Madonna

Born Madonna Louise Ciccone, the “Queen of Pop” dropped out of the University of Michigan in 1978 to move to New York City and pursue a career in entertainment. After starting out as a dancer, Madonna was launched into superstardom with her 1984 album, Like A Virgin.

Madonna has since released 14 albums and earned 12 Billboard No. 1 hits including “Like A Virgin,” “Like A Prayer” and “Vogue.” Madonna is the best-selling female music artist of all time with more No. 1 albums than any other female artist in history and has earned seven Grammy Awards and 20 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs).

Madonna has also ventured into acting with roles in Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Who’s That Girl (1987), A League of Their Own (1992), Body of Evidence (1992) and Evita (1996). She has also starred in documentaries Madonna: Truth or Dare (1991), I’m Going to Tell You a Secret (2005) and Madame X (2021).

Madonna was married to Sean Penn from 1985 to 1989. After their divorce, she was linked to Warren Beatty, Dennis Rodman and personal trainer Carlos Leon, with whom she shares her daughter, Lourdes. She moved on with Guy Ritchie in 1999. Madonna gave birth to their first child together, son Rocco, in August 2000 before marrying Ritchie later that year. Madonna adopted her third child, David, from Malawi in 2006. She split from Ritchie in 2008.

Madonna adopted Chifundo “Mercy” and twins Stella and Estere from Malawi in 2009 and 2017, respectively. After brief relationships with model Brahim Zaibat and dancer Ahlamalik Williams, Madonna was linked to Josh Popper in 2023.