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

Tibor Pleiß is a German professional basketball player for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish Super League and the EuroLeague. Standing 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m), he plays the center position. He is also a member of the German national team.

Werner Heinz Erich Lorant is a German former football player who played as a defender or as a defensive midfielder. He later became a manager, notably managing TSV 1860 Munich for nine years between 1992 and 2001.

Bo Kanda Lita Baehre is a German athlete specialising in the pole vault. He won a silver medal at the 2017 European U20 Championships.

Gruschenka Stevens is a German actress and singer.

Marco Antwerpen is a German footballer manager, who manages 1. FC Kaiserslautern, and former player.

Jürgen Becker is a German comedian, kabarett artist, and actor.

René Rast is a German professional racing driver and the 2017, 2019 and 2020 DTM champion. He currently drives for Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler in Formula E. He claimed overall wins at the 2012 and 2014 24 Hours of Spa, 2014 24 Hours of Nurburgring and a class win at the 2012 24 Hours of Daytona.

Eric Johannesen is a German former representative rower. He is a dual Olympian, an Olympic gold medallist and was a 2011 world champion.

Michael Ohoven is a German film producer and the founder and CEO of Infinity Media. He is the son of German Investment Banker Mario Ohoven and UNESCO Ambassador Ute-Henriette Ohoven. He is married to Puerto Rican model, actress, and former Real Housewife of Beverly Hills Joyce Giraud.

Heide Simonis is a German politician. She is a member of the SPD. From 1993 to 2005 she served as the Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein. She was the first woman to serve as head of a state government in German history and the only woman to do so in the 20th century.