List of people from Florida facts for kids

State flag of Florida

Location of Florida in the U.S. map

Florida is a sunny state in the southeastern United States, known for its beautiful beaches, theme parks, and diverse wildlife. Many famous people have lived in Florida, or were born and raised there. This article introduces you to some of these notable individuals who have made a big impact in different areas like business, politics, entertainment, sports, and science.

People in Business

Florida has been home to many smart business leaders. They created companies that changed how we shop, watch movies, and manage money.

Inventors and Company Founders

Sara Blakely (born 1971) is a businesswoman who started the company Spanx. She studied at Florida State University.
Wayne Huizenga (1937–2018) was a very successful businessman. He founded famous companies like Blockbuster Video, AutoNation, and Waste Management, Inc.. He also owned or co-owned sports teams like the Miami Dolphins (football), Florida Panthers (hockey), and Miami Marlins (baseball). He graduated from Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale and started Waste Management there in 1971.
George W. Jenkins (1907–1996) founded Publix, a popular grocery store chain. He started Publix in Winter Haven in 1930 and lived in Lakeland.

Financial Leaders

Robert James (1909–1983) founded Raymond James Financial, a big financial company based in St. Petersburg. He started it in 1962.
Thomas James (born 1942/43) is the chairman of Raymond James Financial. He lives in St. Petersburg and went to Stetson College of Law there.

Leaders in Politics and Government

Florida has also been home to many important figures in politics and government. These individuals have helped shape laws and lead the state and country.

Governors and Senators

Jeb Bush (born 1953) served as the governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He is the brother of former U.S. President George W. Bush and lived in Miami.
Ron DeSantis (born 1978) is the current (46th) Governor of Florida, serving since 2019. He was born in Jacksonville.
Bill Nelson (born 1942) was a U.S. senator from Florida from 2001 to 2019. He also served as a U.S. congressman and is now the NASA Administrator. He was born in Miami.
Marco Rubio (born 1971) has been a U.S. senator from Florida since 2011. He was born in Miami.

Other Key Figures

Janet Reno (1938–2016) was the U.S. Attorney General from 1993 to 2001. She was the first woman to hold this important position. Janet Reno was born in Miami.
Donald Trump (born 1946) was the 45th President of the USA from 2017 to 2021. He is also a businessman and lives in Palm Beach.

Stars of Film and Television

Florida has produced many talented actors, directors, and TV personalities who have entertained audiences around the world.

Actors and Actresses

Angela Bassett (born 1958) is a famous film and television actress who lived in St. Petersburg.
David Caruso (born 1956) is a film and television actor who lives in Miami Beach.
Johnny Depp (born 1963) is a well-known film actor who was raised in Miramar.
Faye Dunaway (born 1941) is an Academy Award-winning actress who was born in Bascom.
Megan Fox (born 1986) is a film and television actress who was partly raised in St. Petersburg.
Josh Gad (born 1981) is a film actor, comedian, and singer, famous for voicing Olaf in Frozen. He was born in Hollywood.
Andy Garcia (born 1956) is a film actor who was raised in Miami.
Ashley Greene (born 1987) is a film and television actress who was born in Jacksonville.
Cheryl Hines (born 1965) is an actress who was born in Miami Beach.
Victoria Justice (born 1993) is an actress and singer who was born in Hollywood.
Jennifer Lopez (born 1969) is a popular singer and actress who lived in Miami.
William H. Macy (born 1950) is a film actor who was born in Miami.
Eva Mendes (born 1974) is a film actress who was born in Miami.
Mandy Moore (born 1984) is an actress and singer-songwriter who grew up in Longwood.
Sarah Paulson (born 1974) is a film, stage, and television actress who was born in Tampa.
Sidney Poitier (born 1927) is an Academy Award-winning actor who was born in Miami.
Mickey Rourke (born 1952) is a film actor who was raised in Miami.
Wesley Snipes (born 1962) is an actor and film producer who was born in Orlando.
Bella Thorne (born 1997) is a television actress who was born in Hollywood.
Sofía Vergara (born 1972) is a film and television actress who lives in Miami.
Noah Centineo (born 1996) is an actor and model who was born in Miami.

Directors and TV Personalities

Merian C. Cooper (1893–1973) was a film director, screenwriter, and producer, born in Jacksonville.
Lawrence Kasdan (born 1949) is a film director and screenwriter who was born in Miami.
Bob Ross (1942–1995) was a beloved television presenter and artist, famous for his painting show. He was born in Daytona Beach.
Brett Ratner (born 1969) is a film and music video director who was born and raised in Miami Beach.

Talented Musicians

Florida has a vibrant music scene and has been the birthplace or home for many famous singers, rappers, and DJs across different genres.

