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Famous ESFP people and fictional characters share the four dominant functions of extraversion (E), sensing (S), feeling (F), and perceiving (P). The ESFP personality is one of sixteen personalities under the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Celebrities with an ESFP personality have distinctive traits, preferences, and motivations that differentiate them from other personality types.
People with an ESFP or “Performer” personality type are either the life of the party, the ever enthusiastic and cheerful friend, or the go-getter office mate. Performer types make up around 8.5% of the general population. You’ll find most in career paths where they can freely express their superior showmanship and creativity, such as music, film, or fashion.
Today, we’ll discuss the following 20 famous Performers and their most notable ESFP traits.
- Elvis Presley
- Serena Williams
- John F. Kennedy
- Bill Clinton
- James Brown
- Mick Jagger
- Pablo Picasso
- Elizabeth Taylor
- Marie Antoinette
- Daniel Lenhardt
- Jon Call “Jujimufu”
- Alfredo Adame
- Harald Glööckler
- Lila Archer
- Al Jolson
- Ollie London
- Mussum
- Walter Rothschild
- Fath-Ali Shah “Qajar”
- Hilda Furacão
1. Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley (born 1935 – 1977) was an American musician and actor that displays ESFP traits. He exhibits the ESFP traits of vigor, magnetism, and creativity. Over the course of his career, Elvis won Grammy, NME, and American Music awards for his musical contributions. Commonly known as the “King of Rock and Roll”, Elvis continues to hold records for record sales, album certification awards, and most songs charting on Billboard’s top 40.
Famous ESFP personality types are known for their community outreach and desire to help others. Elvis displayed his empathy for others through charitable donations within the Memphis area and helping promote African American music during the American Civil Rights Movement. The King of Rock and Roll went on to produce iconic songs such as Heartbreak Hotel and Love Me Tender.
Elvis was married to Priscilla Presley from 1967 until 1973 and together they had one daughter, Lisa Marie Presley. Further evidence of Elvis Presley’s ESFP traits are seen in the following quote.
“I learned how important it is to entertain people and give them a reason to come and watch you play.” — Elvis Presley
2. Serena Williams
Serena Williams (born 1981) is an American tennis player, famous ESFP, and the greatest female tennis player of all time. She epitomizes ESFP enthusiasm, boldness, and confidence. Williams has won thirty-six Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic Gold Medals despite facing discrimination, setbacks, and hardships. Her drive as a Performer also pushed her toward other pursuits. Together with her tennis champion older sister, Venus Williams, Serena Williams has authored multiple books, including How to Play Tennis and My Life: Queen of the Court.
ESFPs are incredibly energetic, outgoing people which Serena Williams exemplifies in the quote below.
“I’m a real extrovert, but when I’m around someone new, I’m super shy. Actually, I’m lying. The older I get, the more extroverted I get. I’m super extroverted.” — Serena Williams
3. John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy (1917 – 1963), better known as JFK, was the 35th President of the United States and a renowned Performer personality type. He embodied the charismatic and encouraging nature of the ESFP personality type. As a leader and ESFP, JFK was both hard-minded and affectionate, using autocratic and transformational leadership skills to navigate the political climate of the time and build a short-lived legacy. In addition to making waves in politics, John F. Kennedy was also the first American president to take the fashion scene by storm. ESFP personality types like JFK are impressive showmen who care about how they present themselves to the world. Few political couples were as no effortlessly stylish and iconic as the late JFK and his First Lady, Jackie Kennedy.
JFK personifies the archetypal ESFP compassion and desire to do good for the world in the following quote.
“Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy
4. Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton (born 1946) is the 42nd President of the United States and an ESFP celebrity. The former President personifies classic ESFP empathy and boldness because of his enormous domestic accomplishments. During his presidency, Clinton presided over the longest economic expansion in U.S. history, a drop in unemployment and poverty rates, and the signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Clinton is a formidable statesman remembered for his inclusive leadership style and how he empowered those around him, further exemplifying his innate empathy as an ESFP. His presidency had the most diverse cabinet in U.S. history at that time. Clinton appointed the first female Attorney General, the first Asian American Cabinet Secretary, and the first female Secretary of State.
Bill Clinton shows his ESFP empathetic nature in the following quote.
“We cannot build our own future without helping others to build theirs.” — Bill Clinton
5. James Brown
James Brown (1933 – 2006) was an American singer, dancer, and famous Performer. He had a difficult start in life, but his ESFP positivity and boldness pushed him to pursue his dreams. James Brown was born nearly stillborn, grew up in a brothel, and was dismissed from school at age twelve due to insufficient clothing. Despite these challenges, James Brown’s showmanship, outgoing public persona, and typical ESFP vigor helped him build a hugely successful career. He is now remembered as the Godfather of Soul.
