List of people from California

This is a list of notable people from the U.S. state of California. It includes people who were born/raised in, lived in, or spent portions of their lives in California, or for whom California is a significant part of their identity. The list is in alphabetical order.

#

 * 12th Planet – record producer, DJ

A

 * Willie Aames – actor
 * Paula Abdul – dancer and singer (American Idol)
 * Rosalie Abrams – playwright, actress and activist
 * Ansel Adams – photographer
 * Jay Adams – skateboarder and surfer
 * Ben Affleck – Academy Award-winning actor and director
 * Jhene Aiko – singer
 * Jessica Alba – actress, model
 * Jesse Aliganga – US Marine
 * Keegan Allen – actor (Pretty Little Liars)
 * Marcus Allen – football player
 * A. J. Allmendinger – NASCAR driver
 * Herb Alpert – trumpeter, music executive
 * Tony Alva – skateboarder and surfer
 * Helen Andelin – author (Fascinating Womanhood)
 * Anthony Anderson – actor
 * Melissa Sue Anderson – actress
 * Nahshon Dion Anderson – award-winning writer and screenwriter
 * Paul Thomas Anderson – filmmaker
 * Jennifer Aniston – actress (Friends)
 * Odette Annable – actress
 * Kimberly Anyadike – record-breaking African-American pilot
 * Steve Aoki – music producer, DJ
 * Christina Applegate – actress
 * Jon Appleton – composer
 * Anne Archer – actress
 * Eve Arden – actress
 * Billie Joe Armstrong – musician, vocalist (Green Day)
 * Lucie Arnaz – actress
 * Maureen Arthur – actress (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying)
 * Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu – bassist (Korn)
 * Anastasia Ashman – writer
 * Sean Astin – actor (The Lord of the Rings)
 * Jeff Atkinson – distance runner, Olympian
 * Tracy Austin – tennis player
 * Dylan Axelrod – baseball player

B

 * B.G. Knocc Out (born 1975) – rapper
 * B-Real (born 1970) – rapper (Cypress Hill)
 * Max Baer Jr. (born 1937) – actor (Jethro Bodine of The Beverly Hillbillies)
 * Ross Bagdasarian, Sr. – actor (Alvin and the Chipmunks)
 * Chauncey Bailey – journalist assassinated by an agent of Your Black Muslim Bakery
 * Diane Baker – actress (The Silence of the Lambs)
 * Dusty Baker – MLB player and manager
 * Banks – singer
 * Tyra Banks – model and actress (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air)
 * Adrienne Barbeau – actress (Maude)
 * Andrea Barber – actress
 * Sara Bareilles – singer
 * Travis Barker – drummer (Blink-182)
 * Matt Barnes – National Basketball Association player
 * Orr Barouch (born 1991) – Israeli soccer player
 * Drew Barrymore – actress (50 First Dates)
 * Judith Barsi – actress/voiceover artist
 * Summer Bartholomew – Miss USA 1975
 * Earl W. Bascom – rodeo pioneer, Hall of Fame inductee, actor, international artist/sculptor
 * Baby Bash – rapper
 * Ellen Bass – poet and author
 * Bassnectar – musician, record producer
 * Max Baucus – politician, former Congressman (1975–78), longtime US Senator from Montana (1978–2014), and U.S. Ambassador to China since 2014
 * Michael Bay – film director
 * Amanda Beard – Olympic swimmer
 * Beck – musician
 * Captain Beefheart – musician
 * Ed Begley Jr. – actor and activist
 * Drake Bell – actor, comedian, singer
 * Stephania Bell – ESPN analyst, physical therapist
 * Camilla Belle – actress
 * Tory Belleci – filmmaker and model maker (MythBusters)
 * Troian Bellisario – actress, singer (Pretty Little Liars)
 * Marcus Benjamin – (born 1857) – early biographer at Smithsonian Institution
 * Beau Bennett – hockey player
 * Ashley Benson – actress (Pretty Little Liars)
 * Candice Bergen – actress (Murphy Brown)
 * Carolyn Beug – passenger aboard American Airlines Flight 11
 * Yusuf Bey – owner of Your Black Muslim Bakery
 * Mayim Bialik – Israeli-American actress (The Big Bang Theory); neuroscientist
 * Barbara Billingsley – actress
 * Rachel Bilson – actress (The O.C.)
 * David Binn (born 1972) – 18-season NFL player
 * Thora Birch – actress
 * Steve Birnbaum (born 1991) – Major League Soccer player
 * Bradford Bishop – indicted murderer and at-large fugitive
 * Bill Bixby – actor (The Incredible Hulk)
 * Aloe Blacc – singer, musician
 * Jack Black – actor, musician (Kung Fu Panda, Tenacious D)
 * Rebecca Black – singer
 * Tyler Blackburn – actor, singer (Pretty Little Liars)
 * Hank Blalock – baseball player (Texas Rangers)
 * Mel Blanc – cartoon voice actor
 * Rowan Blanchard – actress (Girl Meets World)
 * Sheila Bleck – IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Ken Block – rally driver, gymkhana driver
 * Andy Bloom – Olympic shot putter
 * Betsy Bloomingdale – socialite
 * David Blu (born David Bluthenthal; 1980) – professional basketball player (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
 * Jonathon Blum – hockey player
 * Sam Bohne (originally "Sam Cohen"; 1896–1977), baseball player
 * Brian Boitano − Olympic gold medalist (figure skating)
 * Barry Bonds – baseball player (San Francisco Giants)
 * Bobby Bonds – baseball player (San Francisco Giants)
 * Aaron Boone – baseball player (Cleveland Indians)
 * Scott Borchetta – president/CEO and founder of Big Machine Records
 * Jonathan Bornstein (born 1984) – soccer player for USA National Team and Chivas USA
 * Barry Bostwick – actor (Spin City, The Rocky Horror Picture Show)
 * Kate Bosworth – actress
 * Lo Bosworth – television personality, author, and entrepreneur
 * Bruce Bowen – National Basketball Association player (San Antonio Spurs)
 * Cameron Boyce – actor (Descendants 2)
 * Brandon Boyd – singer, musician (Incubus)
 * Timothy Bradley – boxer
 * Tom Brady – football quarterback (New England Patriots)
 * Debbie Bramwell-Washington – IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Benjamin Bratt – actor
 * Ryan Braun – baseball player (Milwaukee Brewers)
 * Nick Bravin – Olympic fencer
 * Eddie Bravo – Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor
 * Nicholas Brendon – actor (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
 * Jan Brewer – Governor of Arizona
 * Stephen Breyer – Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
 * Brigita Brezovac – IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Beau Bridges – actor (The Fabulous Baker Boys, Stargate SG-1)
 * Jeff Bridges – actor (The Big Lebowski)
 * Lloyd Bridges – actor (Sea Hunt, Airplane!)
 * Alison Brie – actress
 * Lance Briggs – football player
 * Adam Brody – actor (The O.C.)
 * James Brolin – actor
 * Josh Brolin – actor (No Country For Old Men, Gangster Squad)
 * Albert Brooks – actor and director (Lost in America)
 * Brotha Lynch Hung – rapper
 * Alton Brown – television host
 * Jerry Brown – Governor of California (1975–1983; 2011–present), Mayor of Oakland
 * Pat Brown – Governor of California (1959–1967)
 * Tedy Bruschi – football player
 * Lindsey Buckingham – musician (Fleetwood Mac)
 * Bill Buckner – baseball player
 * Don Budge – tennis player
 * Candace Cameron Bure – actress
 * Hunter Burgan – bass player for AFI
 * Bobby Burgess – Mouseketeer, dancer for Lawrence Welk Show
 * Olivia Burnette – actress
 * Tim Burton – film director
 * Reggie Bush – football player
 * Shoshana Bush – actress
 * Sophia Bush – activist, spokesperson, and actress (One Tree Hill, Chicago P.D.)
 * Jeanie Buss – sports executive
 * Cruz Bustamante – Lieutenant Governor of California
 * Paul Butcher – actor
 * Austin Butler – actor, singer
 * Win Butler – musician, songwriter (Arcade Fire)
 * Amanda Bynes – actress
 * Kari Byron – artist and television personality (MythBusters)

