18| Hugh Hefner’s Zoo
We all know Hugh Hefner keeps bunnies at his mansion, but did you know his abode is also home to a host of other animals? The CFO of Playboy turned part of his estate into an official zoo, complete with peacocks, flamingos, Squirrel Monkeys, Capuchins, Spider Monkeys, and Tamarins.
17| Nicolas Cage’s King Cobras
Nicolas Cage drew inspiration for his character in the movie Ghost rider from an unlikely source – his King Cobra, Sheba. The actor revealed in an interview that his cobra hated him. Every time he came in to feed her, she would turn her back to him and sway from side to side in an attempt to hypnotize him. The markings on a cobra’s back resemble an eye, which adds to the eeriness of their mesmerizing defense mechanism. Cage wanted his character in the movie to captivate and terrify the audience at the same time, so he mimicked the actions of his snake during certain scenes.
16| Charlie Sheen’s Chinese Water Dragon
When it comes to pets, Charlie Sheen is “winning.” The crazy actor once owned a Chinese water dragon, which he dubbed Hopper Jr. The animal died of neglect, like the several other pets that have died under Sheen’s supervision.
15| Nicolas Cage’s Octopus
In addition to his cobras, Nicolas Cage also owned an octopus. He claimed that observing animals that are so different from humans helped him develop his acting skills. Unfortunately, Cage had to give his 8-legged friend away after his elaborate spending led to financial problems.
14| Tippi Hedren’s Lion
During the 1970s, actress and model Tippi Hedren, mother of actress Melanie Griffith, came up with a wild idea. She decided to open a sanctuary for big cats just 30 miles outside of Los Angeles. However, not all of the animals stayed in the sanctuary. Her family brought home a fully-grown lion to keep as a pet. The family’s everyday life with the lion, which they named Togar, was captured in a famous 1970s photo shoot.
13| Mike Tyson’s White Tigers
There’s a tiger in the bathroom! Mike Tyson’s fictional pet tiger became famous in the hit 2009 comedy The Hangover, but few people know Tyson actually owned several white tigers. Unfortunately, he had to give his feline friends away after taking care of them became too expensive.
12| Vanilla Ice’s Kangaroo
Leave it to a rapper. Vanilla Ice bought his pet kangaroo, named Bucky Buckaroo, when the little guy was just a baby marsupial. But now that Bucky is all grown up, Vanilla Ice wants him to live a comfortable life. The rapper confessed that the kangaroo is spoiled rotten. He lives in his own enclosure and even has a lover – a pot-bellied pig.
11| John Quincy Adams’ Alligator
John Quincy Adams may have been a serious leader, but he wasn’t afraid to let the White House run wild. The former president received an alligator as a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette, which he kept in a White House bathroom. The gator even had company, as Adams’ wife also housed her silkworms there.
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