The Most Unusual Pets Owned By Celebrities

We love celebrities because more often than not they are very talented, extremely good-looking, and so wealthy that they can honor their many quirks, fulfill their every whimsy, and carry out their pie-in-the-sky childhood fantasies. And it's fascinating to watch. These out-there dreams sometimes include purchasing or adopting some very unusual pets.

Sure, Taylor Swift's cats live amazing lives. But we're not just talking about pampered felines or rare dog breeds you've never heard of. Throughout history, the rich and famous have been known for owning animals that aren't typically domesticated. Tippi Hedren had her lion. George Clooney had his pot-bellied pig. Bubbles the chimp was just as famous as Michael Jackson. That said, historically, some celebrities haven't been the most qualified caretakers of exotic animals. But with lots of room, resources, and help from professionals, some celebs have been able to provide their unusual pets with happy lives. Here are a few of the most interesting pets owned by some notable celebs.

When actor Salma Hayek saw an ad for rescue owls, she did her research and decided to adopt a southern white-faced owl who she named Kering, after her husband's company. While Kering was technically a gift to her husband for Valentine's Day, Hayek has a special bond with the owl. "When my husband is not in town, she sleeps in the room with me," Hayek told People in 2021.

In the U.S., it is illegal to own an owl without a license. However, many conservation centers, like Owls.org and The World Wildlife Fund allow you to symbolically adopt one you can visit. Though we cannot confirm Hayek's location, it seems that at the time she spoke with People, she was living between London and Los Angeles.

According to Hayek, Kering enjoys hanging out on top of her head or her shoulders, and even cuddles up to her. For the actor, spending time with Kering and her other animals — which, according to her Instagram, seem to include dogs, cats, horses, and alpacas — is a way to let go of whatever consumes you. "Because they don't talk, you really have to be present with them, to communicate with them, to understand them. They always make you feel welcome. They never complain," she told People.

In addition to being an Oscar-winning actor several times over, Leonardo DiCaprio is a devoted environmentalist and conservationist. The Hollywood A-lister once paid a reported $400 for an African spurred tortoise, also known as a Sulcata tortoise, according to TMZ. These large reptiles live 80 to 100 years, and his was only 10 years old when he purchased it. They can also get up to 200 pounds, so it's likely that Leo put his tortoise in a lovely habitat with caretakers who make sure it has everything it needs.

In addition to providing a giant tortoise a home, Leo created the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation in 1998 and works to support organizations focused on conservation and sustainability. Along with a group of conservation scientists, he's also a founding board member of Re:wild, which, according to its website, "is a force multiplier that brings together Indigenous peoples, local communities, influential leaders, nongovernmental organizations, governments, companies, and the public to protect and rewild at the scale and speed we need."

Nicolas Cage is a legendary actor known for his quirky persona and unforgettable line deliveries. It completely tracks that he has also owned some exotic pets in his time. In addition to an octopus, Cage has owned two king cobras. But it turned out not to be the best situation for him or the snakes. On "The Late Show With David Letterman," Cage explained that he had two king cobras named Sheba and Moby that he kept "behind bulletproof glass." He also claimed to have an antidote to their venom next to their container in case they bit him.

In a 2019 interview with The New York Times, Cage confirmed that he owned the snakes and claimed that they "try to hypnotize" him. "They were not happy," he said. "After I told that story on 'Letterman,' the neighborhood wasn't too pleased that I had cobras, so I had them re-homed in a zoo." When asked if his animals ever influenced his acting, Cage responded, "The cobras, definitely. They would try to hypnotize you by going side to side, and when I did 'Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,' that's something my character does before he attacks. Animals are fun places to get inspiration."

The "Twilight" movies were life-changing for Kristen Stewart. But they weren't her first run-in with wolves (supernatural or not). While Stewart was growing up, her mom, Jules, rescued and cared for wolf-hybrid dogs on their property in Santa Monica, California. The star has shared how she grew attached to the animals. She was even gifted one for her 24th birthday. "Kristen loves the wolves. She grew up with them, the animals are family to her," her mom told Mirror in 2015.

In a 2010 appearance on "The Late Show With David Letterman," Stewart spoke about her and her mom's wolf-dog hybrids. Speaking about one male, Jack, she told Letterman, "He's really sweet. He falls at my feet." In the interview, she also clarified that wolf hybrids are one of few exotic pets that you can own legally (in California, that is) and criticized hunters who shoot wild wolves. Stewart's strong connection to these magnificent animals is really apparent when she talks about them.

When the world stopped because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many found solace in new hobbies or practices. For former English soccer player David Beckham, he discovered the joy of beekeeping. His hives reside on the property in Cotswolds, England where he has lived since 2017 with his wife, Victoria Beckham, and their children. And in July 2022, Beckham's bees gave him his first honey harvest. "Who knew I'd get so emotional about my first harvest of my honey?" he wrote on Instagram. "All started with me and Cruzie building our first hive in lockdown three years ago."

Beckham's bees are just one aspect of his organic garden, which includes chickens, vegetables, fruit, and wildflowers. It's safe to say that after retiring that golden leg, Beckham developed one heck of a green thumb. In a September 2024 Instagram post, he acknowledged this new and different phase of his life, writing, "My kale is doing well. ... I can hear my East End mates going, 'He has changed.' ... My content used to be motorbikes and camping. Now it's kale, honey, and flowers for the house."