Brown was among the earliest musicians to join the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He received a multitude of accolades, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a Kennedy Center Honor. As a progenitor of funk music, James Brown is best known for songs like It’s a Man’s Man’s World, Say It Out Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud), and Please, Please, Please. James Brown lived up to his moniker “Mr. Dynamite” by personifying ESFP showmanship through his energetic live performances. The following quote captures this element of his Performer personality.
“When I’m on stage, I’m trying to do one thing: bring people joy.” — James Brown
6. Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger (born 1943) is an English singer and renowned ESFP best known as the founder and frontman of the Rolling Stones. Jagger epitomizes the Performer’s showmanship through his magnetic stage energy and theatrics. His charismatic stage presence even inspired the hit song by Maroon 5, Moves Like Jagger. Some of Jagger’s own Billboard hits include Just Another Night and Dancing in the Street. He’s won numerous accolades, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Jagger’s showmanship and creativity show no signs of stopping. He is still a highly influential and charismatic rockstar who leads an easygoing lifestyle that most Performers seek. He continues to embody ESFP positivity and outgoingness as the quote below shows.
“Don’t take life too seriously and always remember: It is just a passing fad.” — Mick Jagger
7. Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973) was a Spanish painter, sculptor, printmaker, and famous ESFP. He demonstrated the extremes of ESFP boldness. Picasso was fun-loving but confident to the point of arrogance, often heard calling himself “God”. Like other famous Performers, Picasso was a creative genius. He produced over 147,800 art pieces and hundreds of poems over a seventy-five-year career. Picasso’s most expensive painting was Les Femmes d’Alger, bought at auction for $179.4 million in 2015. Pablo Picasso, along with the French artist George Braque, founded Cubism.
Besides art, Picasso expressed his ESFP showmanship and creativity through fashion. He is remembered for his iconic striped shirt by designer Coco Chanel with twenty-one horizontal stripes that represent Napoleon’s victories.
Picasso further embodied archetypal ESFP characteristics through his whimsical and emotional nature seen in the quote below.
“Painting is a blind man’s profession. He paints not what he seems, but what he feels, what he tells himself about what he has seen.” — Pablo Picasso
8. Elizabeth Taylor
Elizabeth Taylor (1932 – 2011) was a British-American actress and ESFP celebrity remembered for her passionate performances in Cleopatra and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Her ESFP magnetism is primarily attributed to her captivating violet eyes. However, beyond Taylor’s striking beauty is an undeniable talent and charisma characteristic of beloved Performers. Her outgoing personality helped Elizabeth Taylor capture the hearts of millions of fans, earning two Academy Awards and five Oscar nominations as a result.
Taylor further demonstrated ESFP traits by paying special attention to her appearance and how she presented herself. Elizabeth Taylor’s love of fur, luxurious fashion and diamonds is well-documented. She even authored a book about her passion for fashion dubbed My Love Affair with Jewelry.
ESFPs like Elizabeth Talyor approach life in a positive, relaxed, and fun-loving manner. The following quote illustrates her cheerful sense of humor as an ESFP.
“A belly laugh increases the ability of your immune system to fight infections.” — Elizabeth Taylor
9. Marie Antoinette
Marie Antoinette (1755 – 1793) was an Austrian noblewoman, the last queen of France, and a renowned Performer. She embodied many ESFP traits by being a highly outgoing, fun-loving social butterfly who liked to live in the moment. Marie Antionette was also overly indulgent with her pleasures which is a typical ESFP weakness. She earned the moniker “Madame Deficit” due to her indulgent personality.
Although reckless and a bit out of touch, Marie Antoinette showed classic ESFP traits of empathy and compassion. She adopted several less fortunate children, supported charitable causes, and showed sensitivity to the French people. She reportedly never uttered the callous phrase, “let them eat cake,” popularly attributed to her. Marie Antoinette’s compassionate and gentle ESFP nature is evident in the quote below, said to her executioner, whom she has accidentally stepped on.
“Pardon me, sir, I didn’t mean to.” — Marie Antoinette
10. Daniel Lenhardt
Daniel Lenhardt (born 1997) is a Brazilian model, actor, reality TV personality, and celebrity ESFP. He is a classic ESFP who shot to fame after appearing on Big Brother Brasil. Daniel Lenhardt displays common ESFP traits such as excitability and enthusiasm. He even described himself as a “loose animal” in one interview and likes to be the life of the party, which is typical of Performers.
