kid to achieve that fame. Ariel Winter is best known for portraying Alex Dunphy on the hit sitcom Modern Family. She was only 11 years old when she started on the series. Initially, her mother Crystal Workman was Winter’s manager, She put a great deal of pressure on Winter to pay the bills.
Even at the age of 14, Workman controlled how Winter dressed. According to TMZ, the Modern Family cast disliked her “because she made Ariel's life a living Hell.” (TMZ)
Workman also imposed a strict diet on Winter, which included eating raw vegetables and eggs whites only. Her co-stars often snuck her food while on set. Workman was so obsessed with fame and fortune that she lost her daughter in the end. Winter became emancipated from her mother. Winter said, “My life is definitely more normal—and that'll help me grow up like I'm supposed to. Like, I always wanted to be a dancer, and now I'm taking dance classes. And I didn't have many friends. It was all about work. Nowadays, my sister's like, You're supposed to have friends. You're supposed to go out on Friday and Saturday nights.’” (USMagazine)
Family Over Fame - Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel first rose to fame after starring in the popular family drama 7th Heaven. She later starred in several memorable films, including, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Illusionist, and Blade: Trinity. She was universally praised for her performance in the series Sinner. Biel’s personal life and relationships often make the headline news.
In 2012, Biel married Justin Timberlake after dating for several years. They have one son, Silas, who was born in 2015. Biel is still landing major roles and appears on the cover of all the top magazines. However, she is much more focused on being a mom. Even when she goes back to work being a mom is her priority. She said, “My work, I leave it at work. I don't bring it home. I mean, yes, I'm exhausted and sometimes I need like, a glass of wine and to just hang out. But you got to let it go. You have a 2-year-old who just wants to play with you and that's what's most important.” She can easily switch from Hollywood celebrity to mom mode. She said, “You don't have a choice. It's called get in the car, open the front door and you better be Mom, because nobody cares what you did all day.” (ET)
Dropped - Lamar Odom
Lamar Odom is a retired basketball player that played for the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers. However, even that wasn’t enough fame for him and he kept chasing after it. Odom was in a serious relationship with Liza Morales for several years. They have three children together but Odom soon chose fame over his family.
In 2009, Odom made headlines when he married reality star Khloé Kardashian a month after dating. He became a regular on the immensely popular reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Overnight he became a household name and a major celeb. In 2011, Odom and Kardashian starred in the reality series Khloé & Lamar. In 2016, Kardashian filed for divorce with it being finalized later that year. The end of the marriage was hard on Odom who also struggled with substances. However, the entire relationship and marriage was very tough for Odom’s kids. His eldest, Destiny, was often bullied at school and on social media. She acknowledges that she tried to be there for her father but he clearly chose fame over her. She said, “I tried for my dad. I wouldn't say it was a matter of my dad loving Khloé more than me. I think that my dad has an addictive personality, so he was addicted to the attention he got with Khloé more than me. It was a very toxic relationship.” (DailyMailUK)
Family Over Fame - Megan Fox
Megan Fox is regarded as one of the most beautiful celebs of all time. She quickly rose to the very top of Hollywood. She was also one of the most controversial celebs and gained a bad reputation. She was on the cover of every single magazine in the world. She gave it all up for her family and to raise her kids. Fox became a household name after starring in the film Transformers and its sequel.
In 2004, she met Brian Austin Green on the set of Hope & Faith. She was 18 at the time and he was 30. They’ve had many ups and downs but married in 2010. They started a family and have three kids. She is much more focused on her family than her career.
After the birth of her first child, she said, “The ultimate satisfaction for me is being with my son. All I wanted to do my whole, whole life was have a baby and, now, I’ve finally done it.”
She appears in the upcoming film Zeroville and will host the series Mysteries and Myths with Megan Fox. However, after the birth of her first child, she was clear that her family is her main priority. She added, “It’s very hard for me to do this stuff, because I feel like this isn’t my job any more. My job is to be with him.” (DailyMailUK)
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