# List of people from Croatia

The following is a list of prominent individuals who are or were Croatian citizens or of Croatian ancestry.

## Art
### Architecture

* Viktor Axmann – architect, Jewish
* Nikola Bašić – architect
* Vjekoslav Bastl – architect
* Julio Deutsch – architect, art nouveau style,
* Hugo Ehrlich – architect, Jewish
* Ignjat Fischer – architect, Jewish
* Stjepan Gomboš – architect, Jewish
* Vjekoslav Heinzel
* Leo Hönigsberg – architect, Jewish
* Lavoslav Horvat
* Drago Ibler
* Viktor Kovačić – architect
* Slavko Löwy – architect, Jewish
* Rudolf Lubinski – architect, Jewish
* Paskoje Miličević Mihov – architect
* Vlado Milunić – architect
* Juraj Neidhardt – architect
* Velimir Neidhardt – architect
* Stjepan Planić – architect
* Vjenceslav Richter – architect
* Vladimir Šterk – architect, Jewish
* Anđeo Lovrov Zadranin – architect

### Sculpture

* Antun Augustinčić
* Lujo Bezeredi
* Andrija Buvina
* Ante Dabro
* Juraj Dalmatinac
* Branislav Dešković
* Ivan Duknović
* Dušan Džamonja
* Robert Frangeš-Mihanović
* Ivo Kerdić
* Albert Kinert
* Ivan Kožarić
* Frano Kršinić
* Vasko Lipovac
* Ivan Meštrović
* Oscar Nemon
* Dimitrije Popović
* Kosta Angeli Radovani
* Vanja Radauš
* Master Radovan
* Ivan Rendić
* Toma Rosandić
* Branko Ružić
* Ivan Sabolić
* Petar Smajić
* Aleksandar Srnec
* Marija Ujević-Galetović
* Maksimilijan Vanka
* Franjo Vranjanin

### Painting

* Oskar Alexander
* Lovro Artuković
* Vladimir Becić
* Federico Bencovich
* Lujo Bezeredi
* Charles Billich
* Nikola Božidarević
* Vlaho Bukovac
* Eugen Buktenica
* Bela Čikoš Sesija – painter, representative of symbolism: art-deco and art nouveau
* Menci Clement Crnčić
* Josip Crnobori
* Lovro Dobričević
* Jelena Dorotka
* Davor Džalto
* Marta Ehrlich
* Emerik Feješ
* Eva Fischer
* Alen Floričić
* Dragan Gaži
* Vilko Gecan
* Ivan Generalić – naïve art
* Josip Generalić
* Oton Gliha
* Petar Grgec
* Krsto Hegedušić
* Oskar Herman
* Josip Horvat Međimurec
* Mirko Ilić – cartoonist, graphic designer
* Nina Ivančić
* Oton Iveković
* Marijan Jevšovar
* Ignjat Job
* Drago Jurak
* Gabrijel Jurkić
* Vjekoslav Karas
* John of Kastav
* Albert Kinert
* Željko Kipke
* Mira Klobučar
* Juraj Julije Klović – portrait miniatures
* Tripo Kokolja
* Edo Kovačević
* Mijo Kovačić
* Ladislav Kralj
* Miroslav Kraljević
* Živa Kraus
* Kristian Kreković
* Vlado Kristl
* Tomislav Krizman
* Izidor Kršnjavi
* Ferdinand Kulmer
* Ivan Lacković Croata – naïve art
* Loren Ligorio
* Vasko Lipovac
* Zvonimir Lončarić
* Dora Maar – photographer, painter, model
* Andrija Maurović – illustrator
* Mato Celestin Medović
* Martin Mehkek
* Ivan Milat-Luketa
* Jerolim Miše
* Antun Motika
* Franjo Mraz
* Edo Murtić
* Virgilije Nevjestić
* Vera Nikolić Podrinska
* Alfred Pal
* Ordan Petlevski
* Ivan Picelj
* Dimitrije Popović
* Oton Postružnik
* Ivan Rabuzin – naïve art
* Josip Račić
* Mirko Rački
* Božidar Rašica
* Slava Raškaj
* Ivan Rein
* Martino Rota
* Đuro Seder
* Zlatko Sirotić
* Matija Skurjeni
* Petar Smajić
* Aleksandar Srnec
* Miljenko Stančić
* Slavko Stolnik
* Zlatko Šulentić
* Miroslav Šutej
* Marino Tartaglia
* Đuro Tiljak
* Ivan Tišov
* Lavoslav Torti
* Marijan Trepše
* Ana Tzarev – naïve art
* Milivoj Uzelac – painter
* Maksimilijan Vanka
* Vladimir Varlaj
* Ivan Večenaj
* Matko Vekić
* Mladen Veža – illustrator
* Emanuel Vidović
* Mirko Virius – naïve art
* Adolf Waldinger
* Viktor Đerek – photographer

