Top 10 Famous People that are a Middle Finger to Mortality

Despite decades of chemical and physical abuse, the bodies of some people seem to regenerate. Their bodies repair damage, completely ignoring medical science, the laws of physics, and common sense. These people seem to metabolize things differently.

Although substance abuse is usually involved, it's not limited to that. Bad eating habits, touring, and insufficient sleep are also some of the factors.

Minimum age to be eligible: 65.

People on this list are just some very lucky individuals, so don't try anything they did, because you might not be among the luckiest people on the planet.

Keith Richards, one of the top people on this list, said that his longevity in the face of multiple drug abuse over decades was just luck, and advised others not to follow his lead.

But Keith Richards also said something that sums up the idea of this list: "I've no pretensions about immortality... I was number one on the Who's 'Likely To Die' list for 10 years. I mean, I was really disappointed when I fell off the list. Some doctor told me I had six months to live, and I went to their funeral."

1. Ozzy Osbourne

   

   John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne (December 3, 1948 - July 22 2025) was an English singer, songwriter, and television personality, often nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness." He rose to fame in the early 1970s as the lead vocalist of Black Sabbath.... read more

   As of May 2018, Ozzy is 69 years old.

   Ozzy even agreed to take part in medical research projects that analyzed his full genome to find out how he was still alive (Cofactor Genomics, Knome Inc.). Ozzy was the first rock star to have his full genome sequenced. Ozzy himself explained:

   "I was curious. Given the swimming pools of booze I've guzzled over the years - not to mention all of the cocaine, morphine, sleeping pills, cough syrup, LSD, Rohypnol...you name it - there's really no plausible medical reason why I should still be alive. Maybe my DNA could say why."

   But scientists didn't find the "Ozzy" gene - no particular evidence of his body's efforts to repair any damage. They found interesting things but not quite definitive - an unusual variant of alcohol dehydrogenase genes and evidence of Neanderthal lineage.

2. Keith Richards

   

   Keith Richards is an English musician, primarily a guitarist, as well as a singer, songwriter, best-selling memoirist, and founding member of the rock band The Rolling Stones. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists in rock history. Richards has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall... read more

   I know, I know, we've all heard the jokes, but what amazes me about Keith Richards is that, unlike many of his contemporaries, he still smokes and drinks on a regular basis.

   Apparently, the after-effects don't seem to bother him.

   I think it may be beyond science to figure out how Keith Richards is still alive.

3. Iggy Pop

   

   James Newell Osterberg Jr. (born April 21, 1947), known professionally as Iggy Pop, is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and actor. He is widely regarded as a pioneer of punk rock and earned the nickname The Godfather of Punk. Iggy Pop is best known as the lead vocalist of the band The Stooges... read more

   71 years old as of May 2018.

   After decades of self-mutilation, self-destruction, heavy drug use, and alcohol abuse, Iggy Pop still performs live at the age of 70+.

   He is done with hardcore drugs though.

4. Mick Jagger

   

   Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the lead vocalist and a co-founder of the Rolling Stones. With a career spanning more than six decades, he has become one of the most influential frontmen in rock music history. Jagger was knighted in 2003 for... read more

   74 years old as of May 2018.

   Everyone who was in the Rolling Stones can be on this list, but Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are the front runners.

5. Steven Tyler

   

   Steven Tyler is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist best known as the lead singer of the Boston-based rock band Aerosmith. He also plays the harmonica and occasionally plays keyboard and percussion. Tyler served as a judge on the tenth season of American Idol in 2011 and has held... read more

   70 years old as of May 2018.

   Another favorite rocker. And a bad guy.

6. Lemmy

   

   Ian Fraser Kilmister, known as Lemmy, was an English musician, singer, and songwriter who founded and fronted the rock band Motörhead. He was a bassist and singer known for his raspy voice and aggressive playing style. He died in 2015 from prostate cancer, cardiac arrhythmia, and congestive heart failure... read more

   He died at 70. R.I.P.

   Chain smoking, whiskey, and amphetamines. Lemmy had no family, so his bad habits were unrestrained (he didn't want to get married). He was aware of the risks:

   "Everything that is pleasant in life is dangerous. Have you noticed that? I'd like to find the bastard that thought that one up."

7. Bob Dylan

   

   Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, author, and visual artist who has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than six decades. He gained fame in the 1960s with songs that became associated with the civil rights and anti-war movements. In 2016, he was awarded the Nobel... read more

   He is 77 years old as of May 2018.