C

 * C-Bo – rapper
 * Scott Caan – actor
 * Herb Caen – newspaper columnist (San Francisco Chronicle)
 * John Cage – composer
 * Nicolas Cage – actor
 * Colbie Caillat – singer
 * Greg Camarillo (born 1982) – NFL football player
 * Cameron – professional wrestler, dancer
 * Dove Cameron – actress (Liv and Maddie)
 * Dolph Camilli – baseball player
 * Ben Nighthorse Campbell – US Senator from Colorado
 * Nick Cannon – actor
 * Linda Cardellini – actress (Freaks and Geeks)
 * Tucker Carlson – television host
 * Adam Carolla – radio and television personality
 * David Carr – football player
 * David Carradine – actor (Kung Fu, Kill Bill)
 * Ever Carradine – actress, daughter of Robert Carradine
 * Keith Carradine – actor (Nashville)
 * Robert Carradine – actor (Revenge of the Nerds)
 * Pete Carroll – college and NFL football coach
 * Adam Carson – drummer (AFI)
 * Chris Carter – producer, director and writer (The X-Files)
 * Torry Castellano – drummer of The Donnas
 * Richard Chamberlain – actor
 * Chanel West Coast – rapper, actress, model, television personality
 * Brandi Chastain – soccer player
 * Jessica Chastain – actress (Zero Dark Thirty)
 * Cher – actress, entertainer and singer
 * Joey Chestnut – competitive eater
 * Julia Child – chef, author and TV personality
 * Margaret Cho – actress, comedian
 * Wasel Choi – artist and world traveler
 * Amy Chow – gymnast
 * Jamie Chung – actress
 * Lana Clarkson – actress (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
 * Les Claypool – bass player (Primus)
 * Mark Clear (born 1956) – major league baseball two-time All Star relief pitcher
 * Claire Coffee – actress
 * Sasha Cohen – figure skater
 * Lillie Hitchcock Coit – firefighter
 * Keyshia Cole – singer
 * Natalie Cole – singer
 * Jerry Coleman – decorated soldier and sportscaster
 * Chris Colfer – actor (Glee), author (The Land of Stories)
 * Holly Marie Combs – actress
 * Maureen Connolly – tennis player
 * Mike Connors – actor (Mannix)
 * Lauren Conrad – television personality, fashion designer, and author
 * Elisha Cook Jr. – actor (The Maltese Falcon)
 * Coolio – rapper
 * Miranda Cosgrove – actress, singer (iCarly)
 * Michael Costello – fashion designer
 * Kevin Costner – actor and director (Field of Dreams)
 * Natalie Coughlin – Olympic swimmer
 * Nikki Cox – actress (Las Vegas)
 * Alan Cranston – US Senator from California
 * Bryan Cranston – actor
 * Laura Creavalle – Guyanese-born Canadian/American professional bodybuilder
 * Richard Crenna – actor
 * Darren Criss – actor
 * William H. Crocker – philanthropist and founder of Crocker National Bank
 * James Cromwell – actor
 * Joe Cronin – Hall of Fame baseball player, manager
 * Crooked I – rapper
 * David Crosby – musician
 * Cameron Crowe – filmmaker
 * Kaley Cuoco – actress (The Big Bang Theory)
 * Jamie Lee Curtis – actress (Halloween)

D

 * Carson Daly – television host
 * Caroline D'Amore – musician, actress, model
 * Spencer Daniels – actor
 * Harry Danning – Major League Baseball All Star catcher
 * Ted Danson – actor (Cheers)
 * Iva Toguri D'Aquino (Tokyo Rose) – radio broadcaster during World War II
 * Lindsay Davenport – tennis player
 * Baron Davis – professional basketball player
 * Jonathan Davis – singer, musician
 * Terrell Davis – professional football player
 * Devin Dawson – singer, musician
 * Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris – husband and wife film directors (Little Miss Sunshine)
 * Oscar De La Hoya – boxer
 * Brian de la Puente (born 1985) – NFL football player
 * Zack de la Rocha – activist, singer (Rage Against The Machine)
 * Jayme Dee – singer, musician
 * Del tha Funkee Homosapien – rapper
 * Grey Delisle – voice actress
 * Tom DeLonge – singer, musician (Blink-182)
 * Brad Delson – musician (Linkin Park)
 * Deorro – DJ, musician
 * Bo Derek – actress
 * Laura Dern – actress
 * DeMar DeRozan – professional basketball player
 * Emily Deschanel – actress
 * Zooey Deschanel – actress, singer
 * Dev – singer
 * Cameron Diaz – actress (There's Something About Mary)
 * Nate Diaz – professional mixed martial artist
 * Nick Diaz – professional mixed martial artist
 * Leonardo DiCaprio – Academy Award-winning actor (Titanic)
 * Joan Didion – writer
 * Trent Dilfer – NFL quarterback
 * Daz Dillinger – rapper
 * Joe DiMaggio – baseball player
 * Roy Edward Disney – billionaire, nephew of Walt Disney
 * DJ Quik – rapper, producer
 * Canh Thong Do – Vietnamese American activist
 * Nate Dogg – musician
 * Snoop Dogg – rapper
 * Ami Dolenz – actress, daughter of Micky Dolenz
 * Micky Dolenz – actor, musician, singer (The Monkees)
 * Jason Dolley – actor
 * Landon Donovan – soccer player
 * Stacy Dragila – pole vaulter
 * Dr. Dre – musician, hip-hop producer, record producer
 * Mac Dre – rapper
 * Dresta – rapper
 * K. Eric Drexler – engineer
 * Don Drysdale – baseball player
 * Hilary Duff – actress, singer
 * Tom Dumont – guitarist (No Doubt)
 * Isadora Duncan – dancer
 * Ann Dunnigan – translator, actor, teacher
 * Robert Duvall – actor
 * Jermaine Dye – baseball player (Chicago White Sox)

