History books love to provide neat, polished pictures of famous figures. The real story is much messier, though. Many of the most iconic individuals of all time were much different from how they were represented to us. The following 15 iconic personalities weren’t exactly who they seemed to be.
The Wright Brothers Weren’t the First to Fly
The Wright Brothers are getting all the credit, although possibly two years earlier, Gustave Whitehead flew a plane. There is photographic evidence (which somehow conveniently vanished), and others claim they weren’t the first at all. Either way, history loves a good PR story.
Winston Churchill Was a Heavy Drink
Churchill led the British through the Second World War with great speeches and determination— but he also did it with a glass in hand. Churchill sipped whisky with breakfast, champagne at lunch, and brandy before bed. Churchill’s liquor tolerance was the stuff of legends, and he famously joked, “I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.” Was it a bad habit or his secret weapon? Either way, the man could hold his liquor.
Henry VIII Wasn’t Always Fat and Gross
If you think of Henry VIII, you probably think of a big man eating turkey legs—but younger Henry was a healthy, muscular man with a handsome face. It was later in his life (after a jousting injury and insane overindulgence) that he ballooned to his infamous size.
Abraham Lincoln Was a Skilled Wrestler
Honest Abe wasn’t just a wise leader—he was a beast in the ring! Before politics, Lincoln was an accomplished wrestler, winning almost 300 matches. He was known for his incredible strength and once even challenged an entire crowd to a fight (nobody accepted). Imagine the debates if he were around today—he wouldn’t just win arguments; he’d suplex his opponents.
Pablo Picasso Wasn’t a Starving Artist—He Was Filthy Rich
The classic “tormented artist” syndrome doesn’t hold in the case of Picasso. Unlike Van Gogh, who died in poverty, Picasso built up a vast fortune in life. He controlled his image tightly, so his paintings remained few and pricey. By the time he died, he had an estate valued at many hundreds of millions.
Vincent van Gogh Didn’t Cut Off His Whole Ear
People think that Van Gogh cut off his entire ear in a moment of madness, but in reality, he only sliced off a small part of it. Even some historians believe his friend, Paul Gauguin, actually cut it off during a fight, and they covered it up.
Genghis Khan Wasn’t Just a Savage—He Was a Genius at Diplomacy
Sure, Genghis Khan was cruel, but he was by no means just a ruthless warlord. He created one of the most advanced sets of laws of his time, promoted religious freedom, and created an international postal service. His empire connected the East and West, driving trade and culture. Even his administrative structure was based on a stern meritocracy—if you had skills, you rose through the ranks, no matter your background. Brutal? Yes. But revolutionary.
Cleopatra Wasn’t the Jaw-Drop Beauty You Thought
Hollywood would portray Cleopatra as the breathtakingly beautiful, drop-dead gorgeous who seduced powerful men with her looks. But in reality? Ancient coins suggest she had a pointy nose, a strong jawline, and anything other than traditionally beautiful. Her true weapon? Her brain! Intellect and unmatched political cunning. She spoke multiple languages, played Rome’s most powerful leaders against each other, and kept Egypt independent.
Julius Caesar Was Not Born by C-Section
The term Caesarean section leads people to think that the name is derived from the way that Julius Caesar was born. The truth? C-sections were only done then if the mother died—and his mother, Aurelia, lived long after his birth. So, no, he was not the OG C-section baby.
Leonardo da Vinci Left Many of His Works Unfinished
Genius? Absolutely. Disciplined? Not necessarily. Leonardo da Vinci was notorious for not being able to finish anything that was begun. The Mona Lisa? He took a decade to complete. Many of his inventions? Just sketches. He’d get obsessed with an idea, and then abandon it for something shinier. If he were alive today, he’d probably have 100 unfinished projects on his laptop and a serious case of ADHD.
Blackbeard Wasn’t That Violent
Blackbeard had a terrifying reputation, but he actually avoided killing people. His whole persona—setting his beard on fire, dressing in all black— was a performance. He wanted enemies to surrender without a fight. Clever fellow—who needs to put out the effort if you can conquer by intimidation?
Nikola Tesla Was Not A Celibate—He Was Just Obsessed With Pigeons
Tesla is often portrayed as a loner who did not crave love, but the reality is stranger—he was pigeon-obsessed. Every day, he fed them and took in injured ones. Even, he stated he was in love with a white pigeon. As he put it, “I loved that pigeon as a man loves a woman.”
Pocahontas Wasn’t in Love With John Smith
Forget what Disney told you about Pocahontas and John Smith being this grand romance story. She was 11 at the time they were introduced to each other, and their encounter was anything but a romance. The English later captured her, converted her to Christianity, and forced her to marry an Englishman named John Rolfe. Yeah, the real story is way darker than the fairy tale.
Christopher Columbus Didn’t Discover America
We all know this one by now, right? Columbus actually landed nowhere on the ground of the modern USA. Indigenous communities had lived in the Americas for thousands of years before Columbus made his arrival on the scene, and Leif Erikson (who was a Viking explorer himself) probably got there centuries before him.
Beethoven Wasn’t Entirely Deaf at the Time of His Masterworks
People love to say that Beethoven was totally deaf while composing his finest symphonies. The fact is that he was able to hear certain sounds—in a way of course. He relied on bone conduction (biting a metal rod connected to his piano) to feel the vibration. So while mostly deaf, he was not merely drawing the symphonies out of thin air.
Famous Figures Who Are Still Missing to This Day
These famous figures’ mysterious disappearances have left us with more questions than answers. These puzzling vanishing acts have a way of captivating our imaginations, making us wonder what happened to these figures.
Famous Figures Who Are Still Missing to This Day
Unbelievable But True Stories From History You’ve Probably Never Heard
History books don’t tell you everything. Sure, they might have taught you the basics, but let’s face it – they left out the real good stuff. The past is full of bizarre stories, they seem too wild to be true. Get ready to have your mind blown with 15 unbelievable – but – true stories from history.
Unbelievable But True Stories From History You’ve Probably Never Heard