Sofia Richie revealed on social media that she converted to Judaism prior to her 2023 wedding to Elliot Grainge, who is the son of Universal Music Group chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge. Sofia was raised Christian by her father Lionel Richie and even attended Oaks Christian School in California for a few years, but she said converting has been one of the greatest experiences of her life.

4 / 52 Fotos

Sofia Richie -

On her Instagram Story on April 3, 2023, the 24-year-old shared a photo of herself signing a document written in Hebrew and wrote, "What a magical day. I want to thank cantor Nathan Lam for helping me along this journey of converting to Judaism. It has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. Today was that day!!!” she concluded, adding five Star of David emojis.

5 / 52 Fotos

Shia LaBeouf -

For Shia LaBeouf, his religious awakening came after he starred in the 2022 movie 'Padre Pio.' The movie tells the story of the famous Catholic saint of the same name, with LaBeouf playing the titular character. The controversial star has gained a reputation as a method actor, and true to form, he went to live in a Capuchin monastery to prepare for the role. "I know now that God was using my ego to draw me to Him. Drawing me away from worldly desires. It was all happening simultaneously," he explained on the 'Bishop Barron Presents' podcast.

6 / 52 Fotos

Shia LaBeouf -

LaBeouf revealed that he was in a dark place at the time, following public accusations of physical and abuse by his ex-girlfriend, FKA Twigs. He shared that he was even considering taking his own life, but found forgiveness and salvation in Catholicism. "It was seeing other people who have sinned beyond anything I could ever conceptualize also being found in Christ that made me feel like, 'Oh, that gives me hope.'" LaBeouf was raised by a Jewish mother and previously practiced Judaism.

7 / 52 Fotos

Karlie Kloss -

Since marrying Joshua Kushner in 2018, the supermodel has converted to Judaism.

8 / 52 Fotos

Zooey Deschanel -

Raised by a Quaker and a Roman Catholic, the actress converted to Judaism as an adult.

9 / 52 Fotos

David Chappelle -

The son of the first ordained female African-American Unitarian Universalist minister, he became a Muslim in the late '90s.

10 / 52 Fotos

Madonna -

The famous singer was raised Roman Catholic before getting deeply involved in Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism.

11 / 52 Fotos

Mike Tyson -

Tyson became a Muslim while he was in prison. He continued to practice the faith even after he completed his sentence.

12 / 52 Fotos

Leah Remini -

An outspoken critic of Scientology, Remini was with the Church until 2013. She has embraced Catholicism since her departure.

13 / 52 Fotos

Bob Dylan -

Once a practicing Jew, Dylan became a Christian later in life.

14 / 52 Fotos

Snoop Dogg -

The rapper has switched religions multiple times. The religions he's dabbled in include Islam, Mormonism, and Rastafarianism.

15 / 52 Fotos

John Travolta -

Raised as a Catholic, Travolta later became a Scientologist.

16 / 52 Fotos

Tina Turner -

Turner converted to Buddhism as an adult.

17 / 52 Fotos

Isla Fisher -

Fisher, who attended Methodist Ladies' College, became Jewish after she married her ex-husband, actor Sacha Baron Cohen.

18 / 52 Fotos

Drew Barrymore -

Barrymore converted to Judaism in 2012 when she married Will Kopelman and committed to raising their children Jewish. They divorced in 2016.

19 / 52 Fotos

Orlando Bloom -

The actor is a Buddhist, but used to be Anglican before converting.

20 / 52 Fotos

Marilyn Monroe -

Monroe’s mother was a Christian Scientist, but Monroe converted to Judaism when she married Arthur Miller.

21 / 52 Fotos

Sharon Stone -

The former Scientologist converted to Buddhism.

22 / 52 Fotos

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -

Abdul-Jabbar changed his name from Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor when he converted to Islam in the late '60s.