Singers and Rappers

Ariana Grande (born 1993) is a global pop superstar, singer, songwriter, and actress. She was born and raised in Boca Raton.
Kodak Black (born 1997) is a popular musician born in Pompano Beach.
Pat Boone (born 1934) is a famous 1950s rock and roll singer who was born in Jacksonville.
Aaron Carter (1987–2022) was a singer born in Tampa.
Nick Carter (born 1980) is a singer from the Backstreet Boys who lives in Tampa.
Jason Derülo (born 1989) is a pop and R&B singer who was born in Miami.
Fred Durst (born 1970) is the lead singer of the band Limp Bizkit. He was born in Jacksonville.
Flo Rida (Tramar Dillard) (born 1979) is a well-known rapper and actor from Opa-Locka.
Gloria Estefan (born 1957) is a Grammy Award-winning singer who was raised in Miami after being born in Cuba.
Debbie Harry (born 1945) is the lead singer of the famous new wave band Blondie. She was born in Miami.
Ace Hood (born 1988) is a rapper born in Port St. Lucie and raised in Deerfield Beach.
Jim Morrison (1943–1971) was the singer, songwriter, and poet for The Doors. He was born in Melbourne.
Pitbull (born 1981) is a famous rap artist and actor who was born in Miami.
Rick Ross (born 1977) is a rap artist who was born in Carol City.
Shakira (born 1977) is a global pop singer who lives in Miami.
T-Pain (born 1985) is a rap artist who was born in Tallahassee.
XXXTENTACION (1998–2018) was a popular rapper, singer, and songwriter born in Plantation.

DJs and Producers

Steve Aoki (born 1977) is a famous DJ who was born in Miami.
DJ Khaled (born 1975) is a well-known DJ and rap artist who was raised in Miami.
Lil Pump (Gazzy Garcia) (born 2000) is a rap artist born in Miami.
Lil Wayne (born 1982) is a very famous rap artist who lived in Miami Beach.
Tiësto (born 1969) is a world-renowned DJ who lived in Miami.

Innovators in Science and Technology

Florida has also contributed to advancements in science and technology, with several notable figures making important discoveries and inventions.

Anthony J. Arduengo, III (born 1952) is a chemist and material scientist who discovered persistent carbene. He was born in Tampa.
Philip Don Estridge (1937–1985) led the team that developed the first IBM Personal Computer. He was born in Jacksonville and worked in Boca Raton.
John Gorrie (1803–1855) was an inventor who created mechanical cooling, a key step toward modern air conditioning. He lived and worked in Apalachicola.
George Smoot (born 1945) is an astrophysicist and cosmologist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2006. He was born in Yukon.

Sports Legends

Florida is a hub for sports, and many professional athletes and coaches have strong ties to the state.

Basketball Stars

Ray Allen (born 1975) is a professional basketball player who lived in Miami.
Chris Bosh (born 1984) is a professional basketball player who lived in Miami.
Vince Carter (born 1977) is a professional basketball player born in Daytona Beach.
Udonis Haslem (born 1980) is a professional basketball player born in Miami.
LeBron James (born 1984) is one of the greatest basketball players of all time and lived in Miami.
Shaquille O'Neal (born 1972) is a legendary professional basketball player who lived in Orlando.
Dwyane Wade (born 1982) is a famous professional basketball player who lived in Miami.

Football Heroes

Blake Bortles (born 1992) is a professional football quarterback who was born in Altamonte Springs and played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Antonio Brown (born 1988) is a professional football wide receiver born in Miami.
Daunte Culpepper (born 1977) is a professional football quarterback born in Ocala.
Frank Gore (born 1983) is a professional football player born in Miami.
Derrick Henry (born 1994) is a professional football running back born in Yulee.
Devin Hester (born 1982) is a professional football wide receiver and punt returner, born and raised in Riviera Beach.
Michael Irvin (born 1966) is a professional football player born in Fort Lauderdale.
Lamar Jackson (born 1997) is a professional football quarterback born in Pompano Beach.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (born 1972) is a famous professional wrestler and actor who lives in Miami.
Ray Lewis (born 1975) is a professional football player born in Bartow and lived in Lakeland.
Willis McGahee (born 1981) is a professional football player born in Miami.
Santana Moss (born 1979) is a professional football player born in Miami.
Chad Ochocinco (born 1978) is a professional football player born in Miami.
Jason Pierre-Paul (born 1989) is a professional football defensive end born in Deerfield Beach.
Deion Sanders (born 1967) is a professional football cornerback born in Fort Myers.
Warren Sapp (born 1972) is a professional football player born in Orlando.
Emmitt Smith (born 1969) is a professional football player born in Pensacola.
Matthew Stafford (born 1988) is a professional football quarterback born in Tampa.