E

 * Clint Eastwood – film actor and director (Million Dollar Baby)
 * Eazy-E – rapper
 * Dennis Eckersley – baseball pitcher
 * Aaron Eckhart – actor
 * Julian Edelman (born 1986) – NFL football player
 * Anthony Edwards – actor
 * Zac Efron – film and television actor (High School Musical)
 * Danny Elfman – musician, composer
 * Jenna Elfman – actress
 * Richard Elfman – film director (Forbidden Zone)
 * Sam Elliott – actor
 * Anabel Englund – singer
 * Hayden Epstein (born 1980) – NFL football player
 * Mike "SuperJew" Epstein (born 1943) – major league baseball first baseman
 * Chris Evans – convicted train robber
 * Evidence – rapper

F

 * Bill Fagerbakke – actor/voice actor (Patrick Star)
 * Heather Fargo – Mayor of Sacramento, California
 * Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton – wife and husband film directors (Little Miss Sunshine)
 * Jordan Farmar (born 1986) – basketball player
 * Mia Farrow – actress
 * David Faustino – actor (Married... with Children)
 * Roshon Fegan – actor
 * Benny Feilhaber (born 1985) – soccer midfielder
 * Dianne Feinstein – US Senator from California, Mayor of San Francisco (1978–88)
 * Fergie (Stacy Ferguson) – singer, actress, composer (The Dutchess, Charlie Brown, Fergalicious)
 * Shiloh Fernandez – actor
 * Sky Ferreira – singer, model, actress
 * Will Ferrell – actor
 * Miguel Ferrer – actor (RoboCop)
 * America Ferrera – Honduran-American actress
 * Sally Field − actress (Norma Rae, Places in the Heart)
 * Carrie Fisher – actress
 * Peggy Fleming – figure skater
 * Abigail Folger – coffee heiress, socialite, and murder victim
 * Bridget Fonda – actress
 * Lyndsy Fonseca – actress
 * Jon Foreman – singer
 * Dian Fossey – zoologist
 * Jodie Foster – actress (The Silence of the Lambs)
 * Rickie Fowler – professional golfer
 * Allen Fox – tennis player (ranked as high as # 4) and coach
 * Dillon Francis – music producer, DJ
 * Dave Franco – actor and brother of James
 * James Franco – actor and brother of Dave
 * Paulette Frankl – artist, biographer
 * Bonnie Franklin – actress
 * Missy Franklin – 2012 Olympic gold medalist (swimming)
 * Max Fried – baseball player for the Atlanta Braves
 * Robert Frost – poet
 * Edward Furlong – actor (Terminator 2: Judgment Day)

G

 * Becky G – singer
 * Warren G – rapper
 * G-Eazy – rapper, producer
 * Guy Gabaldon – United States Marine Corps
 * Lynx and Lamb Gaede – white nationalist twin singers and musicians
 * Richard Gage – 9/11 Truth movement activist
 * Trace Gallagher – journalist
 * The Game – rapper
 * Eric Garcetti – Mayor of Los Angeles
 * Jeff Garcia – football player
 * Jerry Garcia – musician (Grateful Dead)
 * Brad Garrett – actor (A Bug's Life, Ratatouille)
 * Wolfgang Gartner – music producer, DJ
 * Kyle Gass – musician (Tenacious D)
 * Dirk Gates – network entrepreneur (Xirrus)
 * John Gavin – actor, ambassador
 * Sarah Michelle Gellar – actress (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
 * Inara George – singer, musician (The Bird and the Bee)
 * Jason Giambi – professional baseball player (New York Yankees)
 * Tyrese Gibson – actor
 * Frank Gifford – football player and sportscaster
 * Brad Gilbert – tennis player and coach
 * Melissa Gilbert – actress (Little House on the Prairie), producer
 * Sara Gilbert – actress (Roseanne)
 * Lillian Moller Gilbreth – engineer (Cheaper by the Dozen)
 * Justin Gimelstob (born 1977) – tennis player
 * Danny Glover – actor
 * Donald Glover – actor, singer
 * Gnash – rapper, singer
 * Bill Goldberg (born 1966) – professional NFL football player and undefeated wrestler
 * Rube Goldberg – cartoonist
 * Tony Goldwyn – actor (Tarzan)
 * Phillip Gonyea – drummer, percussionist (Against The Will)
 * Adrian Gonzalez – baseball player
 * Drew Gooden – professional basketball player (Cleveland Cavaliers)
 * Jeff Gordon – NASCAR driver
 * Robby Gordon – NASCAR driver
 * Joseph Gordon-Levitt – actor
 * Marjoe Gortner – evangelical minister
 * Mark-Paul Gosselaar – actor
 * Ben Gottschalk (born 1992) – NFL football player
 * Jim Grabb (born 1964) – tennis player ranked World No. 1 in doubles
 * John Grabow – Major League Baseball player (Chicago Cubs)
 * Gloria Grahame – actress
 * Andy Grammer – singer
 * Farley Granger – actor
 * Jennifer Granholm – Canadian-born politician and former Governor of Michigan (2003–2011)
 * Beatrice Gray – actress
 * Billy Gray – actor, motorcyclist
 * Paul Gray – musician (Slipknot)
 * Devon Graye – actor
 * Brian Grazer – Oscar-winning film and television producer
 * Shawn Green – Major League Baseball two-time All-Star outfielder
 * Joanie Greggains – radio show host, health and fitness expert
 * Sasha Grey – pornographic actress
 * Nash Grier – viner, youtuber and actor
 * Merv Griffin – talk show host, singer, television producer (Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune)
 * Florence Griffith-Joyner – track athlete
 * RL Grime – music producer
 * Josh Groban – singer
 * Vince Guaraldi – musician (A Charlie Brown Christmas)
 * Kimberly Guilfoyle – television personality
 * Natalie Gulbis – golfer
 * Brett Gurewitz – guitarist (Bad Religion)
 * Tony Gwynn – Hall of Fame baseball player
 * Jake Gyllenhaal – actor