23 / 52 Fotos

Elizabeth Banks -

Previously a Christian, Banks embraced Judaism when she married Max Handelman.

24 / 52 Fotos

Charlie Sheen -

The former Catholic became a born-again Christian in the late '90s.

25 / 52 Fotos

Kate Capshaw -

The actress married Steven Spielberg and converted to Judaism. She was originally Episcopalian.

26 / 52 Fotos

Bob Marley -

Marley denounced Rastafarianism and became a Christian before his death.

27 / 52 Fotos

Jack Black -

Black was raised Jewish, but didn’t so much formally convert as become "kind of an atheist" for a while. Apparently since becoming a dad, he’s returned to Judaism.

28 / 52 Fotos

Steven Seagal -

Seagal reportedly converted to Buddhism.

29 / 52 Fotos

Ice Cube -

The rapper converted to Islam in the '90s.

30 / 52 Fotos

Richard Gere -

Raised Catholic, Gere later became a Buddhist.

31 / 52 Fotos

Sammy Davis, Jr. -

The singer reportedly converted to Judaism.

32 / 52 Fotos

Alice Cooper -

Alice Cooper was born to an evangelist pastor. He left the Church and then returned to it after some time, crediting Christianity for saving him from his alcohol addiction.

33 / 52 Fotos

Julia Roberts -

Though she was raised Catholic, Roberts eventually converted to Hinduism.

34 / 52 Fotos

YoungBoy NBA -

In one of the more surprising twists of 2023, YoungBoy NBA revealed a change of faith. The 'Bad Morning' rapper appeared in a Billboard cover story on February 1 in which he detailed his religious awakening and change of direction. The 23-year-old has experienced a rapid rise to fame with five of his eight albums released in 2022 making it into Billboard's top 10. He has had connections to Salt Lake City, Utah, for several years, and when he was sentenced to house arrest for a 2020 weapons charge, he decided to take up residence in the predominantly Mormon community.

35 / 52 Fotos

YoungBoy NBA -

The first time two Mormon missionaries knocked on his door he sent them away, but after reflecting, he realized that he "wanted help very badly." When they came back, he invited them in and opened up to them about all the changes he desperately wanted to make. "It was just cool to see someone with a different mindset that had nothing to do with business or money—just these wonderful souls,” he recalled. The missionaries began to visit him daily and he is prepared for his official baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. YoungBoy says he was “very wrong about a lot of things" and regrets the violent lyrics that were common in his early music.

36 / 52 Fotos

Oliver Stone -

The filmmaker became a Buddhist as an adult, but was raised Episcopalian.

37 / 52 Fotos

Elizabeth Taylor -

Raised as Christian Scientist, she later converted to Judaism in 1959, adopting the Hebrew name Elisheba Rachel.

38 / 52 Fotos

George Harrison -

Born into a Catholic family, this former Beatle embraced Indian culture and became a Hindu as an adult.

39 / 52 Fotos

David Bowie -

Bowie explored several religions throughout his lifetime including: Tibetan Buddhism, Satanism, and Christianity, and even called himself an "almost atheist" at one point. His death was marked according to Buddhist rituals, as was his final wish outlined in his will.

40 / 52 Fotos

Bettie Page -

This bombshell became a Christian in 1957. Some believe this was the reason she left the modeling world.

41 / 52 Fotos

Sharmila Tagore -

The Indian film star converted to Islam before marrying her spouse. Previously she was a Hindu.

42 / 52 Fotos

Connie Chung -

Journalist Connie Chung also converted to Judaism prior to marriage.

43 / 52 Fotos

Raekwon -

The musician converted to Islam in 2009.

44 / 52 Fotos

Gary Busey -

The actor became a born-again Christian after suffering a drug overdose.

45 / 52 Fotos

Tom Cruise -

The former Catholic notoriously joined the Church of Scientology.

46 / 52 Fotos

Katie Holmes -

Holmes converted to Scientology when she married Tom Cruise, but following their divorce she returned to the Catholic Church.

