Leap Year 2024: Seven famous people born on Leap Day

Famous people who share their rarest birth date, on Leap Day, February 29.

When it comes to people with the rarest birthdays, there’s no beating the leap day babies. The chances of being born on leap day, February 29, are remote — one in about 1,500. So instead of celebrating their birthday once every 365 days, members of this group have to wait 1,461 days for the actual date of their birth to appear on the calendar.

Here are seven famous leapers, leapsters, or leaplings (yes, there are names for them) you have to know.

Morarji Desai

Morarji Desai.

Freedom fighter and former Indian prime minister was born on February 29, 1896, and died on April 10, 1995. Despite living to the age of 99, Morarji Desai marked just 24 birthdays while he was alive. And because he was born during Holi, Desai chose to celebrate his birthday on the day of the festival of colours instead of waiting for a leap day every four years.

Prakash Nanjappa 

Prakash Nanjappa

Olympian and Arjuna Awardee Indian shooter, Prakash Nanjappa was born 29 February 1976. He won a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and bronze medals respectively at 2014 Incheon Asian Games, 2016 ISSF World Cup in Korea and 2013 Changwon World Cup.

Pedro Sánchez

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Spain's handsome Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is also part of this exclusive club. Funny that he's leading a country but has only celebrated his birthday 13 times.

Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins

Motivational speaker and The New York Times bestselling author of Awaken the Giant Within and was born on February 29, in 1960. This year in 2024, he’ll be turning 64 on what’s technically his 16th birthday. That’s a long time to wait to celebrate your sweet 16.

Rukmini Devi Arundale

Rukmini Devi

Legendary Bharatanatyam dancer and founder of Kalakshetra was born on a rare, leap year day on 29 February in 1904. Rukmini Devi Arundale is credited with giving Bharatanatyam a makeover from sensuous art form to more spiritual and devotional character.

Alex Rocco

Alex Rocco at the 1990 Emmy Awards.

The Godfather star who played Moe Greene in the epic movie was born in 1936. He died in 2015 at age 79. The actor also won the 1990 Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy for his work on The Famous Teddy Z (1989), and lent his vocal talents to The Simpsons (1989).

Superman

The comic book character Superman.

While not a real person, the Superman character's birthday is celebrated on February 29. Only fitting for someone superhuman.