Money can't buy happiness, and it also can't buy good health. Illnesses and diseases don't discriminate and sometimes attack wealthy, successful, and famous people. While they might seem perfect on the outside, many celebrities deal with scary and sometimes untreatable health conditions that have deeply affected their lives.
While they have access to doctors, treatments, and the best care possible, sometimes that's not enough to tackle certain chronic illnesses that can take a toll on a person's mind, body and spirit. Stars including Dayanara Torres, Selena Gomez, Gina Rodriguez, and Thalía have used their diagnoses to help raise awareness and help inspire other people like them.
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While some conditions are managed through healthy eating, medications, and exercise, there are some that just don't have a cure. So being able to share their stories and open up about their conditions takes courage and can help inspire others who are in their same situation.
Chronic illnesses can sometimes have a negative impact on these celebrities' careers, causing them to be out of the public eyes for long stretches of time. Others have been focusing on improving their health and finding alternatives to beat whatever sickness they were dealing with. Take a look at our gallery to see which of your favorite celebrities are battling a chronic illness.
Justin Bieber has been dealing with Lyme disease and mononucleosis.
The singer revealed in January 2020 that he had been dealing privately with health issues after people commented about his appearance. "While a lot of people kept saying justin Bieber looks like s—, on meth etc. they failed to realize I've been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my, skin, brain function, energy, and overall health," he shared on Instagram. "These things will be explained further in a docu series I'm putting on YouTube shortly.. you can learn all that I've been battling and OVERCOMING!! It's been a rough couple years but getting the right treatment that will help treat this so far incurable disease and I will be back and better than ever."
Alex Trebek broke his fans' hearts when he revealed his health struggles.
The longtime Jeopardy! host revealed in March 2019 that he was battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Fans of the show took to social media to send him their love and support.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a four-time cancer survivor.
The US Supreme Court associate justice underwent lung cancer surgery in early 2019 and was treated again in August after discovered a cancerous tumor on her pancreas. She told CNN in January 2020 that she was cancer-free in January 2020.
Model Bella Hadid struggles with Lyme disease.
The supermodel has been dealing with the symptoms of Lyme disease for years. The illness causes severe exhaustion, joint pain, and fatigue, and it is a tick-borne disease. Her mother, Yolanda Hadid, and her little brother, Anwar Hadid, also have the disease.
Juan Manuel Cortés had lymphoma.
The Suelta La Sopa host was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2015 and underwent treatment. Four years after he beat the cancer, he revealed in 2020 that he had to undergo surgery to remove tumors from his abdomen.
Dayanara Torres revealed her cancer diagnosis in 2019.
In a heartbreaking Instagram video, the former Miss Universe revealed in February 2019 that she was diagnosed with skin cancer and that she would be starting treatment to stop it from spreading.
Actress Selma Blair was diagnosed with MS.
The actress opened up about what it has been like living with multiple sclerosis in February 2019, and revealed that she cried tears of "relief" when she was diagnosed after not feeling well for a long time. She walked down the carpet holding a cane at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscars party.
Andrea Legarreta was diagnosed with purpura.
The TV personality was hospitalized in 2017 and later revealed that she was struggling with the skin condition, which causes blood spots that are brought on by bleeding underneath the skin. There's no cure for the disease but it can be controlled with treatment.
Myrka Dellanos was diagnosed with diabetes.
She opened up about being diagnosed with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes in 2008. The retired TV host said that at the time her doctor said that she could've died had she not gotten treated earlier. That's so scary!
Selena Gomez revealed in 2015 that she had been diagnosed with lupus.
The singer is in her mid-20s and has already suffered quite a few complications from the illness. In 2017, she had to receive a kidney transplant and she was hospitalized again in 2018 after discovering she had an "alarmingly low white blood cell count" in her system.
Chiquis Rivera dealt with complications from her endometriosis.
She was rushed to the hospital in Mexico right before a concert and had to undergo surgery in October 2018 to treat an hemorrhagic cyst caused by her condition.
Thalía was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2008.
Thalía was diagnosed with Lyme disease when she was pregnant with her first child, Sabrina, and she continues to spread awareness about the illness. She opened up about it in her memoir, Growing Stronger.
