20 Famous People with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

ASD Traits Can Contribute to Accomplishing Great Things

No matter what traits of autism you or your loved one may have, every person diagnosed with autism has their own unique strengths and abilities. Below, we highlight well-known people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who have shared their diagnosis publicly and used their abilities to achieve success, fame, or accomplished incredible things.

Strong Interests Support Success

One example of a trait of autism is called restricted interests. It’s a type of restrictive behavior. Restricted interests have to do with how a person with ASD often has an intense passion for certain topics. Whereas people without autism often have a range of interests and can easily switch their focus from one topic or activity to another, people with autism may have a more focused range of interests.

This characteristic can contribute to the success that many people with ASD experience throughout their lives. By being able to focus and maintain one core interest for years or even the entirety of one’s life, a person with ASD can use this interest to accomplish anything.

Famous People with ASD

We’ve reviewed some of the factors that may contribute to success and accomplishment in the life of people with ASD. Now, let’s introduce some famous actors, musicians, comedians, entrepreneurs, and advocates who happen to be autistic.

A note on how this list was built: every person featured below has either received a formal autism or Asperger’s diagnosis or has spoken publicly and directly about being on the spectrum. We’ve intentionally left out historical figures who are frequently speculated to have had autism, since there is no way to confirm a diagnosis for someone who lived and died before autism was even a recognized condition. We think this makes the article more meaningful, more accurate, and spotlights the people who’ve actually claimed this identity for themselves.

1. Dan Aykroyd – Actor and Film Writer

Dan Aykroyd is a comedic actor famous for his acting role and writing of the movie Ghostbusters, released in 1984. He was diagnosed with Asperger's in the 1980s and has said his restricted interests in ghosts and law enforcement directly inspired the film.

2. Daryl Hannah – Actress & Environmental Activist

Daryl Hannah is an actor known for her roles in films such as Splash, Blade Runner, and Steel Magnolias. She received an autism diagnosis as a child, was extremely shy around other people, and continued to be very fearful of the spotlight as an adult.

3. Bella Ramsey – Actor

Bella Ramsey is an English actor best known for her roles in HBO’s The Last of Us and Game of Thrones. While filming The Last of Us, a crew member recognized traits associated with autism, which drove Ramsey to seek an assessment. Ramsey later received an autism diagnosis and has spoken publicly about how it helped them better understand themselves and feel more comfortable being her authentic self.

4. Bill Gates – Co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation

Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft and one of the most influential figures in tech. In his 2025 memoir Source Code, Gates wrote that he would likely be diagnosed on the autism spectrum if he were growing up today, describing traits like rocking, intense focus, and missed social cues that went unrecognized in his childhood.

5. Elon Musk – Entrepreneur

Elon Musk is an entrepreneur who announced that he was on the autism spectrum while hosting the show Saturday Night Live in May 2021. More specifically, he stated that he was "the first person with Asperger's" to host the show.

6. Clay Marzo – Professional Surfer

Marzo is a professional competitive surfer from Hawaii. He was diagnosed with autism as a child and won many surfing competitions, including two Perfect 10s during a National Scholastic Surfing Association event at age 15.

7. Dr. Vernon Smith – Professor

Vernon Smith is an economics professor at Chapman University and a Nobel Prize winner credited with founding the field of experimental economics. He has spoken publicly about having Asperger's and feels it has helped him approach his work with a more open-minded, independent perspective.

8. Temple Grandin – Animal Scientist & Autism Advocate

Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science whose designs for livestock handling facilities are used across the world. She was diagnosed with autism as a child and became one of the first public figures to speak openly about her experience, using her visual way of thinking to fuel her career.

9. Susan Boyle – Singer

Susan Boyle became a global star after her 2009 audition on Britain's Got Talent went viral. She was diagnosed with Asperger's later in life and has said the diagnosis brought her relief and helped explain lifelong social challenges.

10. Greta Thunberg – Climate Activist

Greta Thunberg is a Swedish climate activist who has addressed the United Nations and inspired a global youth movement. She has spoken openly about her Asperger's diagnosis, describing it as a key part of how she focuses intensely on causes she cares about.

11. Sia – Singer-Songwriter

Sia is musician known for hits like "Chandelier" and "Cheap Thrills." She revealed in 2023 that she had recently been diagnosed with autism, describing decades of masking her true self before finally feeling free to be herself.

12. Hannah Gadsby – Comedian

Hannah Gadsby is a comedian best known for the Netflix special Nanette. She was diagnosed with autism as an adult and has discussed the diagnosis in her comedy specials, describing how it reshaped her understanding of herself.

13. Chris Packham – Naturalist & TV Presenter

Chris Packham is a British naturalist and BBC wildlife presenter. He was diagnosed with Asperger's and has made documentaries about his experience, describing his intense, focused interest in animals and nature.

14. Heather Kuzmich – Reality TV Contestant & Model

Heather Kuzmich is a model who participated in America's Next Top Model in 2007. She was diagnosed with Asperger's, and some of her traits of ASD include not understanding jokes, difficulty understanding social dialogue about others, and challenges with eye contact.

15. Dan Harmon – Writer & TV Creator

Dan Harmon is a writer who created the shows Community and Rick and Morty. He has said he was diagnosed with autism and has discussed how his particular way of thinking has shaped his approach to writing and storytelling.

16. Patrick (Paddy) Considine – Actor & Director

Paddy Considine is an actor known for roles in Peaky Blinders and House of the Dragon. He was diagnosed with autism as an adult, after years of misdiagnosis, and has spoken about how the diagnosis helped him make sense of long-standing social and sensory struggles.

17. Wentworth Miller – Actor

Wentworth Miller an actor is known for starring as Michael Scofield in the television series Prison Break. In 2021, he publicly shared that he had received an autism diagnosis as an adult, describing it as “a shock, but not a surprise.” Miller has said the diagnosis helped him better understand himself after years of navigating life without knowing.

18. John Elder Robison – Author

John Robison is the author of the memoir Look Me in the Eye. He was diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult and has become a prominent writer and advocate, drawing on his own late diagnosis to help others understand adult autism.

19. Melanie Sykes – TV Presenter

Melanie Sykes is a British television and radio presenter. She was diagnosed with autism as an adult and has spoken publicly about how the diagnosis reframed decades of experiences she had not previously understood.

20. Chloe Hayden – Actor

Chloe Hayden is an Australian actor, author, and content creator best known for her role in Netflix’s Heartbreak High. Diagnosed with autism at age 13, Hayden has become a leading advocate for neurodiversity, using her platform to raise awareness about autism, masking, and self-acceptance.