H

 * Walter A. Haas Jr. – chief executive officer of Levi Strauss & Co.
 * Steven C. Hackett – economist (Humboldt State University)
 * Gene Hackman – actor (The French Connection)
 * Gigi Hadid – model
 * Sammy Hagar – musician (Van Halen)
 * Merle Haggard – country music singer
 * Joseph Hahn – painter, director, musician (Linkin Park)
 * Jackie Earle Haley – actor (Bad News Bears)
 * Mark Hamill – actor (Star Wars)
 * Laird Hamilton – surfer
 * Harry Hamlin – actor (Clash of the Titans)
 * Armie Hammer – actor
 * Kirk Hammett – musician (Metallica)
 * Daniel Handler – author, pen name Lemony Snicket
 * Colin Hanks – actor (King Kong)
 * Tom Hanks – actor, director, producer
 * Peter D. Hannaford – political advisor to Ronald W. Reagan; author
 * Jeff Hanneman – guitarist (Slayer)
 * James Harden – basketball player
 * Ian Harding – actor (Pretty Little Liars)
 * Dan Haren – professional baseball player (Oakland Athletics)
 * Mariska Hargitay – actress (Law & Order: SVU)
 * Jeff B. Harmon – film producer, director, actor
 * Mark Harmon – actor
 * Henry Harrower – endocrinologist
 * Kevin Harvick – NASCAR driver
 * Teri Hatcher – actress
 * Henry Hathaway – film director
 * Davey Havok – lead singer of AFI
 * Tony Hawk – skateboarder
 * Kristy Hawkins – IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Lyn-Z Adams Hawkins – professional skateboarder
 * Julie Hayek – Miss USA 1983
 * Dennis Haysbert – actor (24)
 * Jenna Haze – pornographic actress
 * Patty Hearst – actress and newspaper heiress (Symbionese Liberation Army)
 * William Randolph Hearst – newspaper publisher
 * Ian Hecox – youtuber
 * Simon Helberg – actor, comedian (The Big Bang Theory)
 * Julie Heldman (born 1945) – tennis player, ranked #5 in the world
 * Mariel Hemingway – actress (Manhattan)
 * Christy Hemme – professional wrestler and model
 * David Henrie – actor
 * Pamela Hensley – actress
 * Keith Hernandez – baseball player
 * Barbara Hershey – actress
 * James Hetfield – musician (Metallica)
 * Jonah Hill – actor
 * Paris Hilton – celebrity, model, actress, DJ
 * Jason Hirsh – baseball player
 * Hit-Boy – rapper, record producer
 * David Hoberman – film director and producer, founder of Mandeville Films
 * Dustin Hoffman – actor
 * Trevor Hoffman – professional baseball player (San Diego Padres)
 * Dexter Holland – singer, musician (The Offspring)
 * Brenda Holloway – singer and songwriter
 * Josh Holloway – actor (Lost)
 * Mike Holmgren – football coach (Seattle Seahawks)
 * Dennis Holt – poet, linguist, translator
 * Hopsin – rapper, actor, record producer
 * Taylor Horn – singer and actress
 * James Horner – composer
 * Nichkhun Horvejkul – Thai-American singer and rapper of 2PM
 * Bryce Dallas Howard – actress
 * C. Thomas Howell – actor (The Outsiders, Red Dawn, Southland)
 * Jerry Hsu – skateboarder
 * Vanessa Hudgens – actress and singer (High School Musical)
 * Kate Hudson – actress
 * Phil Hughes – baseball player
 * Yolanda Hughes-Heying – IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Barry Hunau – illustrator
 * William Hung – American Idol contestant
 * Helen Hunt – actress
 * Terry Huntingdon – Miss USA 1959
 * Anjelica Huston – actress
 * Nyjah Huston – professional skateboarder
 * Timothy Hutton – actor
 * Tiffany Hwang – singer (Girls' Generation)

I

 * Iamsu! – rapper
 * Ice Cube – musician, actor
 * Gabriel Iglesias – comedian
 * Danny Im – member of Korean music group 1TYM
 * Grant Imahara – electronics and radio control expert (MythBusters)
 * Don Imus – radio personality
 * Allison Iraheta – singer (American Idol)
 * Kathy Ireland – model
 * Bill Irwin – actor, clown
 * Chris Isaak – musician, actor
 * Yasuhiro Ishimoto – photographer
 * Phil Ivey – professional poker player

J

 * Shirley Jackson (1916–1965) – author
 * Helen Jacobs (1908–1997), tennis player
 * Etta James – singer
 * Jesse James – actor, welder, and chief executive officer of West Coast Choppers
 * Tom Jancar – contemporary art dealer, Jancar Kuhlenschmidt Gallery and Jancar Gallery
 * Gregg Jarrett – lawyer, journalist
 * BC Jean – singer
 * Richard Jefferson – professional basketball player
 * Fran Jeffries – actress (The Pink Panther)
 * Kendall Jenner – reality star, model, and TV personality
 * Kylie Jenner – reality star, model, TV and social media personality
 * Steve Jobs – computer pioneer, co-founder of Apple Computer
 * Anjelah Johnson – actress, comedian
 * Dwayne Johnson – professional wrestler best known as "The Rock"; actor (The Scorpion King)
 * Jimmie Johnson – NASCAR driver and champion
 * Kevin Johnson – basketball player and politician
 * Keyshawn Johnson – football player
 * Randy Johnson – baseball player
 * Angelina Jolie – actress
 * Jerry Jones – owner of the Dallas Cowboys
 * Marion Jones – track athlete
 * Matt L. Jones – actor (Breaking Bad), comedian
 * Rashida Jones – actress
 * Tamala Jones – actress
 * Sharon Jordan – actress (The Suite Life of Zack & Cody)
 * Ashley Judd – actress
 * Aaron Judge – baseball player
 * Jessica Jung – singer (Girls' Generation)
 * Krystal Jung – singer (f(x))