### Film and theatre

* Ante Babaja
* Steve Bacic
* Relja Bašić – actor
* Branko Bauer
* George Beban – actor, director, writer and producer
* Ena Begović
* Mia Begović
* Rene Bitorajac
* Mirjana Bohanec
* Slavko Brankov
* Vinko Brešan – director
* Veljko Bulajić – ethnic Montenegrin film director
* Zlatko Burić – actor
* Boris Buzančić – actor
* Nathaniel Buzolic – actor
* Al Christy – actor
* Petra Cicvarić
* Christina Cindrich – television producer, host, and actress
* Zlatko Crnković – actor
* Zrinka Cvitešić
* Nataša Dorčić
* Vanja Drach
* Claire Du Brey – actress
* Vlatko Dulić – actor
* Boris Dvornik – actor
* Jenna Elfman – television and movie actress
* Stipe Erceg – actor
* Nela Eržišnik – actress, comedian
* Judah Friedlander – actor and comedian
* Mira Furlan – actress (Babylon 5, Lost)
* Gallagher – comedian and prop comic
* Gianni Garko - actor
* Stanka Gjurić – actress, writer, filmmaker
* Emil Glad
* Ratko Glavina
* Obrad Gluščević
* Ljupka Gojić – model
* Krešo Golik
* Frank Gorshin – actor and comedian
* Ivo Gregurević
* Gloria Grey – screen, stage actress and director
* Goran Grgić
* Rajko Grlić
* Fedor Hanžeković
* Ivan Herceg – actor
* Werner Herzog – film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director
* Alaina Huffman
* Željko Ivanek – actor
* Nives Ivanković
* Anne Jackson – actress
* Nataša Janjić
* Toni Jeričević
* Anthony Jeselnik – comedian
* Mladen Juran
* Sena Jurinac
* Jagoda Kaloper
* Saby Kamalich
* Sonja Kastl
* Donna Kelce - actor
* Ljubomir Kerekeš
* Michael Klesic – actor
* Matija Kluković
* Sylva Koscina – actress, model
* Mario Kovač – theatre and film director
* Robert Kurbaša
* Frano Lasić
* John G. Lenic
* Rachel Leskovac – actress
* Edvin Liverić
* Leon Lučev
* Branko Lustig – film producer (winner of two Oscar awards)
* Franjo Majetić
* John Malkovich
* Dalibor Matanić
* Nevio Marasović
* Branko Marjanović
* Ante Čedo Martinić
* Stojan Matavulj
* Mark Matkevich – actor
* Rene Medvešek
* Sven Medvešek
* Oktavijan Miletić
* Ivana Miličević – actress
* Vatroslav Mimica
* Ildy Modrovich – television producer, writer and singer
* Nina Morić – model
* Patrick Muldoon – actor
* Lorenzo Music – actor, voice actor, writer, television producer and musician
* Antun Nalis – actor
* Bojan Navojec
* Maja Nekić
* Antonio Nuić
* Zrinko Ogresta
* Marija Omaljev-Grbić
* Mia Oremović
* Krsto Papić – film director
* Leona Paraminski
* Frank Pavich – film director, producer
* Stjepan Perić
* Anton Perich – filmmaker, photographer and video artist
* Edo Peročević – actor, radio speaker
* Žarko Potočnjak
* Alma Prica
* Ivica Rajković - cinematographer
* Zvonimir Rogoz – actor
* Rick Rossovich – actor
* Branko Schmidt
* Lucija Šerbedžija
* Ivo Serdar
* Shaun Sipos – actor
* Joseph Sirola - actor and producer
* Marija Škaričić
* Mia Čorak Slavenska – prima ballerina
* Tonko Soljan – film and television producer
* Fabijan Šovagović – actor
* Filip Šovagović
* Gabriela Spanic – actress
* Lita Stantic – producer, screenplay writer, and director
* Nera Stipičević
* Yvonne Suhor – actress
* Ognjen Sviličić
* Nikola Tanhofer
* Vanessa Terkes – actress, TV show host in Latin America; her grandfather Cvjetko was Croatian
* Ivica Vidović
* Goran Višnjić – actor (ER)
* Zlatko Vitez
* Antun Vrdoljak – film director
* Severina Vučković – entertainer, actress
* Dianne Wiest – American actress
* Anthony Yerkovich – television producer and writer
* Matthew Yuricich – special effects artist
* Richard Yuricich – special visual effects artist
* Lordan Zafranović
* Louis Zorich – American actor
* Jim Zulevic – actor, comedian, TV writer, and radio host