Gina Rodriguez has been outspoken about her Hashimoto's disease diagnosis.
The condition happens when the immune system attacks the butterfly-shaped gland in the neck known as the thyroid, which controls hormone production. The Jane the Virgin star has been able to manage her condition by changing her diet and her lifestyle. “[Hashimoto’s] affects so many aspects of your life. I’ve had it for so many years … that rebellion of not taking care of myself can’t exist anymore,” she told Self magazine.
Zoe Saldana also has Hashimoto's.
Zoe has been able to manage the symptoms, which include but are not limited to fatigue, joint pain, memory issues, and weight gain, by eating cleaner and healthier foods.
Luis Miguel suffers from a condition called tinnitus, which affects his hearing.
“I wouldn’t want to recall it, or retake it. I would want to just go forward and think about the future," he said during an interview with Telenoche. "It was a situation that kept developing after all those years on stage, with all the decibels and volume levels for more than 30 years. It’s only natural for your body to react so I had to do what I had to do."
Shakira was diagnosed with toxoplasmosis.
Shakira kept her first pregnancy under wraps in 2012 because she was also being treated for the parasitic disease toxoplasmosis at the time.
Demi Lovato has asthma.
The star, who has recently been battling her addiction demons, revealed that she suffers from the disorder. "I have allergy asthma. When I’m allergic to something, like cats or dogs, I can’t breathe very well, so I carry an inhaler," she told Us Weekly in 2015.
José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma" shared his chronic condition with fans years after his diagnosis.
The singer was diagnosed with pulmonary fibromatosis in 2000 but didn't share the news with the public until 2015.
José José opened up about his health struggles in 2017.
After the Mexican singer wasn't able to gain weight for a long time, he underwent a series of tests and doctors determined he had pancreatic cancer. He died in September 2019.
Lady Gaga suffers from fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia is a musculoskeletal illness that causes debilitating pain across the body, and it has caused the singer to cancel scheduled performances in the past.
Marielena Davila opened up to her followers about having Hashimoto's.
She took to Instagram to write a lengthy message about her condition, which she was diagnosed with at 10 years old, and said: "There's no cure, it's for life and no one knows what causes it."
Gwyneth Paltrow has a condition that causes low bone density.
The actress announced in 2011 that she has osteopenia, which is known as the precursor to the bone disease osteoporosis.
Halle Berry was diagnosed with diabetes in the 2000s.
She has since said that she has been managing the condition with the ketogenic diet. "Being diabetic most of my life, I have always had to take food very seriously. So for years, I have been following the keto or ketogenic diet," she revealed in an Instagram post in January 2018. "I also believe it’s been largely responsible for slowing down my aging process. The keto lifestyle offers so many benefits such as weight loss, (moms that’s how we get rid of our baby bellies), appetite control, more energy and better mental performance. If you’re like me, you can possibly reverse type 2 diabetes, you’ll experience better physical endurance, better skin and also less acne if that’s an issue."
Cher was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome.
Cher was diagnosed with the illness, which is also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, in 1992 and the severe exhaustion took a toll on her and her career.
Lena Dunham made the decision to tackle her endometriosis.
Lena revealed in Vogue's March 2018 issue that she underwent a total hysterectomy after a long battle with endometriosis. The disorder causes the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside the uterus, and causes chronic pain.
Actress Sarah Hyland has kidney dysplasia.
The Modern Family star has been open about her health troubles and revealed that she underwent a kidney transplant in 2012.
Nick Jonas was diagnosed diabetes when he was 13.
Nick has been talking about his condition and spreading awareness since he was a member of the Jonas Brothers.
Jimmy Kimmel suffers from narcolepsy.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel told The New York Times Magazine that he struggles with the condition and in 2003 he told Esquire that it feels as if "somebody's gently sitting on your brain."
Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1992.
The Back to the Future actor didn't go public with his diagnosis until 1998 and has since become an advocate for those struggling with the same condition and even started the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
Nick Cannon also suffers from lupus.
The entertainer and TV personality, who was once married to Mariah Carey, was diagnosed with lupus in 2012.