K

 * Pauline Kael – film critic
 * Colin Kaepernick – NFL quarterback, San Francisco 49ers
 * Ryan Kalish – major league baseball outfielder
 * Tony Kanal – bassist with No Doubt
 * Anita Kanter (born 1933) – tennis player ranked in world top 10
 * Gabe Kapler (born 1975) – major league baseball outfielder and manager
 * Khloé Kardashian (born 1984) – socialite and reality-television personality
 * Kim Kardashian (born 1980) – socialite and reality-television personality
 * Kourtney Kardashian (born 1979) – socialite and reality-television personality
 * Terry Karl (born 1947), professor of Latin American Studies at Stanford University
 * Chris Kattan – actor, comedian
 * Julie Kavner – actress
 * Diane Keaton – actress, director, producer
 * Keb' Mo' – blues singer-songerwriter and guitarist
 * Sally Kellerman – actress
 * Minka Kelly – actress
 * Anthony Kennedy – Supreme Court Justice
 * Dom Kennedy – rapper
 * Kirk Kerkorian – investor and philanthropist
 * Kesha – singer
 * Jason Kidd – NBA player and coach
 * Val Kilmer – actor
 * Billie Jean King – tennis player
 * Elle King
 * Kerry King – guitarist (Slayer)
 * Regina King – actress
 * Rodney King – police brutality victim
 * Maxine Hong Kingston – author
 * Thomas Kinkade – artist
 * Matthew Knight – actor
 * Suge Knight – record producer, music executive (Death Row Records)
 * Kyle Korver – basketball player
 * Kira Kosarin – singer, actress
 * Joel Kramer – basketball player
 * Dean Kremer – Israeli-American baseball pitcher
 * Nathan Kress – actor (iCarly)
 * Kayden Kross – pornographic actress
 * Mike Krukow – baseball pitcher and announcer (San Francisco Giants)
 * Lisa Kudrow – actress (Friends)
 * Greg Kurstin – musician, producer (The Bird and the Bee)
 * Michelle Kwan – figure skater
 * Iris Kyle – 10-time overall Ms. Olympia professional bodybuilder

L

 * Shia LaBeouf (born 1986) – actor
 * Remy LaCroix – pornographic actress
 * Kendrick Lamar – rapper
 * Phil LaMarr – voice artist
 * Adam Lambert – singer (American Idol)
 * Michelle Lambert – singer
 * Greg Laswell – singer, musician
 * Ryan Lavarnway (born 1987) – major-league baseball catcher (Los Angeles Dodgers)
 * Rick Law – illustrator and producer
 * Tony Lazzeri – baseball player
 * Amy Lee – musician (lead singer of Evanescence)
 * Bruce Lee – martial artist
 * Jason Lee – actor (My Name is Earl)
 * Cathy LeFrançois – IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Janet Leigh – actress
 * Jennifer Jason Leigh – actress (Fast Times at Ridgemont High)
 * Kawhi Leonard – basketball player
 * Brad Lesley – baseball player, cast member on Takeshi's Castle
 * Adam Levine – musician (lead singer of pop/rock group Maroon 5)
 * Alexander Lévy (born 1990), professional golfer
 * Monica Lewinsky – White House intern
 * Huey Lewis – musician (Huey Lewis and the News)
 * Juliette Lewis – actress
 * Rob Liefeld – comic book writer
 * Jeremy Lin – basketball player
 * Seven Lions – musician
 * David Lipsky (born 1988) – golfer
 * Scott Lipsky (born 1981) – tennis player
 * Peyton List – actress (Bunk'd)
 * Blake Lively – actress (Gossip Girl)
 * Heather Locklear – actress
 * Alison Lohman – actress
 * Jack London – author (The Call of the Wild)
 * Lauren London – television personality, actress, and model
 * Evan Longoria – baseball player
 * George Lopez – actor and comedian (George Lopez)
 * Mario López – actor (Saved by the Bell)
 * Nancy Lopez – golfer
 * Erik Lorig (born 1986) – football player (New Orleans Saints)
 * Greg Louganis – Olympic diver
 * Courtney Love – musician
 * Kevin Love – basketball player
 * Jon Lovitz – actor
 * George Lucas – filmmaker (Star Wars)
 * Lorna Luft – singer and actress
 * Athena Lundberg – Playmate of the Month (January 2006)
 * Ray Lynch – actor
 * Ross Lynch – singer (R5), actor (Austin & Ally)
 * Cheryl Lynn – singer

M

 * Mack 10 – rapper (Westside Connection)
 * Madlib – rapper, producer
 * Tobey Maguire – actor, producer
 * Theodore Harold Maiman – inventor of Ruby Laser Systems Laser
 * Daron Malakian – musician, singer-songwriter, guitarist (System of a Down)
 * Mia Malkova – pornographic actress
 * Ricky Manning Jr. – football player
 * Josie Maran – actress and model
 * Teena Marie – singer
 * Cheech Marin – actor
 * Shannon Marketic – Miss USA 1992
 * McKayla Maroney – 2012 Olympic gold and silver medalist (artistic gymnastics)
 * Dean Paul Martin – actor and musician
 * Margaret Martin – professional bodybuilder
 * Bobby Martinez – professional surfer
 * Chris Masters – wrestler
 * Tim Matheson – actor
 * Bob Mathias – decathlete
 * Kathy May – tennis player
 * Misty May-Treanor – volleyball player
 * MC Eiht – actor, rapper
 * MC Hammer – musician
 * MC Ren – rapper
 * MC Ride – rapper
 * Leigh McCloskey – actor, artist (Dallas)
 * Pete McCloskey – politician
 * Willie McCool – astronaut, killed in Space Shuttle Columbia disaster
 * Maureen McCormick – actress
 * Jennette McCurdy – actress, singer
 * Audra McDonald – actress and singer
 * Willie McGee – baseball player
 * Ted McGinley – actor
 * Jeremy McGrath – supercross racer
 * Mark McGwire – baseball player
 * Robert McNamara – former United States Secretary of Defense
 * Katharine McPhee – singer, actress
 * Casey Mears – NASCAR driver
 * Edwin Meese – United States Attorney General (1985–88)
 * Rodney Melville – judge
 * Bob Melvin (born 1961) – Major League Baseball player and manager
 * Bridgit Mendler – actress, singer
 * Mike Mentzer – professional bodybuilder and 1979 Mr. Olympia heavyweight champion
 * Lee Meriwether – actress and Miss America
 * Casey Merrill – football running back
 * AJ Michalka – actress, musician
 * Aly Michalka – actress, singer
 * Phil Mickelson – golfer
 * Miguel – singer, producer
 * Johnny Miller – golfer and TV commentator
 * Jon Miller – sportscaster
 * Marisa Miller – supermodel
 * Penelope Ann Miller – actress
 * Reggie Miller – basketball player (Indiana Pacers)
 * Stanley Miller – chemist
 * Norm Mineta – US Secretary of Commerce and Transportation
 * Liza Minnelli – singer and actress (Cabaret)
 * Shay Mitchell – actress (Pretty Little Liars)
 * Ron Mix (born 1938), Hall of Fame football player
 * Marilyn Monroe – sex symbol, actress (Some Like It Hot)
 * Elizabeth Montgomery – actress (Bewitched)
 * Shemar Moore – actor
 * Terry Moore – actress (Mighty Joe Young)
 * Alex Morgan – United States women's national soccer team striker
 * John Morrison – wrestler
 * George Moscone – Mayor of San Francisco
 * Jon Moscot (born 1991) – Major League Baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds
 * Shane Mosley (born 1971) – boxer
 * Merrill Moses (born 1977) – Olympic medalist water polo player
 * Elisabeth Moss – actress
 * Bethany Mota – youtuber
 * Mr. Capone-E – rapper
 * Jason Mraz – singer, musician
 * Megan Mullally – actress
 * Marcus Mumford – singer, musician (Mumford & Sons)
 * Bill Mumy – child actor (Lost in Space)
 * Noah Munck – actor (iCarly)
 * Eddie Murray – baseball player (Baltimore Orioles)
 * Lenda Murray – IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Dave Mustaine – musician (Megadeth)

