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Inventors are often imagined as dedicated scientists working tirelessly in laboratories, not the glamorous faces featured in magazines like Us Weekly. Yet, many celebrities have secured patents for their innovative creations. These inventions sometimes align with their professional expertise, while others stem from personal interests or moments of inspiration. Below, we highlight some of the most notable celebrity inventors.
1. EDDIE VAN HALEN
Guitar legend Eddie Van Halen revolutionized his playing with a two-handed tapping technique, but balancing the guitar neck while performing was a challenge. To solve this, he designed a unique support system (top) that extended from the guitar's body, lifting and stabilizing the fretboard. This allowed him to masterfully play iconic tracks like "Eruption." Although Van Halen's invention was tailored for guitars, his 1985 patent application emphasized its adaptability for any stringed instrument. Dreaming of a fiery mandolin performance? Seek out Eddie's ingenious device.
2. James Cameron
Cameron, known for designing a submersible to explore the ocean's depths, frequently invents technology for his films when existing tools fall short. Among his patents is US Patent No. 4996938, titled “apparatus for propelling a user in an underwater environment,” co-created with his brother Michael for filming The Abyss in 1989. This underwater dolly, equipped with propellers, allowed camera operators to move effortlessly in water, enabling Cameron to achieve the desired shots for the film, partially shot in a decommissioned nuclear reactor.
3. ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Before his presidency, Lincoln wasn’t just a rail-splitter and debater—he held various jobs, including one that involved transporting goods down the Mississippi River. When his boat got stuck in shallow waters, Lincoln envisioned a solution to prevent such mishaps. He designed a device featuring bellows attached to a boat's underside, which could be inflated to increase buoyancy and free the vessel.
In 1849, Lincoln was granted Patent Number 6469 for this invention. However, the device never reached production, as the added weight from the bellows ironically increased the risk of ships getting stuck.
4. STEVE MCQUEEN
McQueen’s driving prowess went beyond his iconic chase scenes in The Great Escape and Bullitt. He was an avid motorcycle and car racer, even competing in prestigious events like the 12 Hours of Sebring. McQueen didn’t just race—he also enjoyed modifying vehicles. In 1969, he patented an enhanced bucket seat design, earning him patent number D219584.
5. Bill Nye
Beyond being the beloved science educator, Bill Nye is also the inventor of an improved ballet toe shoe. Traditional pointe shoes, largely unchanged for centuries, often cause dancers discomfort. Nye’s innovative design addresses the physical demands of dancing en pointe, featuring a reinforced toe box, upper, and outer sole. The shoe includes a longitudinal support, a tubular sleeve for foot stability, and a toe ridge for added comfort.
6. JAMIE LEE CURTIS
In 1987, Curtis designed and patented a unique disposable diaper featuring a waterproof compartment for baby wipes. However, she has yet to profit from her invention, as she insists on waiting until diaper manufacturers produce biodegradable options before licensing her patent.
7. George Lucas
If you’ve ever owned a Star Wars toy, it’s likely George Lucas holds a patent for it. This Boba Fett action figure, co-patented with Joe Johnston and Ralph McQuarrie, was the first of 11 patents Lucas would secure. Filed in 1979 and granted in 1982, it marked the beginning of his inventive contributions to the franchise.
8. HEDY LAMARR
While Hedy Lamarr’s fame as an MGM actress in the 1930s and 1940s has faded, her scientific contributions remain groundbreaking. In 1942, Lamarr and composer George Antheil patented a "secret communication system" that utilized frequency-hopping technology to remotely control devices like torpedoes. Though the technology was ahead of its time and her patent expired before its widespread adoption, her innovation laid the foundation for modern wireless communication.
9. Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is a true polymath. Beyond directing and producing films, he owns a winery and a restaurant, and has even ventured into fashion. One of his unique inventions is a patented t-shirt featuring a turtle with a numbered shell, designed to help the wearer pinpoint specific body locations for others—ideal for situations like identifying an unreachable itch. The patent elaborates on this concept in detail.
Scratching an itch in a hard-to-reach spot, such as the back, can be frustrating without tools like a scratching stick. Often, a person must rely on a second party, leading to miscommunication: “Lower… to the left… no, the other left… now down… too far!” Coppola’s invention addresses this by providing a precise way to communicate body locations, eliminating guesswork and confusion.
It’s an ingenious solution, and no less than what you’d expect from the visionary behind The Godfather.
10. PRINCE
Even the iconic Prince holds a patent. In 1992, he secured a design patent for a "portable keyboard instrument"—essentially a keytar. This unique design features a sleek purple body with two pitchfork-like spikes, a creation that could only have sprung from Prince’s imaginative mind.
