List of Famous people born in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Thomas Middelhoff is a German retired corporate manager. He was on the board of directors of Bertelsmann from 1990–2002, being CEO from 1998. From 2004 to March 2009, Middelhoff was chairman of the supervisory board of Arcandor, and CEO of the company.

Célia Šašić, née Okoyino da Mbabi, is a German former footballer of Cameroonian and French ancestry. She played as a striker for SC 07 Bad Neuenahr, 1. FFC Frankfurt and the German national team before retiring in 2015.

Erwin Sellering is a German politician. From 2008 to 2017 he was the 4th Minister President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Turid Knaak is a German footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a striker for Spanish Primera División club Atlético Madrid and the Germany women's national team.

Mathias Mester is a Paralympian athlete from Germany competing mainly in category F40 throwing events.

Jürgen B. Hausmann is the stage name of Jürgen Beckers, a prominent German cabaret performer and comedian.

Michael Frontzeck is a German professional football coach and former player who played as a left back. He earned 19 caps for the (West) German national team and was in the squad at Euro 1992.

Leon Tim Draisaitl is a German professional ice hockey forward and alternate captain for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Draisaitl grew up playing hockey in Germany until he was selected second overall in the 2012 CHL Import Draft by the Prince Albert Raiders. After two seasons with the Raiders, he was drafted third overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft in the 2014 season.In 2020, Draisaitl became the first German-born player to win the Art Ross Trophy as the leading point scorer in the NHL. Additionally, he was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award in 2020 as the Most Valuable Player.

Andreas Wolff is a German handball player for Łomża Vive Kielce and the German national team.

Armin Rohde is a German actor and voice actor.