N



 * Sam Nahem (1915–2004) – Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Anna Nalick – singer-songwriter
 * Lorenzo Neal – Pro Bowl football player
 * Jeff Newman – MLB All-Star baseball player and manager
 * Laraine Newman – comedian, actress, voice artist
 * Randy Newman – composer, musician
 * Gavin Newsom – Mayor of San Francisco (2004–2011)
 * Joanna Newsom – singer, harpist
 * Richard Nixon – 37th President of the United States
 * Lyn Nofziger – author, journalist and White House Press Secretary (under Ronald Reagan)
 * Isamu Noguchi – artist
 * Bradley Nowell – singer, musician (Sublime)

O

 * Dagmar Oakland – stage and screen actress
 * Willis O'Brien – film special-effects artist
 * Frank Ocean – singer (Odd Future)
 * Lefty O'Doul – baseball player
 * Larisa Oleynik – actress
 * Edward James Olmos – actor
 * Elizabeth Olsen – actress
 * Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen – actresses and entrepreneurs
 * Igor Olshansky (born 1982) – National Football League player
 * Omarion – musician, singer
 * Ryan O'Neal – actor
 * Tatum O'Neal – actress
 * Heather O'Rourke – actress
 * Emily Osment – actress, singer
 * Haley Joel Osment – actor
 * Jimmy Osmond − singer

P

 * Carson Palmer – football quarterback
 * Gwyneth Paltrow – actress
 * Cathey Palyo – IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Leon Panetta – White House Chief of Staff and Secretary of Defense
 * Jon Pardi – singer, musician
 * Jerry Paris – director and actor (The Dick Van Dyke Show)
 * Grace Park – actress (Battlestar Galactica, Hawaii Five-0)
 * Richard Park – ice hockey forward, New York Islanders
 * Harry Partch – composer
 * Audrina Patridge – television personality, television presenter, actress, and model
 * George S. Patton – military commander
 * Paula Patton – actress
 * Jake Paul – YouTuber
 * Logan Paul – Youtuber
 * Corey Pavin – golfer
 * Sara Paxton – actress, singer
 * Gary Payton – professional basketball player
 * Gregory Peck – actor
 * Sam Peckinpah – film director
 * Joc Pederson – baseball player
 * Dustin Pedroia – baseball player
 * Chris Penn – actor
 * Sean Penn – actor
 * Stacy Peralta – skateboarder, surfer and movie director
 * Melina Perez – professional wrestler
 * Bradley Steven Perry – actor
 * Katy Perry – singer
 * Michelle Pfeiffer – actress
 * Paul Pierce – professional basketball player
 * Kevin Pillar – baseball player
 * Chris Pine – actor
 * Drew Pinsky – radio and television personality, physician, addiction medicine specialist
 * Jim Plunkett – football quarterback (Oakland Raiders)
 * Whitney Port – television personality, fashion designer, and author
 * Chad Power – martial artist
 * Stefanie Powers – actress
 * Tristan Prettyman – singer, musician
 * Tayshaun Prince – professional basketball player (Detroit Pistons)
 * Freddie Prinze Jr. – actor
 * Jade Puget – musician (AFI)

Q

 * Kathleen Quinlan – actress

R

 * Scott Radinsky – Major League Baseball player and coach
 * Frances Rafferty – actress
 * Max Rafferty – former California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, author and columnist
 * Ronald Reagan – Governor of California (1967–1975), former actor, and 40th President of the United States
 * Robert Redford – actor and director
 * Mason Reese – child actor
 * Autumn Reeser – actress (The O.C.)
 * Andy Reid – football coach
 * Maria Remenyi – Miss USA 1966
 * Jeremy Renner – actor
 * Dane Reynolds – professional surfer (Quiksilver)
 * Christina Ricci – actress (The Addams Family)
 * Robert Ri'chard – actor
 * Ariana Richards – actress
 * Michael Richards – actor (Seinfeld)
 * Nicole Richie – actress
 * Sally Ride – astronaut (STS-7 and STS-41-G)
 * Isiah Rider – basketball player
 * Cathy Rigby – gymnast and actress (Peter Pan)
 * Molly Ringwald – actress
 * Jason Ritter – actor (son of John Ritter; grandson of Tex Ritter)
 * Jenni Rivera – singer
 * Naya Rivera – actress and singer
 * Tim Robbins – actor
 * Tony Robbins – life coach
 * Julia Robinson – mathematician
 * Sam Rockwell – actor
 * Aaron Rodgers – NFL quarterback Green Bay Packers
 * Dana Rohrabacher – member of the United States House of Representatives
 * Jimmy Rollins – baseball player
 * Jim Rome – sports radio host
 * Rebecca Romijn – model, actress
 * Tony Romo – football quarterback
 * Al Rosen – Major League Baseball MVP; four-time All Star
 * Kyla Ross – 2012 Olympic gold medalist (artistic gymnastics)
 * Alexander Rossi – racing driver
 * Josiah Royce – philosopher
 * Pete Rozelle – NFL commissioner
 * Bill Russell – basketball player
 * Keri Russell – actress
 * Rene Russo – actress
 * Marla Ruzicka – activist (Green Party)