11. PENN JILLETTE
In 1999, the renowned illusionist and entertainer Penn Jillette patented a "hydro-therapeutic stimulator." This spa-like device includes a tub designed to hold water and a user, specifically catering to female bathers. Its strategically placed jets aim to enhance the relaxation experience in a uniquely enjoyable way.
12. Paula Abdul
Traditional flat-bottomed mic stands limit performers to a fixed position, forcing them to stay close to the microphone or awkwardly drag the stand across the stage. Paula Abdul addressed this issue in 2009 by patenting a "dynamic microphone support apparatus." Her invention features a concave, cement-filled base with a weighted cover, allowing the user to stand on it and tilt the stand without tipping over. The result is a hybrid of a mic stand, workout equipment, and a stable performance tool, enabling Abdul to move freely during her shows.
13. MARLON BRANDO
Brando’s later years were marked by eccentricity and innovation. The legendary actor turned his attention to drumming, and in 2002, he patented a "drumhead tensioning device and method," one of several inventions he created for drum-related equipment.
14. Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol’s creativity extended beyond art into timekeeping. He designed a watch featuring five faces, a concept that was later patented by the American Watch Company following his passing.
15. LAWRENCE WELK
Lawrence Welk, the beloved accordionist and bandleader, also dabbled in invention. In 1953, he patented a unique ashtray shaped like an accordion, complementing his earlier 1943 patent for a menu card designed to resemble a singing chicken. While not groundbreaking, these inventions reflected his playful personality.
16. ZEPPO MARX
Though not as famous for comedy as his brother Groucho, Zeppo Marx had a knack for innovation. In 1969, he co-invented a cardiac pulse rate monitor, patented to help individuals with heart conditions detect dangerous changes in their pulse.
17. CHRISTIE BRINKLEY
Supermodel Christie Brinkley patented an educational toy in 1991, designed to assist children in learning the alphabet through interactive play.
18. MICHAEL JACKSON
Michael Jackson’s iconic gravity-defying lean in the "Smooth Criminal" video was made possible by a pair of custom shoes that locked into a stage mechanism. Jackson, along with two co-inventors, patented this "method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion" in 1993.
19. GARY BURGHOFF
Gary Burghoff, best known for playing Radar on M*A*S*H, invented a fishing tool called "Chum Magic." This floating device, designed to disperse chum and attract fish, earned him a patent in 1992.
20. Albert Einstein
It’s no surprise that this Nobel Prize-winning scientist held 50 patents for inventions ranging from hearing aids to refrigerators and compasses. However, one of his patents stands out: In 1936, Einstein patented a blouse design described as "new, original, and ornamental." The design featured side openings doubling as armholes and a central back panel extending from the yoke to the waistband. Einstein proved he was both brilliant and stylish.
21. Mark Twain
Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens, was an avid scrapbooker who found traditional methods frustrating. In 1872, he invented an improved scrapbook to simplify the process.
His invention featured a self-pasting scrapbook with pages coated in adhesive on one or both sides. Users only needed to moisten the desired area, place the item, and it would stick. This innovation made scrapbooking more efficient and user-friendly.
According to PBS, by 1901, there were 57 varieties of Twain’s scrapbook available. He also patented an "improvement in adjustable and detachable straps for garments" in 1871, which later inspired a 1999 patent for a bra design.
22. Steven Spielberg
The legendary director of Jaws holds a patent for a dolly switch, filed in 1999, and another for "Method and apparatus for annotating a document," filed in 2011. This invention enables remote editing of digital documents, such as scripts, and allows users to add verbal annotations. Spielberg has also explored futuristic technology with a patent for a holodeck.
23. JULIE Newmar
In 1974, Julie Newmar, famous for her role as Catwoman, patented "pantyhose with shaping band for cheeky derriere relief." This innovative design features an elastic band attached to the rear, running from the crotch to the waistband, shaping and accentuating the wearer’s derriere.
24. Neil Young
Neil Young, the rock icon, is also a passionate model train enthusiast. He owns a share in a model train company and boasts an impressive collection. Young holds seven patents related to model trains, including Patent No. US5441223, which describes a "Model train controller using electromagnetic field between track and ground."
25. Kurt Vonnegut Sr.
In 1946, Kurt Vonnegut Sr., father of the famed author and Saab dealership manager Kurt Vonnegut Jr., patented an easy-clean tobacco pipe. This innovative design allowed users to clean the pipe without disrupting the burning tobacco or dirtying their hands.
26. Charles Fleischer
Charles Fleischer, the voice actor behind characters in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, patented a toy egg in 1979. The toy, featuring two intertwined helically cut shells, was designed for pulling, stretching, and bouncing.
27. Jamie Hyneman
Jamie Hyneman, known for his diverse career as a boat captain, dive master, and pet shop owner, also led the special effects company M5. The MythBusters star patented a "Remote control device with gyroscopic stabilization and directional control" in 2000, showcasing his inventive prowess.
