⏱️ 6 min read
Did You Know? 12 Strange Celebrity Superstitions
Celebrities may seem to live charmed lives filled with glamour and success, but many of them harbor peculiar beliefs and rituals that they credit for their good fortune. From avoiding certain colors to performing elaborate pre-show routines, these superstitions reveal the very human side of fame. While some may dismiss these practices as irrational, for the stars who follow them, these rituals provide comfort, confidence, and a sense of control in the unpredictable world of entertainment. Here are twelve fascinating superstitions that some of the world’s most famous celebrities swear by.
1. Taylor Swift’s Lucky Number 13
While most people consider 13 an unlucky number, Taylor Swift has embraced it as her personal lucky charm. The pop superstar was born on December 13, turned 13 on Friday the 13th, and her first album went gold in 13 weeks. Swift often draws the number 13 on her hand before performances and has incorporated it into various aspects of her career, from album releases to concert tours. This reversed superstition has become such an integral part of her brand that fans now associate the number exclusively with her success.
2. Serena Williams’ Match Socks
Tennis champion Serena Williams has several superstitions that she follows religiously during tournaments. Most notably, she refuses to change her socks during a winning streak, wearing the same pair throughout an entire tournament if she continues to win. Williams also bounces the ball exactly five times before her first serve and twice before her second serve. These rituals help her maintain focus and consistency, demonstrating how even world-class athletes rely on psychological comfort during high-pressure competitions.
3. Jennifer Aniston’s Right Foot First
The beloved actress Jennifer Aniston has a peculiar habit when it comes to airplanes. Before boarding any flight, she insists on stepping onto the aircraft with her right foot first. Additionally, she taps the outside of the plane upon entering. Aniston has maintained this ritual throughout her career, believing it ensures safe travels. Given the amount of flying required for her profession, this superstition has become an essential part of her travel routine.
4. Michael Jordan’s College Shorts
Basketball legend Michael Jordan had an unusual superstition during his professional career with the Chicago Bulls. He wore his University of North Carolina shorts underneath his Bulls uniform for every game he played. Jordan believed these shorts brought him luck and maintained his connection to his college success. This practice became so important to him that it influenced the design of NBA shorts, which became longer to accommodate his hidden lucky garment.
5. Heidi Klum’s Bag of Baby Teeth
Supermodel and television personality Heidi Klum carries a rather macabre good luck charm: a bag containing her children’s baby teeth. Klum has explained that she keeps these teeth with her at all times, considering them her most precious lucky possessions. While this superstition might seem strange to outsiders, for Klum, these tokens represent her most important role as a mother and provide comfort during her busy professional life.
6. Benicio Del Toro’s Pre-Performance Ritual
Academy Award-winning actor Benicio Del Toro performs a specific ritual before every film shoot. He must put his left shoe on before his right shoe, a practice he considers essential to his performance. Del Toro has admitted that breaking this routine makes him uncomfortable and potentially affects his ability to get into character. This seemingly simple act demonstrates how even small rituals can have significant psychological effects on creative professionals.
7. Lucille Ball’s Fear of Birds
Comedy legend Lucille Ball harbored an intense fear of birds and considered them extremely unlucky. She refused to stay in any hotel room that had bird-themed decorations or artwork. If she spotted bird pictures in her accommodations, she would demand to change rooms immediately or have the offending items removed. This phobia-turned-superstition influenced the production design of her shows, ensuring that bird imagery was kept to an absolute minimum on set.
8. Beyoncé’s Number Four
Global superstar Beyoncé has a deep connection to the number four, which she considers her lucky number. Born on September 4, she married Jay-Z on April 4, and both of their birthdays fall on the fourth day of their respective months. The singer has a tattoo of the Roman numeral IV on her ring finger, named an album “4,” and frequently incorporates the number into her business ventures and creative projects.
9. Colin Farrell’s Lucky Ring
Irish actor Colin Farrell never removes a specific ring that he believes brings him good fortune. He has worn this ring throughout his career and credits it with helping him land major roles and maintain his success in Hollywood. Farrell has stated that he feels genuinely uncomfortable without it and considers the ring an essential part of his identity as an actor.
10. Adele’s Pre-Concert Ritual
British singing sensation Adele has a somewhat unusual pre-concert ritual involving chewing gum. She must chew a specific piece of gum and then stick it to a wall or surface near the stage entrance before performing. This ritual helps calm her well-documented stage fright and provides a sense of grounding before she faces massive audiences. The discarded gum pieces have become legendary among venue staff and crew members.
11. Katy Perry’s Specific Crystals
Pop star Katy Perry is a devoted believer in crystal healing and never travels without her collection of specific crystals. She assigns different crystals for different purposes, from performance energy to creative inspiration, and arranges them in particular patterns around her dressing room before shows. Perry has been vocal about how these stones help her maintain balance and positive energy throughout grueling tour schedules.
12. Christian Bale’s Animal Avoidance
Method actor Christian Bale refuses to see any animals on the day of an important shoot or audition. He believes that encountering animals, particularly dogs or cats, before a significant professional event brings bad luck. Bale has arranged his schedules and travel routes to minimize the chance of animal encounters on crucial days, demonstrating the lengths to which celebrities will go to maintain their superstitious practices.
Conclusion
These twelve celebrity superstitions reveal that even the most successful and talented individuals in entertainment rely on rituals and beliefs that provide psychological comfort and confidence. Whether it’s Taylor Swift’s lucky number 13, Michael Jordan’s college shorts, or Heidi Klum’s bag of baby teeth, these practices demonstrate the universal human need for control and reassurance in uncertain situations. While skeptics might dismiss these superstitions as irrational, they serve important psychological functions for the celebrities who practice them. These rituals create consistency, reduce anxiety, and provide a sense of personal agency in an industry where so much remains beyond individual control. Ultimately, if these strange superstitions help celebrities perform at their best and manage the pressures of fame, perhaps there’s something to be said for the power of belief itself.