### Media

* Lidia Bastianich – American celebrity chef, television host, author, and restaurateur
* Adrian Chiles – British television and radio presenter
* Slavica Ecclestone – British-Croatian former model
* Robert Herjavec – Canadian businessman, investor, author, dancer, and television personality from Shark Tank
* Bill Kurtis – journalist, television reporter, producer
* Katie Pavlich – American conservative commentator, author, blogger, podcaster
* Goran Milić – worked in HRT, now works in Al Jazeera
* Tony Robbins – American life coach, self-help author and motivational speaker
* Teresa Scanlan – Miss America 2011
* Petra Stunt – British designer
* Vladimir Herzog – Croatian born Brazilian journalist

## Academics
### History

* James Belich – historian
* Julije Kempf – historian, writer
* Nada Klaić – historian
* Vjekoslav Klaić – historian
* Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski – historian
* Ivan Lučić – historian
* Dominik Mandić – historian
* Franjo Rački – historian
* Ivan Ratkaj – historian, Jesuit, explorer
* Juraj Ratkaj – historian
* Ferdo Šišić – historian
* Ludovicus Tubero – historian

### Invention

* Zlata Bartl – inventor of Vegeta
* Josip Belušić – inventor
* Franjo Hannaman – inventor, engineer
* Marcel Kiepach – inventor
* Mario Kovač – computer engineering professor and inventor
* Ferdinand Kovačević – inventor
* Giovanni Luppis – inventor of the torpedo
* Slavoljub Eduard Penkala – inventor
* Andrija Puharich - medical and parapsychological researcher, medical inventor, physician and author
* Mario Puratić – inventor who made major advances in fishing technology
* Ralph Sarich – inventor of the orbital engine
* David Schwarz – aviation pioneer of Jewish ancestry
* Marin Soljačić – inventor of wireless energy transfer
* Ante Šupuk – engineer
* Tomislav Uzelac – programmer, inventor of the first successful MP3 player
* Faust Vrančić – inventor of the parachute
* Ivan Vučetić – inventor of dactyloscopy