S

 * Sabi – singer
 * Sage the Gemini – rapper
 * Daniel Samohin (born 1998) – Israeli Olympic figure skater
 * Monte Scheinblum (born 1967), 1992 US and world long-driving golf champion
 * Arnold Schwarzenegger – Austrian-American actor, former bodybuilder, businessman, and former Governor of California (2003–2011)
 * Patrick Schwarzenegger – actor, model, and son of Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger
 * Jason Schwartzman – actor
 * Tom Seaver (born 1944) – baseball player
 * Logan Seavey – racing driver
 * Jason Segel – actor, comedian, screenwriter, author
 * Vic Seixas (born 1923) – Hall of Fame former top-10 tennis player
 * Edgar Seligman (1867–1958) – San Francisco-born British six-time fencing champion and two-time Olympic fencing medalist
 * Ryan Sherriff (born 1990) – Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Larry Sherry (1935–2006) – baseball pitcher
 * O. J. Simpson (born 1947) – retired football player (Buffalo Bills), actor, and convicted felon
 * Skeme – rapper
 * Skrillex – DJ, musician
 * Bob Smale – pianist
 * Cameron Smith – college football player USC Trojans
 * Duke Snider – baseball player
 * Brenda Song – actress
 * Song Oh-kyun – activist
 * Mark Spitz (born 1950) – Olympic nine-time gold medalist swimmer
 * John Stamos – actor
 * Leland Stanford – railroad tycoon
 * John Steinbeck – author (East of Eden, Of Mice and Men)
 * Daniel Steres (born 1990) – professional soccer player with the LA Galaxy
 * Brett Sterling (born 1984) – ice hockey player
 * Kristen Stewart – actress
 * Lindsey Stirling – violinist
 * Robert Stock (born 1989) – MLB baseball pitcher
 * Spencer Stone – United States Air Force staff sergeant known for stopping a gunman in a Paris-bound train from Amsterdam via Brussels; author of The 15:17 To Paris
 * Darryl Strawberry – baseball player
 * Suga Free – rapper
 * Stephen Swartz – singer, musician
 * Jodie Sweetin – actress

T

 * Aundreay Thompson – Japanese-American actor ([[Star Trek)
 * Amber Tamblyn – actress (Joan of Arcadia)
 * Russ Tamblyn – actor (West Side Story)
 * Amy Tan – writer (The Joy Luck Club)
 * Scout Taylor-Compton – actress (Halloween)
 * Brian Teacher – tennis player (ranked as high as # 7); Australian Open champion; and coach
 * TeeFlii – rapper, producer
 * Aimee Teegarden – actress, model
 * Rowdy Tellez – baseball player
 * Eliot Teltscher – tennis player
 * Shirley Temple – child film star, former US Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia
 * Zack Test – rugby union player
 * Reggie Theus – basketball player and coach
 * Robin Thicke – singer
 * Joanna Thomas – IFBB professional bodybuilder
 * Klay Thompson – basketball player
 * Pat Tillman – football player and soldier
 * Jennifer Tilly – actress
 * Tinashe – singer
 * Kenneth Tobey – actor
 * Alessandra Torresani – actress
 * Alan Trammell – baseball player
 * Danny Trejo – actor
 * Lisa Tucker – singer
 * Justin Turner – baseball player
 * Tyga – rapper
 * Aisha Tyler – actress
 * Tyler, The Creator – rapper, record producer (Odd Future)

U

 * Chase Utley – baseball player

V

 * Jasmine V – singer
 * Ritchie Valens – singer
 * Karen Valentine – actress
 * Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo – Mexican general, American politician
 * Elle Varner – singer
 * Jhonen Vasquez – comic-book writer and artist
 * Casey Veggies – rapper
 * Stephen Venard – lawman
 * Julieta Venegas – singer, musician
 * Ken Venturi – golfer
 * Gwen Verdon – actress
 * Victoria Vetri – model and actress
 * Robert M. Viale – US Medal of Honor recipient
 * Antonio Villaraigosa – 51st Mayor of Los Angeles
 * Roy Marlin Voris – World War II flying ace and founder of the United States Navy Blue Angels

W

 * Lindsay Wagner – actress
 * Paul Walker – actor (Fast & Furious)
 * Bill Walsh – football coach
 * Laurie Walters – actress (Eight Is Enough)
 * Bill Walton – Hall of Fame basketball player
 * Luke Walton – basketball player
 * Andre Ward – 2004 Summer Olympics gold medal-winning boxer
 * Earl Warren – 30th Governor of California, 14th Chief Justice of the United States (1953–1969)
 * Ryn Weaver – singer
 * Caspar Weinberger – United States Secretary of Defense
 * Phil Weintraub (1907–1987) – Major League Baseball first baseman & outfielder
 * Bob Weir – musician (Grateful Dead)
 * Zack Weiss (born 1992) – Major League Baseball player
 * Brian Welch – musician, guitarist (Korn)
 * Russell Westbrook – basketball player
 * Jill Whelan – actress (Airplane!)
 * Stephen Girard Whipple – 49er, newspaper editor, Union Army officer, and politician
 * Shaun White – snowboarder
 * Brandon Whitt – NASCAR driver
 * Sidney Wicks – basketball player
 * will.i.am – rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, actor, and member of The Black Eyed Peas
 * Emily Williams – early 20th-century architect
 * Esther Williams – actress
 * John Williams – composer
 * Paul Williams – architect
 * Serena Williams – tennis player
 * Ted Williams – Hall of Fame baseball player
 * Venus Williams – tennis player
 * Dontrelle Willis – baseball player (Florida Marlins)
 * Helen Wills – tennis player
 * Brian Wilson – musician (The Beach Boys)
 * Carl Wilson – musician (The Beach Boys)
 * Rita Wilson – actress
 * Ariel Winter – actress (Modern Family)
 * Josh Wise – NASCAR driver
 * Tamara Witmer – model
 * Zachary Wohlman – boxer
 * Victor Wong – actor (Big Trouble in Little China)
 * Victor Wong – actor (King Kong)
 * Kevin Woo – singer, television personality (U-Kiss)
 * Beatrice Wood – artist
 * Natalie Wood – actress (This Property Is Condemned)
 * David Woodard – conductor and writer
 * John Wooden – college basketball coach
 * Cynthia Woodhead – swimmer
 * Shailene Woodley – actress
 * Tiger Woods – golfer
 * Steve Wozniak – inventor of the Apple Computer

