Obama and Brad Pitt? The Celebrity Family Secret No One Saw Coming
It sounds like the setup to a late-night joke: What do a U.S. president and a Hollywood heartthrob have in common? Turns out, a shared bloodline.
For years, it flew under the radar—a curious ancestral connection buried deep in historical records, brushed off as coincidence or Internet myth.
But when Barack Obama was asked about it directly, he didn’t deny it. He smiled. And just like that, a little-known genealogical twist made headlines.
The President and the Movie Star
In 2008, while Barack Obama was still a presidential candidate and Brad Pitt was ruling the box office, a rumor surfaced: the two were distant relatives.
During an appearance on The View, co-host Joy Behar brought it up—half joking, half curious.
Obama’s answer? Cool, confident, and characteristically self-aware:
“I guess we’re ninth cousins, something removed—or something. I think he got the better-looking side of the gene pool.”
He wasn’t wrong on either count.
Genealogists later confirmed the connection. Both Obama and Pitt share a common ancestor: Edwin Hickman, who died in Virginia in 1769. That makes them ninth cousins—distant, yes, but undeniably linked.
More Than a One-Off Twist
As it turns out, surprising family ties are surprisingly common in high-profile circles. Hillary Clinton, for example, is reportedly related to Angelina Jolie—yes, that Angelina, Brad Pitt’s former wife.
According to the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Clinton and Jolie are both descendants of Jean Cusson, who lived in Quebec in the 1600s. But Clinton’s family tree doesn’t stop there: she also shares ancestry with Celine Dion, Madonna, and Alanis Morissette, all through French-Canadian roots.
Meanwhile, Madonna herself was once stunned to learn she’s related to Pope Leo XIII—proof that even pop royalty has some divine surprises in their DNA.
Bloodlines, Fame, and the Unexpected
What do these connections really mean? Maybe nothing more than a fun fact. Or maybe, they point to something deeper: how the past weaves quietly into the present, linking people from wildly different worlds.
After all, the idea that the leader of the free world shares ancestry with a Hollywood icon might seem improbable—until you realize how strangely small the human family tree really is.
Conclusion:
So the next time someone says you look like a celebrity, don’t laugh it off—check the family tree. From red carpets to campaign trails, fame may run in more than just circles—it might run in your blood. Barack Obama and Brad Pitt are proof: even the most unexpected names can share roots. You never know who’s sitting on the other branch of your own history.