Growing up in the shadows of your sibling
The infamous Albanian communist dictator was obsessed with defense. Particularly, with building defensive bunkers to protect the country from a possible invasion.
Haiti's former president, Francois "Papa Doc" Duvalier, was obsessed with voodoo. So much so, that he claimed to be the Voodoo spirit of death, Baron Samedi.
Duvalier's voodoo was apparently so powerful that he believed he caused President John F. Kennedy's assassination in 1963.
The Former Supreme Leader of North Korea was a die-hard cinephile. Jong-il had an estimated 30,000 films in his collection, mostly Hollywood movies.
Hussein also liked his cereal for breakfast. More specifically, Raisin Bran. The dictator disliked Fruit Loops though.
750,000 concrete bunkers were built under Hoxha's rule. Some of these have become tourist attractions of their own.
Chairman Mao made sure to use his brush and ink style on as many things as possible, from newspapers to road signages, letters, and documents.
Sources: (Ranker)
See also: History's cruelest despots and dictators
Not only was he a heavy consumer of Western cinema, Kim Jong-il was also a supporter of North Korean cinema. The regime went as far as abducting a famous South Korean film director and his actress wife to work on North Korean movies!
The former President of the Philippines was into numerology and was particularly obsessed with the number 7. So much so, that he seized power on days that either ended in seven or were divisible by seven.
Oddly enough, this obsession with the number 7 continued even after Marcos was deposed. In 2005, Cabinet Bill No. 7 was introduced. The bill allowed for snap presidential elections, where campaigns would last 57 days and the election would take place on February 7.
The Romanian dictator was obsessed with someone attempting to kill him. Most specifically, that someone would try to assassinate him by poisoning his clothes!
The late Ugandan dictator's obsession with Scotland is well known. In fact, he was a fan of all things Scottish, from wearing a kilt to drinking whiskey. So much so, that in 1974, he famously offered to be the new king of Scotland.
Not only did Amin claim the Scottish throne, he also offered to marry Queen Elizabeth II. His story is depicted in the 2006 movie 'The Last King of Scotland.'
So what did Ceaușescu do to prevent it? Well, he had a stockpile of suits in a locked depository and went as far as hiring an engineer to scan his clothes for any hazards. Nicolae Ceaușescu would wear a different suit each day, which would then be burned. You know, just in case!
The former President of Turkmenistan was pretty self-centered. So much so that he bombarded the country with his own image. Everywhere.
The infamous Chinese dictator had another passion in addition to communism: calligraphy.
Hitler even wrote about his fascination with May's novels in his own book 'Mein Kampf:' "The first Karl May that I read was The Ride Across the Desert. I was overwhelmed! I threw myself into him immediately which resulted in a noticeable decline in my grades."
Rice, whom Gaddafi referred to as his "darling Black African woman," was showered with US$212,000 worth of gifts when she visited the country. These included a lute, a ring, a locket with Gaddafi's picture inside, and a song he commissioned especially for her, titled "Black Flower in the White House."
So, what was the late Libyan leader obsessed with? Power? Weapons? Money? No. He was obsessed with a woman in particular—former US Secretary of State and diplomat, Condoleezza Rice.
Castro was so obsessed with Howard Johnson's ice cream that he asked his Canadian ambassador to ship him 28 containers (one of each flavor). He went on to import cows and tried to build a successful dairy industry in Cuba, but his efforts eventually failed (the climate didn't help either!).
The late Cuban leader was obsessed with dairy products; mostly milk and ice cream. So much so that the CIA even plotted to poison El Presidente's regular chocolate milkshake.
Defacing classical drawings of unclothed men was the Soviet leader's thing. Stalin would also add crude notes and comments to the images.
It is said that his increase in weight was also due to excessive consumption of Swiss cheese, which he imported in bulk. He reportedly lost weight after border closures during the pandemic made it more difficult to import his favorite cheese.
Saddam Hussen's love for American junk food remained unknown until he was captured. According to the members of the Pennsylvania National Guard in charge of securing the deposed Iraqi dictator, he could eat a large bag of Doritos in ten minutes!
Adolf Hitler was not just obsessed with the occult. He also had a special space in his heart for 19th-century German author Karl May. Particularly, his Western novels.
Niyazov not only had his image on every possible product and location, but he also named lots of things after himself, including cities, the month of January, and even a meteorite!
The Supreme Leader of North Korea studied in Switzerland, and while in Europe, acquired a peculiar taste for a local delicacy: Swiss cheese.
We already explored the bizarre things dictators did, and now it's time to bring you their bizarre obsessions. Sure, power, money, and status are all things that infamous tyrants are hungry for. But some are hungry for other things too...Doritos included!
Curious to find out what history's most infamous dictators were obsessed about? Click on.
Curious interests of well-known dictators
Kim Jong-il was obsessed with Hollywood movies
LIFESTYLE Leaders
We already explored the bizarre things dictators did, and now it's time to bring you their bizarre obsessions. Sure, power, money, and status are all things that infamous tyrants are hungry for. But some are hungry for other things too...Doritos included!
Curious to find out what history's most infamous dictators were obsessed about? Click on.