47 / 52 Fotos

Moby -

Moby converted to Christianity, even though he has been hesitant to call himself a Christian in the past.

48 / 52 Fotos

Ivanka Trump -

Trump notoriously converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner.

49 / 52 Fotos

Stephen Baldwin -

In the early 2000s, Baldwin became a born-again Christian.

50 / 52 Fotos

Jane Fonda -

After her marriage to Ted Turner, Fonda converted to Christianity.

51 / 52 Fotos

0 / 52 Fotos

1 / 52 Fotos

Sinéad O'Connor -

The late Irish singer, best known for her 1990 hit version of the song 'Nothing Compares 2 U,' announced in 2018 she converted to Islam, changing her name to Shuhada' Sadaqat.

Getty Images

2 / 52 Fotos

Sinéad O'Connor -

Getty Images

3 / 52 Fotos

Sofia Richie -

Getty Images

4 / 52 Fotos

Sofia Richie -

Getty Images

5 / 52 Fotos

Shia LaBeouf -

Getty Images

6 / 52 Fotos

Shia LaBeouf -

Getty Images

7 / 52 Fotos

Karlie Kloss -

Since marrying Joshua Kushner in 2018, the supermodel has converted to Judaism.

Getty Images

8 / 52 Fotos

Zooey Deschanel -

Raised by a Quaker and a Roman Catholic, the actress converted to Judaism as an adult.

Getty Images

9 / 52 Fotos

David Chappelle -

The son of the first ordained female African-American Unitarian Universalist minister, he became a Muslim in the late '90s.

Getty Images

10 / 52 Fotos

Madonna -

The famous singer was raised Roman Catholic before getting deeply involved in Kabbalah, a form of Jewish mysticism.

Getty Images

11 / 52 Fotos

Mike Tyson -

Tyson became a Muslim while he was in prison. He continued to practice the faith even after he completed his sentence.

Getty Images

12 / 52 Fotos

Leah Remini -

An outspoken critic of Scientology, Remini was with the Church until 2013. She has embraced Catholicism since her departure.

Getty Images

13 / 52 Fotos

Bob Dylan -

Once a practicing Jew, Dylan became a Christian later in life.

Getty Images

14 / 52 Fotos

Snoop Dogg -

The rapper has switched religions multiple times. The religions he's dabbled in include Islam, Mormonism, and Rastafarianism.

Getty Images

15 / 52 Fotos

John Travolta -

Raised as a Catholic, Travolta later became a Scientologist.

Getty Images

16 / 52 Fotos

Tina Turner -

Turner converted to Buddhism as an adult.

Getty Images

17 / 52 Fotos

Isla Fisher -

Fisher, who attended Methodist Ladies' College, became Jewish after she married her ex-husband, actor Sacha Baron Cohen.

Getty Images

18 / 52 Fotos

Drew Barrymore -

Barrymore converted to Judaism in 2012 when she married Will Kopelman and committed to raising their children Jewish. They divorced in 2016.

Getty Images

19 / 52 Fotos

Orlando Bloom -

The actor is a Buddhist, but used to be Anglican before converting.

Getty Images

20 / 52 Fotos

Marilyn Monroe -

Monroe’s mother was a Christian Scientist, but Monroe converted to Judaism when she married Arthur Miller.

Getty Images

21 / 52 Fotos

Sharon Stone -

The former Scientologist converted to Buddhism.

Getty Images

22 / 52 Fotos

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -

Abdul-Jabbar changed his name from Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor when he converted to Islam in the late '60s.

Getty Images

23 / 52 Fotos

Elizabeth Banks -

Previously a Christian, Banks embraced Judaism when she married Max Handelman.

Getty Images

24 / 52 Fotos

Charlie Sheen -

The former Catholic became a born-again Christian in the late '90s.