Baseball Players

Wade Boggs (born 1958) is a professional baseball player who lives in Tampa.
Jose Canseco (born 1964) is a Major League Baseball outfielder who was raised in Miami.
Steve Carlton (born 1944) is a Major League Baseball pitcher born in Miami.
Johnny Damon (born 1974) is a Major League Baseball All-Star outfielder who grew up in Orlando.
Dwight Gooden (born 1964) is a professional baseball pitcher born in Tampa.
Luis Gonzalez (born 1967) is a professional baseball outfielder born in Tampa.
Chipper Jones (born 1972) is a professional baseball player born in DeLand.
Tony La Russa (born 1944) is a famous professional baseball manager born and raised in Tampa.
Tino Martinez (born 1967) is a professional baseball player born in Tampa.
Alex Rodriguez (born 1975) is a professional baseball player who was partly raised in Miami.
Chris Sale (born 1989) is a professional baseball pitcher born in Lakeland.
Tim Wakefield (born 1966) is a professional baseball pitcher born in Melbourne.

Other Sports Figures

Caeleb Dressel (born 1996) is a competitive swimmer and an Olympian in 2016 and 2020. He was born in Green Cove Springs.
Amy Dumas (Lita) (born 1975) is a professional wrestler born in Fort Lauderdale.
Chris Evert (born 1954) is a legendary professional tennis player born in Fort Lauderdale.
Hulk Hogan (born 1953) is a famous professional wrestler and television star who was raised in Tampa.
Roy Jones Jr. (born 1969) is a former boxing champion born in Pensacola.
Kelly Slater (born 1972) is one of the greatest professional surfers of all time. He was born in Cocoa Beach.
Paul Wight (Big Show) (born 1972) is a professional wrestler who lives in Tampa.

Writers and Authors

Florida has inspired many writers, from columnists to novelists, who have told stories about the state and beyond.

Kristen Arnett (born 1980) is a fiction author and essayist whose debut novel, Mostly Dead Things, was a New York Times bestseller. She was born, raised, and lives in Orlando.
Dave Barry (born 1947) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and best-selling author who lives in Miami.
Pat Frank (1907–1964) was the author of Alas, Babylon, a famous novel about a nuclear war. He lived in Tangerine.
Carl Hiaasen (born 1953) is a journalist and novelist known for his mystery novels often set in Florida. He was born in Plantation.
Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960) was a very important author and folklorist during the Harlem Renaissance. She was raised in Eatonville.
James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) was an author, poet, and civil rights activist born in Jacksonville.
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896–1953) was a novelist and short story writer who lived in Cross Creek, which was the setting for most of her work, including The Yearling.

Military Heroes

Florida has been home to brave individuals who served in the military and made significant contributions.

Roy Geiger (1885–1947) was a Marine Corps 4-star general during World War II. He was born in Middleburg.
Joseph Kittinger (born 1928) is an aviation and space flight pioneer, known for his record-breaking high-altitude parachute jump. He was born in Tampa.
John Young (1930–2018) was a Navy fighter pilot and a NASA astronaut who flew on Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle missions. He was raised in Orlando.

Other Notable Floridians

This section includes other famous people from Florida who have made their mark in various fields.

Carrot Top (born 1965) is a well-known prop comedian born in Cocoa Beach.
Fabiano Caruana (born 1992) became the youngest chess grandmaster in United States history. He was born in Miami.
Rick Dees (born 1950) is a famous radio personality born in Jacksonville.
Janice Dickinson (born 1955) is an early supermodel born in Hollywood.
Abraham Lincoln Lewis (1865–1947) was a businessman and Florida's first African-American millionaire. He was born in Madison.
A. Philip Randolph (1889–1979) was a very important civil rights activist born in Crescent City.
Niki Taylor (born 1975) is a supermodel born in Miami.
Jimmy Wales (born 1966) is a founding member of the Wikimedia Foundation, which created Wikipedia. He lived in St. Petersburg.
Adin Ross (born 2000) is a popular Twitch streamer who was born in Boca Raton.

Floridians Born in Other Countries

Many people who were born outside the United States have also made Florida their home and achieved great things.

Camila Cabello (born 1997) is a singer and former member of Fifth Harmony. She was born in Cuba and raised in Miami.
Gloria Estefan (born 1957) is a Grammy Award-winning singer who was born in Cuba and raised in Miami.
Enrique Iglesias (born 1975) is a pop singer-songwriter born in Spain and raised in Miami.
Tim Tebow (born 1987) is a professional baseball outfielder and former football quarterback. He was born in the Philippines and raised in Jacksonville.