### Social science

* Ivan Belostenec – lexicographer
* Juraj Dobrila – cleric, benefactor
* Elsie Ivancich Dunin – cultural ethnologist, author, professor, choreographer
* Krešimir Filić – historian and museologist
* Ljudevit Gaj – linguist, reformer
* Vatroslav Jagić – philologist
* Milan Kangrga – philosopher
* Bartol Kašić – lexicographer
* Juraj Križanić – social philosopher
* Franjo Kuhač – folklorist, ethnologist
* Jakov Mikalja – linguist and lexicographer
* Miroslav Radman – genetic biologist
* Stanislav Pavao Skalić – encyclopedist, adventurer
* Rudolf Steiner – philosopher
* Josip Juraj Strossmayer – cleric, benefactor
* Rudi Supek – philosopher
* Henry Suzzallo – educator
* Ante Topić-Mimara – art collector
* Vinko Žganec – folklorist, ethnomusicologist

### Science

* Gaja Alaga – physicist
* Giorgio Baglivi – physician and scientist from Ragusa
* Antun Karlo Bakotić – physicist and writer
* Mladen Bestvina – mathematician
* Ruđer Bošković – theologian, physicist, astronomer, mathematician, philosopher, diplomat, poet, Jesuit and polymath
* Branko Bošnjaković – physicist, environmentalist
* Fran Bošnjaković – engineer, physicist
* Juraj Božičević – engineer
* Frane Bulić – archaeologist
* Predrag Cvitanović – physicist
* Milislav Demerec – biologist
* Andrija Dudić – naturalist, astronomer, physician
* William Feller – mathematician
* Andrija Fuderer – chemist, chess player
* Artur Gavazzi – geographer
* Marin Getaldić – physicist, mathematician
* Vladimir Jurko Glaser – physicist
* Dragutin Gorjanović-Kramberger – geologist, paleoanthropologist and paleontologist
* Stjepan Gradić – mathematician, philosopher, physicist, writer and polymath
* Mirko Dražen Grmek – physician, science writer and historian
* Branko Horvat – economist
* Željko Ivezić – astrophysicist
* Zvonimir Janko – mathematician
* Korado Korlević – astronomer, asteroid discoverer
* Oton Kučera – mathematician, physicist
* Zvonko Kusić – physician
* Jacob Matijevic – NASA engineer
* Eduard Miloslavić – physician
* Andrija Mohorovičić – geophysicist
* Stjepan Mohorovičić – physicist
* Grga Novak – archaeologist, historian
* Franjo Petriš – philosopher, humanist, writer and polymath
* Đuro Pilar – geologist
* Stjepan Poljak – physician
* Eduard Prugovečki – physicist, writer
* Miroslav Radman – biologist
* Paško Rakić – neuroscientist
* Goran Senjanović – physicist
* Zvonimir Šeparović – lawyer, (victimology)
* Ante Šercer – physician
* Mihalj Šilobod Bolšić – Roman Catholic priest, mathematician, writer, and musical theorist who wrote the first Croatian arithmetic textbook
* Marin Soljačić – physicist
* Andrija Štampar – physician, diplomat
* Marijan Šunjić – physicist
* Ivan Supek – physicist, philosopher
* Ćiro Truhelka – archaeologist and art historian
* Vladimir Varičak – mathematician, physicist
* Mirko Vidaković – forester, botanist
* Nikola Vitov Gučetić – statesmen, philosopher, science writer
* Zoran Vondraček - mathematician
* Faust Vrančić – philosopher, thinker
* Vladimir Vranić – mathematician
* Juan Vucetich – anthropologist, police official who pioneered fingerprinting
* Vladimir Žerjavić – statistician, economist

## Nobel Prize

* Ivo Andrić – literature
* Paul L. Modrich – chemistry
* Vladimir Prelog – chemistry
* Lavoslav Ružička – chemistry