Getty Images

25 / 52 Fotos

Kate Capshaw -

The actress married Steven Spielberg and converted to Judaism. She was originally Episcopalian.

Getty Images

26 / 52 Fotos

Bob Marley -

Marley denounced Rastafarianism and became a Christian before his death.

Getty Images

27 / 52 Fotos

Jack Black -

Black was raised Jewish, but didn’t so much formally convert as become "kind of an atheist" for a while. Apparently since becoming a dad, he’s returned to Judaism.

Getty Images

28 / 52 Fotos

Steven Seagal -

Seagal reportedly converted to Buddhism.

Getty Images

29 / 52 Fotos

Ice Cube -

The rapper converted to Islam in the '90s.

Getty Images

30 / 52 Fotos

Richard Gere -

Raised Catholic, Gere later became a Buddhist.

Getty Images

31 / 52 Fotos

Sammy Davis, Jr. -

The singer reportedly converted to Judaism.

Getty Images

32 / 52 Fotos

Alice Cooper -

Alice Cooper was born to an evangelist pastor. He left the Church and then returned to it after some time, crediting Christianity for saving him from his alcohol addiction.

Getty Images

33 / 52 Fotos

Julia Roberts -

Though she was raised Catholic, Roberts eventually converted to Hinduism.

Getty Images

34 / 52 Fotos

YoungBoy NBA -

Getty Images

35 / 52 Fotos

YoungBoy NBA -

Getty Images

36 / 52 Fotos

Oliver Stone -

The filmmaker became a Buddhist as an adult, but was raised Episcopalian.

Getty Images

37 / 52 Fotos

Elizabeth Taylor -

Raised as Christian Scientist, she later converted to Judaism in 1959, adopting the Hebrew name Elisheba Rachel.

Getty Images

38 / 52 Fotos

George Harrison -

Born into a Catholic family, this former Beatle embraced Indian culture and became a Hindu as an adult.

Getty Images

39 / 52 Fotos

David Bowie -

Getty Images

40 / 52 Fotos

Bettie Page -

This bombshell became a Christian in 1957. Some believe this was the reason she left the modeling world.

Getty Images

41 / 52 Fotos

Sharmila Tagore -

The Indian film star converted to Islam before marrying her spouse. Previously she was a Hindu.

Reuters

42 / 52 Fotos

Connie Chung -

Journalist Connie Chung also converted to Judaism prior to marriage.

Getty Images

43 / 52 Fotos

Raekwon -

The musician converted to Islam in 2009.

Getty Images

44 / 52 Fotos

Gary Busey -

The actor became a born-again Christian after suffering a drug overdose.

Getty Images

45 / 52 Fotos

Tom Cruise -

The former Catholic notoriously joined the Church of Scientology.

Getty Images

46 / 52 Fotos

Katie Holmes -

Holmes converted to Scientology when she married Tom Cruise, but following their divorce she returned to the Catholic Church.

Getty Images

47 / 52 Fotos

Moby -

Moby converted to Christianity, even though he has been hesitant to call himself a Christian in the past.

Getty Images

48 / 52 Fotos

Ivanka Trump -

Trump notoriously converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner.

Getty Images

49 / 52 Fotos

Stephen Baldwin -

In the early 2000s, Baldwin became a born-again Christian.

Getty Images

50 / 52 Fotos

Jane Fonda -

After her marriage to Ted Turner, Fonda converted to Christianity.

Getty Images

51 / 52 Fotos

Celebrities who have changed religions

They converted to new faiths for fascinating reasons

09/12/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Faith

Like politics, it's not polite to discuss religion over dinner. But for many, religion is a major part of life that's worth discussing. Some public figures openly share their religious choices, while others choose to keep quiet about their spiritual beliefs. The decision is deeply personal, frequently influenced by factors like marriage, trauma, or a quest for meaning.

Curious to find out which celebrities have experienced a change of faith in their lives? Then click on to see the stars who converted.