Y

 * Kristi Yamaguchi – professional figure skater
 * Elliott Yamin – singer
 * "Weird Al" Yankovic – parodist, musician
 * Steve Yeager (born 1948) – Major League Baseball catcher
 * YG – rapper
 * Charlyne Yi – actress, comedian
 * Tina Yothers – actress (Family Ties)
 * Kevin Youkilis – All Star Major League Baseball player
 * Adrian Young – No Doubt's drummer
 * Emily Mae Young – actress
 * Nick Young – professional basketball player
 * Young Noble – rapper
 * Joon Yun – radiologist

Z

 * Frank J. Zamboni – inventor
 * Joanna Zeiger (born 1970) – Olympic and world champion triathlete, and author
 * Zendaya – actress, singer
 * Anthony Zerbe – actor
 * Zoya – folk singer
 * Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. – Chief of Naval Operations
 * Daphne Zuniga – actress

Musical groups

 * Adema – nu metal band
 * AFI – rock band
 * Alien Ant Farm – rock band
 * As I Lay Dying – metal band
 * Atreyu – metalcore band
 * Audioslave – rock band
 * Avenged Sevenfold – metal band
 * Bad Religion – punk band
 * The Bangles – pop band
 * The Beach Boys – pop band
 * The Bird and the Bee – indie duo
 * Black Flag – hardcore band
 * Blind Melon – psychedelic rock band
 * Blink-182 – pop/punk band
 * Body Count – rap/metal band
 * The Byrds – folk rock band
 * Circle Jerks – punk band
 * Coal Chamber – nu metal band
 * Concrete Blonde – alternative band
 * Counting Crows – rock band
 * Crazy Town – rap/rock band
 * Creedence Clearwater Revival – rock band
 * Cypress Hill – hip hop band
 * Dead Kennedys – rock band
 * Deftones – progressive metal band
 * The Donnas – rock band
 * The Doors – rock band
 * The Eagles – rock band
 * Eels – alternative band
 * Faith No More – alternative band
 * Fear Factory – metal band
 * Fishbone – alternative band
 * Flogging Molly – Celtic punk band
 * Geraldine Fibbers – alternative band
 * Germs – punk band
 * The Go-Go's – pop band
 * The Grateful Dead – folk rock band
 * Green Day – rock band
 * Guns N' Roses – hard rock band
 * Hed PE – rap/rock band
 * Hollywood Undead – rap/metal band
 * Hoobastank – rock band
 * In Fear And Faith – metal band
 * Incubus – rock band
 * Jane's Addiction – alternative band
 * Jefferson Airplane – rock band
 * Journey – rock band
 * Julien-K – synth band
 * Korn – nu metal band
 * Lifehouse – pop rock band
 * Linkin Park – alternative rock band
 * Machine Head – heavy metal band
 * Mad at the World – Christian rock band
 * Maroon 5 – rock band
 * Megadeth – metal band
 * Metallica – metal band
 * Minutemen – punk band
 * The Monkees – pop band
 * Mötley Crüe – hard rock band
 * Mr. Bungle – experimental rock band
 * N.W.A – hip hop group
 * No Doubt – ska-punk band
 * The O.C. Supertones – ska band
 * Of Mice & Men – metalcore band
 * The Offspring – rock band
 * Oingo Boingo – new wave band
 * Orgy – synth
 * Otep – heavy metal band
 * P.O.D. – rock band
 * Papa Roach – rap/metal band
 * Prophets of Rage – rap/metal band
 * Queens of the Stone Age – rock band
 * Rage Against the Machine – rap/metal band
 * Ratt – hard rock band
 * Red Hot Chili Peppers – rock band
 * Sixx:A.M. – rock band
 * Slayer – metal band
 * Snot – rock band
 * Social Distortion – punk band
 * Spineshank – metal band
 * Static-X – industrial metal band
 * Stone Temple Pilots – hard rock band
 * Sublime – ska-punk, dub band
 * Suicidal Tendencies – punk/metal band
 * Suicide Silence – metal band
 * Switchfoot – rock band
 * System of a Down – metal band
 * Tesla – hard rock band
 * Third Eye Blind – rock band
 * Thrice – rock band
 * Tool – progressive metal band
 * Trapt – rock band
 * Van Halen – hard rock band
 * Velvet Revolver – hard rock band
 * The Wallflowers – rock band
 * Weezer – alternative rock band
 * X – alternative/punk band

California transplants

 * Samuel Brannan – newspaper publisher
 * Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo – Spanish explorer
 * César Chávez – labor leader
 * Juan Bautista de Anza – Spanish explorer
 * Gaspar de Portolà – Spanish explorer
 * Larry Ellison – co-founder of Oracle Corporation
 * John C. Frémont – Military Governor of California
 * Domingo Ghirardelli – chocolateer (Ghirardelli Chocolate Company)
 * Chick Hearn – National Basketball Association announcer for the Los Angeles Lakers
 * William Redington Hewlett – co-founder of Hewlett-Packard
 * Bob Hope – actor, singer, comedian
 * Steve Jurvetson – venture capitalist (a managing director of Draper Fisher Jurvetson)
 * James Lick – real estate baron
 * Steve Martin – actor, author, comedian and director
 * Johnny Mathis – singer ("Chances Are")
 * Fritz Maytag – former owner of Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco; Chairman of the Board of the Maytag Dairy Farms
 * Thomas Mesereau – criminal defense lawyer
 * Joe Montana – National Football League quarterback
 * Joe Morgan – baseball player
 * John Muir – naturalist
 * Joshua A. Norton – British self-proclaimed "Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico"
 * Buck Owens – country music performer
 * Ronald Reagan – actor and 40th President of the United States
 * Jackie Robinson – Baseball Hall of Famer who broke Major League Baseball's 20th-century color line
 * Carlos Santana – Mexican musician
 * Michael Savage – author, political commentator and radio host
 * Charles M. Schulz – cartoonist
 * Arnold Schwarzenegger – Governor of California, actor, and bodybuilder
 * Vin Scully – announcer for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers
 * Glenn T. Seaborg – chemist
 * Junipero Serra – Spanish missionary
 * Steven Spielberg – director
 * Leland Stanford – railroad baron, Governor of California, founder of Stanford University
 * Ken Starr – lawyer, university law dean
 * Levi Strauss – Bavarian clothing manufacturer
 * John Sutter – Swiss real estate baron
 * Mark Twain – humorist and author
 * Lars Ulrich – musician (Metallica)
 * Sarah Winchester – heiress, eccentric, builder of the Winchester Mystery House
 * Charles Wood – musical theatre performer (original Hortensio in Cole Porter's 1948 Broadway musical Kiss Me, Kate)
 * Chuck Yeager – US Air Force test pilot
 * Ace Young – singer
 * Steve Young – National Football League quarterback