Adoption success stories

This is a growing list of adopted people who made an enormous contribution to society:

Pope Alexander VI - Spanish Pope, 1492-1503 ^[1]
Johann Sebastian Bach - German musician and composer ^[2]
Alexander Hamilton - one of the Founding Fathers and the first Secretary of the Treasury ^[3]
Scott Hamilton - Figure skater, Olympic medal winner ^[4]
Andrew Jackson - 7th President of the United States of America.^[5] Jackson's father was killed in a logging accident a few weeks before Jackson was born. His mother died when Jackson was fourteen; he lived with relatives for a year and a half after her death.^[6]
Steve Jobs - founder of Apple Computers^[7]
Jacqueline Kasun - great conservative and founder of Humboldt Pro-Life. Kasun "spent most of her childhood with her father’s parents", and moved back in with her father as a college student.^[8]
James Michener - perhaps the most popular writer of historical novels in history, was adopted by a Quaker widow
Thomas Monaghan - founder of Domino's Pizza^[9]
Michael Reagan - adoptive son of President Ronald Reagan,^[10]
Michael Steele - Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Steele was born at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland and adopted as an infant.^[11]
Dave Thomas - founder of Wendy's
Michael Oher - 2009 first round draft choice by the NFL Baltimore Ravens ^[12]
Faith Hill - famous country singer. Her husband had also been adopted as a child.
Augustus Caesar - first Roman emperor, adopted by Julius Caesar.

Adoptive Parent

George Orwell adopted a baby and raised him after his wife unexpectedly passed away, and this may have increased Orwell's growth as a conservative.
Ronald Reagan (and his first wife Jane Wyman) adopted Michael Reagan, who became conservative.
Bubba Watson, surprise winner of the 2012 Masters.