Many celebrities have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro as a private climb or for greater causes and charities. Among the famous celebrities and notable persons who have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro are:
- Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire and owner of Chelsea Football Club, attempted but sadly collapsed at 4,500meters (15,100 feet) due to respiratory difficulties.
- Jessica Biel and team: Jessica Biel, together with her team from “Summit on the Summit”, reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2010. Her team included: -Emile Hirsch, Isabel Lucas, Tipper Gore, Lupe Fiasco, Santigold, and Kenna
- In 2009, celebrities Alesha Dixon, Gary Barlow, Ben Shepard, Denise Van Outen, Cheryl Cole, Chris Moyles, Fearne Cotton, Kimberley Walsh and Ronan Keating climbed Kilimanjaro using the Lemosho route for 8 days. They all made it to the top to raise awareness and money for malaria. Their charity climb raised almost $10 million from their charity group climb for their cause.
- Martina Navratilova, 9-time Wimbledon champion, attempted to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro back in the year 2010, but altitude sickness got the best of her, which made her quit, unfortunately, with only 1200m remaining to reach the summit.
Below is a list of the famous people who have climbed Mount Kilimanjaro
- Jessica Biel (2010) …
- Isabel Lucas (2010) …
- Lupe Fiasco (2010) …
- Emile Hirsch (2010) …
- Mandy Moore (2018) …
- Haloti Ngata (2019) …
- Brian Blessed. Brian Blessed (1988) …
- Cheryl Cole. Dan Walker.
- Eugene Kaspersky (2016)
- Brennan Swain (2020)
Confirmed Summiteers
- Jessica Biel (2010) — Climbed with a group including Emile Hirsch and musicians for a clean water charity project.
- Mandy Moore (2018) — Summited during a break from filming This Is Us.
- Haloti Ngata (NFL player) — Multiple climbs, often for charity.
- Chris Long (NFL player) — Has climbed several times for water-related causes.
- Lupe Fiasco (rapper) — Part of the 2010 clean water documentary group.
- Emile Hirsch (actor, Into the Wild) — Climbed in 2010.
- Isabel Lucas (actress) — Part of the 2010 group.
Notable Charity Climbs (Comic Relief / Red Nose Day, UK)
Several British celebrities climbed together for charity:
- Gary Barlow
- Fearne Cotton
- Kimberley Walsh
- Chris Moyles
- Denise Van Outen
- Alesha Dixon
- Ronan Keating
Celebrities & Public Figures (2021–2026)
- Aitch (British rapper) — Climbed in 2025 for the Downs Syndrome Association (charity climb).
- Dan Walker (BBC presenter) — Part of a 2019 group, but recent charity climbs in the 2020s have included other TV personalities.
- Various members of charity groups (e.g., Waterboys charity climbs continued with NFL players and veterans in recent years, though specific 2022–2025 names are less publicized).
Famous Mountaineers & Athletes (Recent Years)
- Karl Egloff (Swiss-Ecuadorian mountain runner) — Holds the fastest ascent and descent record (set in 2014, still stands). He has done multiple runs on the mountain in recent years for training and records.
- Kristina Schou Madsen (Danish athlete) — Fastest female ascent record holder (still current as of recent years).
Charity Climbs (Recent)
Many anonymous or group charity climbs have taken place, including:
- Waterboys charity (NFL players and veterans) — Continued activity in the early 2020s.
- Various UK and international charity groups (e.g., for cancer research, education, and disability causes) in 2024–2026.
Notes
- The most celebrity climbs (Jessica Biel, Mandy Moore, Haloti Ngata, etc.) were earlier (2010–2019).
- In the 2021–2026 period, there have been fewer widely publicized individual celebrity summits, with more focus on group charity efforts and record attempts by professional athletes/mountaineers.
- Many climbs by public figures are kept relatively private or focused on fundraising rather than publicity.
Quick Notes
- Many celebrities climb for charity (clean water, education, cancer research, etc.).
- Not all attempts are successful — altitude sickness affects everyone regardless of fame or fitness.
- The list above is based on verified public reports and interviews.
