6 Famous People Who Moved to Los Angeles, California

When we think of the word celebrity, many of us are naturally drawn to the idea of red carpets, flashing cameras, and cheering crowds. Alongside this, we also think about glitzy mansions in the Hollywood Hills or a sleek beach house in Malibu. The point is that we rarely think about places outside of Los Angeles or its neighboring towns and cities when we consider the world of celebrities. Of course, it's worth remembering that most famous people that are living in L.A. weren't born there, and a majority moved there well into their later years. But why specifically Los Angeles? There are many different places across the country that suit the celebrity lifestyle, so what is it about the City of Angels that attracts so many in the limelight?

Brad Pitt

Easily one of the most famous actors on the planet, he went on to study Journalism at the University of Missouri before abruptly leaving near the end of his course to pursue his dreams of being an actor. Naturally, his intentions were to move to L.A. due to its overall status as the place to be for budding actors looking to make their big break. The move here was one of uncertainty, as these things tend to be for those striving to make a name for themselves, and after a few years of struggling to get his big break, his acting career officially began in '87 and spiraled into major success over the following years with Pitt landing a small yet iconic role in Thelma and Louise. He then got some leading roles in Interview with the Vampire, Seven, and Fight Club.

Samuel L Jackson

Another iconic actor that ended up situated in Los Angeles is Samuel L Jackson. Well known for roles in Star Wars, Do The Right Thing, Jurassic Park, and almost every Tarantino movie, Jackson is easily one of the most recognizable actors on the planet. Originally born in Washington DC, Jackson got involved in many equal rights protests and had many run-ins with the law in the pursuit of change for the black population across America. He got deeply involved with others in the Black Power movement but was eventually forcibly sent away to live in Los Angeles by his mother once she was warned by the FBI that Jackson would not survive if he continued on this path. After working in social services for a few years, he moved to Atlanta to study drama and began developing his acting career. He now once again lives in Los Angeles with his family, in a home he built from scratch in Beverly Hills. But he also spends a lot of his time living in his London home, as is the way of the super-rich and famous.

Steven Spielberg

When it comes to those that are big in the world of movies, it's not just actors that settle down in the Hollywood region. Naturally, budding directors and movie producers will flock to this area due to the intense reputation L.A. has of being the center of the film industry. The legendary Steven Spielberg actually ended up moving to Los Angeles to live with his father after his parents divorced. While he was determined to become a filmmaker, his reasons for moving to L.A. per purely personal at the time. He applied to the University of South California to study at their film school but was turned away due to having sub-par grades. He managed to get into California State University instead. He would eventually go on to become one of the world's greatest filmmakers creating iconic movies such as Jaws, Schindler's List, and E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. He currently resides in his Pacific Palisades mansion, yet he naturally has a number of other properties around the country as people often do with a net worth well into the billions of dollars.

Kanye West

It's not just those in the film industry that have chosen L.A. as their home. There are lots of musicians and other artists that have moved to Los Angeles over the years, including individuals such as rapper and record producer Kanye West. Kanye West's net worth is a mind-boggling $6.6 billion, more than double that of Mr Spielberg. A majority of this wealth comes from his rap and music production career, but he has branched into many other areas over the years, further bolstering his wealth. However, Kanye didn't come from money and is arguably a self-made man. He grew up in Chicago and had always displayed artistic talents, including a knack for poetry and musical finesse. It wasn't until later on in his career that Kanye moved to L.A., home of his now ex-wife Kim Kardashian. Kanye continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, and is regularly in the news for controversial things, such as the opening of his mysterious new private school, Donda Academy, named after his late mother.

Katy Perry

Some of the famous people that move to L.A. won't necessarily have travelled far, or even from outside of the state of California itself. One, in particular, being singer and songwriter, Katy Perry. Born as Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, in a very religious household, Katy Perry grew up in Santa Barbara, not far from Los Angeles itself. She developed her love for music from a young age, singing in a church choir from the age of 9. She ended up leaving home at 17 and moving to Los Angeles after wanting to transition her musical taste to more secular sounds instead of being confined to the religious music that was essentially forced on her within her household. After a turbulent start in the industry, Perry created a number of major hits including I Kissed A Girl, California Gurls, and Teenage Dream, each one catapulting her further into the limelight.

Oprah Winfrey

A true rags-to-riches story, Oprah was born to a teenage mother in Mississippi in 1954. Their family lived in poverty for much of her childhood, with Oprah even recounting the times she had to wear potato sacks as clothing. With a penchant for entertaining people, and a generally charismatic persona, she attracted the attention of a local black radio station at the age of 17, after moving to Tennessee. She started reading the news on the station while also getting the opportunity to go to college to study communication. Her career in T.V. presenting took off after moving to Chicago and rising in popularity over the course of a number of different jobs at various stations and on various shows. She took over the low-rated morning talk show, AM Chicago, which then jumped to the top of the ratings in just a few months. They then renamed the show The Oprah Winfrey Show, and the rest, as they say, is history. Oprah now lives on a 42-acre property just outside of Los Angeles county.