Armed with the Performer personality’s innate positivity and empathy, Daniel Lenhardt uses his social media for advocacy. He expressed his empathy as an ESFP in the following quote.
“You’re not committing a crime, you’re not stealing, you’re not killing—You are normal. Your sexuality is normal. It’s not you that’s wrong.” — Daniel Lenhardt
11. Jon Call “Jujimufu”
Jon Call or Jujimufu (born 1985) is an American athlete and famous ESFP who gained recognition after his videos doing weighted chair splits went viral. Jujimufu embodies ESFP showmanship and boldness through his acts. He famously lifted America’s Got Talent judge Heidi Klum over his head while doing his chair splits. Outside of fitness, Jujimufu is the creator of Trick Tutorials and the online coaching program, Acrobolix.
Jujimufu, although incredibly focused on fitness, embraces humor like a true ESFP. People with the ESFP personality type are quintessential positive thinkers. Jujimufu embodies a similar glass-half-full ideology in the quote below.
“Know the difference between not taking something seriously and being capable of laughing at it because you’ve overcome it. There is nothing on this Earth you cannot work to one day stand above and make a joke or be silly about. That includes yourself.” — Jon Call
12. Alfredo Adame
Alfredo Adame (born 1958) is a Mexican actor, TV host, producer, and ESFP celebrity. He demonstrates the ESFP personality through his enthusiasm as an outgoing and sometimes controversial Performer. He additionally displays the innate magnetism of famous ESFPs by being a former soap opera heartthrob, known for his roles in Retrato de Familia, Escape to Destiny, and My Second Mother. Adame also appeared in the reality TV show I’m Famous, Get Me Out of Here, where he won a million pesos.
13. Harald Glööckler
Harald Glööckler (born 1965) is a German fashion designer, entrepreneur, and well-known Performer. ESFP people like Glööckler delight in creative pursuits. He is a visually-oriented Performer whose claim to fame stems from his glittering, rhinestone-studded creations. With his ESFP bold enthusiasm and unmistakable creativity, Harald Glööckler created the POMPÖÖS fashion line with the trademark Glööckler crown. Besides stylizing himself as an icon, Harald Glööckler demonstrates his ESFP creativity through his books Die Krise als Chance and Prince Pompöös.
ESFPs see life as a glass half full. Harald Glööckler echoes similar positivity in the following quote.
“Life itself writes the best stories.” — Harald Glööckler
14. Lila Archer
Lila Archer is an ESFP fictional character played by American actress Amber Heard on the CBS series Criminal Minds. Her background alludes to her ESFP creativity and showmanship. Lila went to the Juilliard School in NYC and was a famous actress in a TV drama series. Lilia also displays outgoing and spontaneous personality traits typical of Performers. As an ESFP, Lila tends to live in the moment, as shown in the quote below.
“Spence, you should live a little.” — Lila Archer
15. Al Jolson
Al Jolson (born 1886 – 1950) was a Lithuanian-American actor, comedian, singer, and well-known Performer. People with the ESFP personality type love to entertain, a desire which Al Jolson exemplifies as the so-called “The World’s Greatest Entertainer”. He was a song-and-dance attraction on Broadway before achieving worldwide fame as the star of The Jazz Singer and the autobiographical film The Al Jolson Story. Though acclaimed at the time for his ESFP outgoingness and showmanship, Jolson is highly controversial today due to his use of racial stereotypes.
Outside of acting, Al Jolson was a musician. He popularized songs like Sonny Boy which was the first American record to sell three million copies. Al Jolson additionally sold over ten million records for hits like Swanee and Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody.
16. Oli London
Oli London (born 1990) is a British internet personality, singer, and renowned ESFP. He is famous for his ESFP showmanship, which stems from his K-Pop obsession. Oli London initially rose to popularity on the show Doctor Phil. He’s since appeared on other TV shows like TMZ, Botched, The X Factor UK, Celebs Go Dating, and Rich Kids Go Stint. As a British K-Pop enthusiast, Oli London has been among the highest charting European K-Pop singers since debuting in 2019. One of Oli London’s singles, Koreaboo, placed #6 on iTunes K-Pop charts.
One of the weaknesses of the ESFP personality is overindulgence which often breeds unhealthy habits, such as plastic surgery. Oli London has undergone thirty-two cosmetic procedures—a nose job, eye lift, chin, jaw, and lip fillers, Botox, and a non-surgical facelift, all in the name of looking like his favorite BTS member, Jimin.