   He tried every drug he could find, including heroin. He admitted he was once a heroin addict. He has been through rehab.

   He's also the guy who turned The Beatles on to pot.

8. Alice Cooper

   

   Alice Cooper is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and occasional actor whose career spans more than six decades. Known for his distinctive raspy voice and theatrical stage shows, Cooper is often referred to as the Godfather of Shock Rock. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in... read more

   70 years old as of May 2018.

   Besides the things the other guys did, he took some additional risks, such as performing live with a real boa constrictor around his neck.

9. Betty White

   

   Betty Marion Ludden (January 17, 1922 - December 31, 2021), known professionally as Betty White, was an American actress, animal welfare advocate, author, comedian, radio host, singer, and television personality. She was known for her roles in television sitcoms such as The Golden Girls, The Mary Tyler... read more

   She got to live long enough until 2021.

10. Brian Wilson

    

    Brian Douglas Wilson (1942-2025) was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer best known for being the multi-tasking leader and co-founder of the Beach Boys. He essentially blended upbeat three-chord rock with layered classical harmonies to build a globally recognized California... read more

The Newcomers
11. ?

    George Soros

    

    George Soros, Hon. FBA, is a Hungarian-American investor, business magnate, philanthropist, political activist, and author. Born on August 12, 1930, he became chairman of Soros Fund Management and gained international recognition for his $1 billion profit during the 1992 Black Wednesday UK currency... read more

12. ?

    Ion Iliescu

    
The Contenders

13. Lou Reed

    

    Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed (March 2, 1942 to October 27, 2013) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter. He was the guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of the Velvet Underground. His solo career lasted five decades and left a lasting impact on music.... read more

14. Paul McCartney

    

    Sir James Paul McCartney (born June 18, 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. With John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, he gained worldwide fame as a member of the rock band The Beatles, one of the most popular and influential groups in the history of pop... read more

15. David Crosby

    

    David Van Cortlandt Crosby (August 14, 1941 - January 18, 2023) was an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He was a founding member of the Byrds, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and CPR, and he also performed as part of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and released several solo albums. Crosby was inducted... read more

16. Chuck Norris

    

    Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940 - March 19, 2026) was an American actor and martial artist. He earned black belts in Tang Soo Do, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and judo and served in the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1962.... read more

17. Ringo Starr

    

    Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor who gained worldwide fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the group, usually for one song on each album, including "Yellow Submarine... read more

18. Kirk Douglas

    

    Kirk Douglas (December 9, 1916 - February 5, 2020) was an American actor, filmmaker, author, and centenarian. He was among the last surviving stars of Hollywood's Golden Age of cinema.

    Born into poverty to immigrant parents, Douglas had six sisters and overcame early hardships to achieve success... read more

19. David Attenborough

    

    Sir David Frederick Attenborough (born 8 May 1926) is an English broadcaster, biologist, natural historian, and writer.

    He is best known for writing and presenting, in collaboration with the BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the nine nature documentary series that comprise the Life collection... read more

20. James Earl Jones

    

    James Earl Jones (January 17, 1931 - September 9, 2024) was an American actor known for both his film roles and his work in the theater. He was one of the few performers to achieve the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony). He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 1985, and received... read more

21. Joe Walsh

    

    Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh (born November 20, 1947) is an American singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He is widely known for his work as a guitarist and vocalist for the Eagles, and previously played with the James Gang and Barnstorm. Walsh is also recognized for... read more

22. Donald Sutherland

    

    Donald McNichol Sutherland, OC, was a Canadian actor whose film career spanned more than six decades. He starred in numerous acclaimed films, including MASH, Klute, Ordinary People, and The Hunger Games series. In 2017, he received an Academy Honorary Award for his contributions to cinema.

23. Clint Eastwood

    

    Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr. is an American actor, film director, producer, musician, and former political figure. He gained fame through the television Western Rawhide, the film A Fistful of Dollars, and the Dirty Harry series. Eastwood has directed acclaimed films including Unforgiven, Million Dollar... read more

24. Jane Fonda

    

    Jane Fonda is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model, and fitness guru.

    She has received numerous awards, including two Academy Awards for her roles in Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978). Fonda became a cultural icon in the 1980s with her bestselling workout videos... read more

25. Sylvester Stallone

    

    Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone is an American actor, film director, screenwriter, and producer.

    He is best known for his roles as Rocky Balboa in the Rocky series and John Rambo in the First Blood and Rambo series. His most well-known films are primarily action movies.... read more