You want to know if famous personalities smoke cigars? And which cigars? Are there any cigar smokers among celebrities?
Without (big) surprises: yes.
But if there are no consternations about this, you will quickly realize that the people on this list have all made their mark in their respective eras, often on a very large scale.
Thus, these famous cigar smokers have all had extraordinary journeys and exceptional influence on the world, inspiring millions of people in some cases.
Among the famous cigar smokers, we find:
- Fidel Castro
- Che Guevara
- John F. Kennedy
- Winston Churchill
- Michael Jordan
- Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Sylvester Stallone
- Demi Moore
- Jack Nicholson
- Danny DeVito
In this article, we will discover these personalities, some juicy anecdotes about these cigar smokers, and their preferred tastes!
Let's start with the only woman in our selection.
1. Demi Moore
For once, we begin this selection of famous cigar smokers with a woman! After minor roles in movies and a role in the soap opera "General Hospital," Demi Moore launched her career in films such as "St. Elmo's Fire."
In the early 1990s, she became one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, thanks to her successes in "Ghost" and "Indecent Proposal." She is the mother of three daughters from her second marriage to actor Bruce Willis.
Her favorite cigars: Demi Moore has a weakness for small cigars, such as the Montecristo Joyita, but also enjoys a Cohiba No. 2 or a Montecristo No. 2.
2. John F. Kennedy
Famous for his glamorous image, rumors of his affair with Marilyn Monroe, and, of course, his dramatic assassination, the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was a cigar aficionado. Ironically, he shared his passion with one of his greatest enemies, Fidel Castro...
In fact, in September 1962, he decided to impose an embargo banning all trade with Cuba, which was led at the time by Fidel Castro. But before the ban took effect, he allegedly secretly stocked over 1000 boxes of cigars. If you wanted an example of insider trading, here's a particularly juicy one...
Unfortunately, JFK did not have time to enjoy his private collection as he was assassinated in November 1963.
His favorite cigars: Even today, you can still savor President John F. Kennedy's favorite cigars, the "little Upmanns" from the H. Upmann brand, which are among the most popular in the Cuban market.
3. Fidel Castro
The Cuban revolutionary leader was such a cigar smoker that it was difficult to separate him from them in the collective imagination. He was the best spokesperson for one of his country's main export products. When he was in power in Cuba, he was known for offering cigars to foreign officials and diplomats.
Even though he eventually gave up this habit after 44 years, Fidel Castro's passion for cigars never left him. Long after quitting, he mentioned that he still dreamt of smoking cigars in his sleep.
Anecdote: In fact, cigars were such a guilty pleasure for him that the CIA tried to assassinate him using an explosive cigar! But the story doesn't say whether he was aware that the American president had taken care to fill his cellar before imposing the embargo that paralyzed his country's economy for decades.
His favorite cigars: When he was young and rebellious, and planning to overthrow the Batista government, Castro was often seen smoking his favorite Cuban cigar, the Cohiba Corona Especiales.
4. Che Guerava
Despite being asthmatic, Che, born in Argentina, started smoking cigars when he arrived in Cuba in 1956. While he was Fidel Castro's right-hand man during the Cuban Revolution, he allowed himself two indulgences: books and cigars.
But at that time, good tobacco was scarce in the mountains of Cuba, and cigars were highly valued. So, after taking his share, Ernesto Che Guevara used cigars as a source of motivation for his soldiers because, as he wrote, "a cigar in moments of rest is a great companion for the lonely soldier."
5. Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Churchill built his image around cigars and the calm and authoritative air he exuded. During times of crisis and uncertainty, the Prime Minister would regularly light one of his Romeo y Julieta cigars, releasing soothing puffs of smoke that relaxed a room filled with anxious advisors.
His attraction to cigars began during his stay in Cuba as a young military officer in 1895. It is said that he stockpiled cigars throughout his life, eventually owning around 4,000 in his Chartwell home.
During his tenure, he was rarely seen without a cigar in hand (or rather, in his mouth). In fact, he openly proclaimed, "I drink a great deal. I sleep a little, and I smoke cigar after cigar." His cigar consumption was such that the Romeo y Julieta brand he favored, based in Havana, named a cigar in honor of the British Prime Minister.
His favorite cigars: The Romeo y Julieta Churchill is available today in both short and wide versions, as well as its classic form, and is known for its balanced and aromatic blend of leaves selected from the Vuelta Abajo region.
6. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnie is a true ambassador who has managed to rally many partners to the cause of the armchair. Danny DeVito, in particular, after starring together in the 1988 film "Twins," even though he was initially opposed to Arnold smoking cigars on set! Maybe Arnold scared him by saying, "Hasta la vista, Danny"?
Introduced to cigars in the 1970s by his father-in-law, Arnold Schwarzenegger is almost as famous for cigars as Winston Churchill.
The bodybuilder, Hollywood icon, and former governor never hid his love for top-quality cigars, which made him even more popular among other cigar enthusiasts.
7. Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson started smoking cigars one day while playing golf... We have the hobbies we deserve! After that, he got into the habit of lighting his cigar on the sidelines during Lakers games, as he is a fan...
But our society has changed, and smoking a cigar in a sports arena is no longer in line with the times. That's perhaps why we hardly see him doing it anymore...
Unlike Arnold, Jack Nicholson converted to cigars relatively late in life, after spending most of his life smoking cigarettes. He decided to switch to cigars after realizing that smoking half a pack of cigarettes during a golf game wasn't really doing his health any favors.
His favorite cigars: Jack is an aficionado of Montecristo No. 2 cigars (which is also the favorite cigar of other famous smokers like Jay-Z).
8. Sylvester Stalone
Actor, screenwriter, director, and star of the "Rocky" and "Rambo" franchises, Sylvester Stallone, in addition to being a Golden Globe winner, has been a great cigar enthusiast throughout his career. Stallone was initially a cigarette smoker when he stepped into the ring to become Rocky in the 1970s.
Later, he gave up cigarettes, their harmful effects on health, and the immediate satisfaction they provided in exchange for the much more refined taste and experience of high-quality cigars.
His favorite cigars: Sylvester is a fan of Dominican cigars. He is a staunch supporter of Arturo Fuente, which uses hand-selected vintage tobaccos for a rich flavor. In particular, he is a fan of Fuente Fuente Opus X cigars and Don Carlos cigars.
9. Danny DeVito
Despite his penchant for playing deviant characters, it's hard not to love Danny DeVito. His portrayal of memorable characters, from Louie de Palma in "Taxi" to Owen in "Throw Momma from the Train" to Oswald Cobblepot in "Batman Returns," and many others, transcends generations.
The tradition of lighting up a good cigar was already a norm during his time working on the set of "Taxi," especially to celebrate the end of a shoot or other special occasions.
Anecdote: One of his proudest moments was asking all the passengers on a flight from Europe after filming "The War of the Roses" if they minded him smoking his cigar. With their approval, he later declared that it was "the most enjoyable transatlantic flight I've ever taken."
His favorite cigars: Over the years, Danny has transitioned from Cuban Cohibas to Partagas Serie D No. 4, Diplomaticos, and Bolivars. Like his roles, Danny enjoys exploring!
10. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is an American icon who brought enormous international popularity to the NBA in the 1980s and 1990s and is considered by many as the greatest basketball player of all time (the GOAT).
But one can be a global sports reference and smoke cigars... In fact, photos often showed him smoking a cigar on the bus when he played for the Chicago Bulls. In the documentary "The Last Dance," it was revealed that Jordan could smoke up to five cigars a day!
His Bulls teammate, John Salley, once joked about Jordan's cigar habit, saying that no one on the team would ever ask him to put out his cigar because "we were just apostles. Jesus smoked, that's all there is to it. What more do you want to say?"
His favorite cigars: Jordan's favorite cigars are two of the most famous Cuban cigars. He has been seen smoking a Montecristo No. 2 on several occasions. He also appreciates the deep, earthy flavor of the Partagas Lusitania.
Do as these legends do, enjoy a good cigar!
You have just been introduced to some of the celebrities who smoke cigars. It's interesting to note that Montecristo seems to particularly captivate these aficionados. If you're ever looking to try a cigar, this might be the perfect opportunity.
You may have noticed that there are more people missing from this selection of celebrity cigar smokers. We think of individuals like Robert De Niro, Sigmund Freud, Madonna, Bill Cosby, or even Jacques Dutronc, who are closer to us.
It's evident that this selection will always be a subject of discussion. But the main goal was to shed light on some of the (true) cigar smokers who, in our opinion, have had an influence on the world in one way or another over the past two centuries.
Now, all that's left is for you to light up a fine vitola and make your mark on the world in your own way!
>> Why not do it with style by using one of our cigar lighters?