17. Mussum
Mussum (born 1941 – 1994) was a Brazilian musician, actor, and ESFP celebrity. He is remembered for being a member of the Os Originais Do Samba musical group. Mussum embodied the archetypal ESFP showmanship on stage and on television. Through the Performer’s cheerful and magnetic sense of humor, Mussum became a beloved humorist and was part of a comedic group on the TV series Os Trapalhões. The TV series is one of the most successful shows in Brazil, lasting over three decades.
In honor of Mussum’s influence on Brazil’s entertainment industry, his life and success inspired several biographies, including Mussum Forévis: Samba, mé e Trapalhões, and Mussum: Um Filme do Cacildis.
18. Walter Rothschild
Walter Rothschild, the 2nd Baron Rothschild, (1868 – 1937) was a British banker, politician, Zionist figurehead, and famous ESFP. The Baron was the heir to one of the greatest banking fortunes in history. He displayed enthusiasm and vigor characteristic of ESFP types through his incurable passion for the natural sciences. Walter Rothschild opened his private museum, dedicated his collection to the Natural History Museum of London (then called the British Museum), and wrote the book A Monograph of the Genus Casuarius about the cassowary bird species. Through his family’s vast wealth and his classic ESFP impulsivity, Walter searched far and wide for new and exciting species in order to compile the largest animal sample collection in history.
As a result of his ESFP vigor, Walter Rothschild was responsible for recording and naming 153 new insects, fifty-eighth birds, three spiders, and a giraffe subspecies, later named the Rothschild giraffe.
19. Fath-Ali Shah Qajar
Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (1769 – 1834) was the second shah of the Qajar Dynasty of Iran and a well-known ESFP who reportedly had 260 sons. ESFP people are highly creative and sensuous, which often translates into them fixating on their appearances. Fath-Ali Shah demonstrated how ESFPs care about their appearance through his notable obsession with fashion. He was someone who liked to make an impression and was characterized by a glamorized, bejeweled appearance. The shah was also famous for his wasp-like waist and exceptionally long black beard.
Fath-Ali Shah further epitomized ESFP showmanship and overindulgence by commissioning many life-sized portraits of himself. The Hermitage, Victoria and Albert, and the Louvre museums house some of Fath-Ali Sha’s portraits.
20. Hilda Furacão
Hilda Furacão is a famous ESFP fictional character from the Brazilian TV adaptation of Hilda Furacão by Roberto Drummond. Actress Ana Paula Arósio plays her. Hilda is a Brazilian woman who embodies the archetypal ESFP impulsivity and spontaneity. Besides her unmistakable beauty and allure, she scandalizes society after fleeing her wedding day and seeking refuge in a brothel.
In Drummond’s novel, the eighteen-year-old Hilda further exemplifies the magnetic personality of an ESFP. Hilda Furacão’s magnetism and charisma help her succeed as a prostitute and become an alluring force no man can resist.
What are common features of ESFP famous people?
The five most common features of ESFP famous people are outgoingness, spontaneity, easygoingness, enthusiasm, and creativity. ESFP people additionally have a dominant characteristic of extraverted sensing (Se). Dominant Se types focus on sensory experiences grounded in the present. Ball State University reaffirms Performers’ Se function by highlighting their interest in new experiences and new people.
Marie Antoinette is a famous Performer who aligns with the outgoing, spontaneous, and easy-going features of the ESFP personality type. She was a fun-loving social butterfly who was outshined by her overindulgent tendencies and infamous royal charisma. Meanwhile, Elvis embodies the enthusiastic and creative nature of an ESFP. He displayed an incredible passion for his music, recording hundreds of songs throughout his short career.
Who are the famous actors and actresses with the ESFP personality type?
The most famous actresses and actors with the ESFP personality type are Elizabeth Taylor, Al Jolson, Daniel Lenhardt, Alfredo Adame, and Florence Pugh. These Performers naturally gravitated toward acting because they are deeply tuned to their senses and want to express their creative, sensuous nature. Therefore, it’s not surprising that many well-known ESFPs lead or have led successful film careers.
Actress Elizabeth Taylor is a prominent example of a celebrity with ESFP traits. She had a fierce sense of humor and a magnetic personality both on and off the screen, as is typical of renowned Performers. As an ESFP, Elizabeth Taylor possessed deep compassion, especially for the discriminated and underprivileged.
Who are the famous economists with the ESFP personality type?
There are few famous economists with an ESFP personality type. Economists are predominantly investigative, inquisitive individuals who excel in analytical thinking and have high degrees of organization. The often rigid work environment and work style of an economist may sound unappealing and draining to the people-centered, uber-social Performer personality type.
