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

Elisabeth "Lilo" Charlotte Gloeden (1903–1944) and her husband Erich Gloeden (1888–1944), though not involved in the failed 20 July plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler, sheltered General Fritz Lindemann, one of the plotters. They were eventually betrayed to the Gestapo, tried and, along with her mother Elisabeth Kuznitzky (1878–1944), executed by guillotine on 30 November 1944; their fate was publicized as a warning.

Yuki Richard Stalph is a German Japanese former footballer who currently works as a coach for AC Nagano Parceiro.

Holger Fach is a German football manager and former professional player. Mainly a defensive midfielder, he could also pitch in at centre back.

Aleida Assmann is a German professor of English and Literary Studies, who studied Egyptology and whose work has focused on cultural anthropology and Cultural and Communicative Memory.

Thomas Strunz is a German retired footballer who played mostly as a defensive midfielder.

Jan Malte Metzelder is a German former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

Michael Zorc is a German football executive and former player who played as a central midfielder.

Tatjana Festerling is a German far-right politician who was a member of the organisation team of the political movement Pegida. She was expelled from the Pegida leadership for advocating that asylum-seekers should be shot if they attempt to cross the German border.

Christina Rau is the widow of Johannes Rau, President of Germany from 1999-2004.

Sascha Klein is a German diver. Competing in the 2008 Summer Olympics, he won a silver medal in the men's synchronized 10 metre platform with teammate Patrick Hausding. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, he competed in men's 10 m platform where he finished in 9th place. He also competed in men's synchronized 10 m platform with teammate Patrick Hausding. They finished in 4th place.