Every year, thousands of foreigners become U.S. citizens through naturalization, while others give up their citizenship, most often due to tax payments. Today, we will present five well-known cases to you:
- Tina Turner
The talented singer, who is native of Tennessee, moved to Switzerland in 1994, following Erwin Bach, her partner. In 2013, she renounced her U.S. citizenship to become a Swiss citizen.
- Elizabeth Taylor
Not everyone knows this, but Taylor was born in London in 1932. However, being the daughter of American parents, she acquired their nationality at birth.
In 1965, she renounced in writing her loyalty to the United States. 12 years later, she changed her mind and regained her former nationality in order to marry Sen. John Warner (her seventh marriage).
- T. S. Eliot
The popular poet T. S. Eliot was born in Mississippi, but lived his adulthood in the U.K., where he went to study at the University of Oxford. In 1927, he renounced his original passport and became British.
- Maria Callas
Callas was born in New York, and she is possibly one of the most famous opera singers of all time. She gave up her citizenship in the 60s to acquire the Greek one, because her ancestors came from Greece.
- Josephine Baker
In the 20s, the great African American dancer and singer from southern United States, Josephine Baker, renounced her citizenship to become French. This was due to the fact that she was a victim of racial discrimination.