Who are the famous authors and writers with the ESFP personality type?
The most famous authors and writers with the ESFP personality type are Paulo Coelho, Zelda Fitzgerald, Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, and Dr. Wayne Dyer. ESFPs thrive as writers because of their innate creativity and wit. However, writing often requires solitude which may be an obstacle for fun-loving ESFPs who crave social interactions.
The Brazilian novelist Paulo Coelho is a fantastic example of a successful writer and celebrity with an ESFP personality. Paulo Coelho’s ESFP creativity and magnetism are evident in his compelling stories like the international best-seller The Alchemist, which sold over 65 million copies.
Who are the celebrity musicians with the ESFP personality type?
The celebrity musicians with the ESFP personality types are Elvis Presley, James Brown, Mick Jagger, Lizzo, and Adam Levine. These musicians have an ESFP personality because of their propensity for showmanship and creative pursuits. Most Performer types are generally drawn to music because they’re born to entertain and enjoy being the center of attention.
Mick Jagger is a great example of a musician and famous person with an ESFP personality type. He is well-known for his magnetism, energy, and onstage enthusiasm as a Performer. Mick Jagger’s easy-going and flamboyant choreographies fit perfectly with the upbeat nature of the Performer personality type.
Who are the celebrity athletes with the ESFP personality type?
The celebrity athletes with the ESFP personality type are Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Serena Williams, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tristan Thompson. ESFPs are highly energetic and enthusiastic, making them more likely to excel in professional sports. Athletes also tend to put on a show, be it on and off the field or the court, which aligns well with the Performer’s personality type.
Grand Slam tennis champion Serena Williams is a prime example of a famous Performer. Serena Williams boasts ESFP energy and enthusiasm on the tennis court. Her innate creativity as an ESFP is additionally evident in her daring tennis outfits.
Who are the most famous fictional characters with ESFP traits?
The most famous fictional characters with ESFP traits are Hilda Furacão, Lila Archer, Simba, Rhaenyra Targaryen, and Buzz Lightyear. Performer-type characters are popular in fiction because they make stories more entertaining through their fun-loving, outgoing, and enthusiastic nature.
Hilda Furacão is one great example of a fictional character with ESFP traits. She’s a Performer whose spontaneous and charismatic personality drives her to run away from an unwanted marriage and become a magnetic seductress.
Who are the most famous business people with the ESFP personality?
The most famous business people with the ESFP personality are Hugh Hefner, Will Kellogg, Jerry Jones, and Richard Branson. The business world isn’t an out-of-place ESFP career path because Performer types are enthusiastic, bold individuals. They’re gifted with the charm and ability to grab other people’s attention, making them a natural fit for the corporate world.
One great example of a successful famous ESFP in business is Playboy founder, Hugh Hefner. The Playboy magazine owner was a highly sociable, magnetic individual who lived in the moment. He created a highly successful franchise while maintaining an easygoing lifestyle.
What are the traits of an ESFP?
The traits of an ESFP person include friendliness, creativity, boldness, empathy, and positivity. People with an ESFP personality type are incredibly sociable. They maintain a magnetic and charming persona that naturally attracts people to them. Performers are also incredibly creative with a great sense of humor. They like to try new things and act with compassion whenever possible, though they display a propensity for overindulgence and impulsivity.
How did these celebrities discover they were ESFP?
These celebrities may have discovered they were ESFP by taking an MBTI personality test, although none have publicly shared their results. We can infer if a celebrity is an ESFP by analyzing which classic traits and behaviors they exhibit. For example, ESFPs are natural performers and entertainers who care about their appearance and the opinion of others. They are magnetic, charismatic, and skilled at drawing people to them.
How do ESFPs deal with popularity?
ESFPs deal with popularity very well because they enjoy being the center of attention and putting on a show. Famous people with the Performer personality type consider the entire world a stage. Their extreme sociability and friendliness naturally attract people to them, so they’re quick to adjust and even welcome popularity.
What is the ESFP population percentage?
The ESFP population percentage is 8.5%, making the Performer a somewhat common personality type. The Performer personality is notably more common among women than men, with 6.3% of females being ESFPs. Meanwhile, Performer males only comprise around 2.5% of the general population. ESFP compatibility with other personality types is likely skewed in favor of women due to the commonality of female Performers.
What other personality type is the best match for an ESFP?
The other personality type that is the best match for an ESFP is ISFP. People with ISFP personalities are kindred to ESFPs because they prefer to live in the moment and act on impulse. ESFP personality types compliment the ISFP type because of their innate extroversion. Both ESFP and ISFP understand the other’s way of thinking.