Table tennis has a reputation as a basement game, but a surprising number of famous names treat it as a genuine passion, not just a party trick for a talk show segment. Musicians, actors, athletes, and even a former head of state have shown up at tables around the world, and a few have put real money and time behind the sport. Here are 10 celebrities whose connection to table tennis goes beyond a single viral clip.
Justin Bieber
Bieber has talked about table tennis for years, and clips of him playing at a genuinely fast, competitive pace have circulated widely. He has taken part in celebrity ping pong events and is regularly named as one of the most visibly enthusiastic table tennis fans in music.
Drake
Drake has spoken publicly about playing table tennis against Michael Jordan and about how competitive Jordan was at the table, a story that has been repeated in interviews over the years. Table tennis shows up often enough in his social media and studio downtime that it's become a known part of his off-stage routine.
Michael Jordan
One of the biggest names in sports history, Jordan is also known among friends and collaborators as an extremely competitive table tennis player. Multiple people who have played him, including other celebrities, describe the same thing: he treats a casual game exactly like he treated Game 7.
Barack Obama
During a 2010 visit, Obama and then British Prime Minister David Cameron played a well-documented, widely photographed game of table tennis together, a moment that became a small symbol of the two leaders' rapport. It remains one of the most recognized political table tennis moments of the last two decades.
Bill Gates
Gates has been a longtime table tennis fan and has attended major international events, including exhibitions alongside professional players. His interest in the sport predates most of his public tech commentary and has stayed consistent over the years.
Susan Sarandon
Sarandon is arguably the most significant celebrity advocate table tennis has ever had. In 2009 she co-founded SPiN, a chain of ping pong social clubs that helped bring the sport into a nightlife and social setting in cities across North America, and she has continued to promote the game at exhibitions and tournaments since.
George Clooney
Clooney has been described by friends and colleagues as a genuine table tennis fan, with the sport reportedly a fixture of his downtime on set and at home. He's part of a long tradition of actors who keep a table close by between takes.
Daniel Radcliffe
The Harry Potter star has spoken in interviews about his love of table tennis, calling it one of his favorite ways to unwind. His enthusiasm for the sport has made him a recognizable name among actors who play seriously rather than casually.
Michael Bublé
Bublé has publicly discussed his love of table tennis on multiple occasions, describing it as a genuine hobby rather than an occasional party activity. It's one of the more consistently mentioned personal interests he brings up outside of music.
David Beckham
Beckham, one of the most recognized athletes and global celebrities alive, has been associated with table tennis through public appearances and events over the years. His involvement helps put the sport in front of an audience that might otherwise never think about it.
What This Says About Table Tennis
None of these names need table tennis for attention. They already have money, fame, and access to pretty much any sport or hobby they want. The fact that they keep coming back to a ping pong table anyway says something real about the game itself: it's fast, social, easy to pick up in a hallway or a basement, and genuinely fun to be competitive at, whether you're a global pop star or a weekend club player.
That's also exactly why table tennis works so well as a lifelong sport rather than a passing trend. It rewards quick hands and sharp reflexes as much as raw athleticism, which is part of why it appeals across such a wide range of ages and backgrounds. If you're curious what separates a casual player from someone who can hang with serious competition, our guide on technique and mental game fundamentals is a good next read.