Born in Los Angeles to parents of German, Russian, and Italian descent, Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio began his career in commercials and TV series before his first big-screen appearance in Critters 3. At 19, he earned his first Oscar nomination for What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, which was followed by several more until he finally won the Academy Award for The Revenant. Even before Titanic, films like The Basketball Diaries and Marvin’s Room showcased his talent, but it was undoubtedly Titanic that catapulted him to global stardom. “Leo-mania” swept across the world, transforming him into a teen idol whose image adorned magazine covers and “most handsome” lists everywhere. As he rose in fame and fortune, DiCaprio also became a dedicated environmental activist, creating a documentary on climate change and supporting many other important causes. Known for staying close to childhood friends and maintaining good relationships with past colleagues, he has a reputation as a loyal friend. And while he’s taken on more serious roles and responsibilities, he still tends to date women from the modeling world who are often in their early to mid-20s. To celebrate his 50th birthday, here are 10 lesser-known facts about him:
1. He’s Named After the Famous Italian Polymath
DiCaprio’s mother chose the name Leonardo after she felt him kick for the first time while standing in front of a da Vinci painting at the Uffizi Gallery. At 11, he was advised to change his name to the more American-sounding "Lenny Williams" to improve his chances of breaking into acting, but he kept his name and signed his first contract at 13. From there, he achieved global fame.
As a Hollywood native, DiCaprio spent the '90s partying with his friends in a group known as "The Pussy Posse." Members included Tobey Maguire (who he first met at an audition and later starred with in This Boy’s Life), Lukas Haas, Kevin Conley, David Blaine, and Harmony Korine. True to their name, the group’s antics revolved around wild parties and chasing women, and they became known for their notorious behavior. Arizona Senator John McCain even once referred to DiCaprio as an "androgynous wimp." As they grew older, the group drifted apart, but the friendships remained.
2. He Has Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
In The Aviator (2004), DiCaprio portrayed Howard Hughes, the billionaire with severe obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). DiCaprio himself has lived with OCD since childhood. OCD involves recurring unwanted thoughts and compulsive behaviors—persistent, uncomfortable urges that disrupt daily life.
3. He Bought an Island to Create an Eco-Resort
In 2005, DiCaprio and a business partner purchased a 45-hectare island off the coast of Belize for $1.75 million with the aim of developing a sustainable, eco-friendly resort powered by renewable energy. As a committed environmental activist, DiCaprio has been criticized for his lifestyle, which some see as contradictory—while he advocates for electric vehicles, biking, and walking, he is often spotted on luxury yachts with friends and uses private jets and helicopters even for short distances. Some have accused him of hypocrisy regarding “Restorative Island,” a project intended to rehabilitate Blackadore Caye and inspire global change, but it has faced repeated delays.
The project aimed to restore the island’s ecosystem, damaged by illegal logging and coastal erosion, which has harmed local animal and fish populations. Plans include tree replanting, luxurious infinity pools, private beaches, jungle areas, and a research center on the island. However, environmental groups argue that the development could harm marine life, hurt ecotourism, and benefit only wealthy investors by turning the island into an exclusive retreat. In 2023, the Blackadore Development Group yielded to pressure from conservationists and local fishers, announcing they would remove planned over-water structures, which are restricted under Belizean environmental laws in marine reserves. While DiCaprio’s environmental credibility is scrutinized, the Defend Blackadore Caye group has also criticized the government for allowing the project.
4. He Was Nearly Attacked by a Great White Shark
During a dive in South Africa, a tuna used as bait got caught on top of the cage—something locals claimed had never happened in 30 years. A great white shark, lunging for the tuna, managed to get halfway inside the cage, where DiCaprio crouched at the bottom. Terrified of sharks, DiCaprio nonetheless described the experience as “amazing.”
He’s also had a plane engine explode mid-flight, tangled his parachute during a skydiving jump, and once encountered a grizzly bear.
5. The Taliban Banned Jack Dawson’s Haircut
Like many Western films, Titanic was banned by Afghanistan’s religious extremists, but bootleg VHS copies still found their way into the country, and Jack Dawson’s hairstyle quickly became a trend among young men. Despite government warnings, many risked imprisonment by adopting DiCaprio’s haircut, which had come to symbolize Western culture and was strictly forbidden in Afghanistan.
In fact, DiCaprio stays deeply in character even during accidents: in a scene from Django Unchained (2012), he slammed his fist on a table in anger, accidentally injuring his hand. He continued the scene without breaking character, delivering his lines with a bleeding hand—a take director Quentin Tarantino chose to keep in the film.
6. He Covered the Final Titanic Survivor’s Care Costs
In 2009, DiCaprio, alongside Kate Winslet and James Cameron, paid the home care expenses for Millvina Dean, the last remaining survivor of the Titanic disaster. Millvina was only two months old when she became the youngest passenger aboard the Titanic. She, her brother, and her mother escaped on Lifeboat 10, among the first to be rescued from steerage, while her father tragically did not survive.
In 2008, to cover the costs of medical treatment following a hip fracture, she sold several personal belongings. In 2009, facing mounting expenses of nearly £3,000 per month, she planned to sell more items. That’s when DiCaprio, Winslet, and Cameron stepped in to help. Sadly, Millvina passed away from pneumonia in May 2009.
7. He Abandoned Vegetarianism for The Revenant
Filming The Revenant was grueling, both physically and mentally, and even forced DiCaprio, a committed vegetarian, to rethink his diet. During filming, the fake liver they’d planned to use looked unrealistic on camera, so DiCaprio had to take a bite of a real, raw bison liver. His reaction was so intense that director Alejandro González Iñárritu decided to keep it in the final cut.
The performance ultimately earned DiCaprio his first, and so far only, Academy Award. Though he had delivered several Oscar-worthy performances before, when the Academy finally awarded him in 2016, fans couldn’t contain their joy. The internet exploded with over 440,000 tweets per minute about the win—a record for the Oscars.
8. He Hasn’t Appeared in a Superhero Movie
Although DiCaprio auditioned for the role of Robin in Batman Forever, the part went to Chris O’Donnell. He was also considered for Peter Parker in Spider-Man when James Cameron was involved in the project, though the role eventually went to his friend Tobey Maguire.
DiCaprio’s name also surfaced as a possible choice for Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, a role Hayden Christensen ultimately took on, dividing fans. DiCaprio declined parts in other major movies, including Hocus Pocus, Boogie Nights, American Psycho, The Dreamers, Sin City, The Departed, Inglourious Basterds, Public Enemies, and Steve Jobs.
9. He Competed with Nicolas Cage for a Dinosaur Skull
DiCaprio is an avid collector, owning several rare paintings and vintage film posters. In 2007, he bid on a 65-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus bataar skull—the largest of its kind at the time. It came down to him and one other bidder: Nicolas Cage. Cage ultimately outbid him with $270,000, securing the skull. The twist? A few years later, it was revealed that the auction house had acquired the bones illegally from China and Mongolia.
10. An Ex-Model Was Sentenced to Two Years After Attacking Him with a Wine Bottle
It seems that ex-models, not great white sharks, pose the biggest risk to DiCaprio. In 2005, during a party, Aretha Wilson struck DiCaprio in the face with a bottle for reasons that remain unclear. He needed 17 stitches to his face and later underwent surgery on his ear. Wilson fled to Canada to avoid charges, only to be arrested upon her return to Los Angeles in 2010.
Charged with assault with a deadly weapon, Wilson’s bail was set at $150,000. At her November hearing, she pled guilty and received a two-year prison sentence, though DiCaprio did not attend the proceedings.