## Music
### Composers

* Julije Bajamonti – composer
* Krešimir Baranović
* Blagoje Bersa – composer
* Jakov Gotovac – composer
* Josip Hatze
* Milan Horvat
* Ivo Josipović – composer, 3rd President of Croatia
* Igor Kuljerić – composer, conductor
* Fran Lhotka
* Clair Marlo – composer, real name Clara Veseliza
* Lovro von Matačić
* Johnny Mercer – American lyricist, singer-songwriter; co-founder of Capitol Records
* Lav Mirski
* Ivan Padovec – composer
* Boris Papandopulo – conductor, composer
* Dora Pejačević – composer
* Milan Sachs
* Luka Sorkočević – composer
* Franz von Suppé – composer of light operas, born and raised in the Kingdom of Dalmatia
* Josip Štolcer-Slavenski – composer
* Stjepan Šulek – composer
* Vjekoslav Šutej
* Ivo Tijardović – composer
* Ivan Zajc – composer

### Classical

* Zlatko Baloković – violinist
* Max Emanuel Cenčić – countertenor
* Valter Dešpalj – cellist
* Sena Jurinac – opera singer
* Franjo Krežma – violinist
* Stephen Kovacevich – classical pianist
* Ivo Maček – pianist
* Lovro von Matačić – conductor
* Zinka Kunc-Milanov – soprano
* Maksim Mrvica – pianist
* Tomislav Mužek – tenor
* Ivo Pogorelić – pianist
* Ema Pukšec (Ilma De Murska) – opera singer
* Ruža Pospiš-Baldani – mezzo-soprano
* Vjekoslav Šutej – conductor
* Milka Trnina – soprano
* Dunja Vejzović – soprano
* Ana Vidović – guitarist
* Dubravka Zubović – opera singer and voice teacher

### Popular

* 2Cellos – cellist duo
* Baby Lasagna - singer, songwriter, music producer and guitarist
* Lidija Bajuk – musician
* Zvonko Bogdan – singer and performer of traditional folk songs
* Michael Bublé – singer
* Mate Bulić – singer
* Tony Butala – singer of The Lettermen
* Colonia – dance music group
* Arsen Dedić – composer and singer
* Veljko Despot – discographer
* Darko Domijan – singer
* Oliver Dragojević – singer
* Doris Dragović – singer
* Sergio Endrigo – singer
* Flyer – band
* Gibonni – singer
* Davor Gobac – singer
* Grše – rapper
* Bobby Grubic – songwriter/composer, singer, music director and producer
* Stjepan Hauser – cellist
* Dino Jelusić – rock singer, musician, and songwriter
* Delo Jusic – composer
* Tereza Kesovija – singer
* Mišo Kovač
* Josipa Lisac – singer
* Lorde – singer-songwriter, real name Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor
* Radoslav Lorković – folk and blues singer, pianist, accordionist
* Magazin – pop band
* Clair Marlo – singer-songwriter,composer,record producer, real name Clara Veseliza
* Miljenko Matijevic – rock singer (Steelheart)
* Miach – singer
* Branko Mihaljević – composer, writer, journalist and radio editor
* Sandra Mihanovich – singer, musician, and composer
* Guy Mitchell – singer (born Albert George Cernik)
* Alan Merrill – vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, actor and model
* Helen Merrill (born Jelena Ana Milčetić) – jazz singer
* Tomo Milicevic – 30 Seconds to Mars
* Paul Mirkovich – musician, musical director
* Milan Mladenović – singer, guitar player
* Drago Mlinarec – rock singer-songwriter
* Larry Muhoberac – American musician, record producer, and composer
* Nikolija – singer
* Boris Novković – pop singer
* Krist Novoselić – rock musician (Nirvana)
* Jurica Pađen – rock singer-songwriter
* David Paich – American musician, best known as the co-founder, principal songwriter, keyboardist and secondary vocalist of the rock band Toto
* Daniella Pavicic – singer-songwriter
* Marko Perković Thompson – rock singer
* Plavka - American singer
* Riva – band, 1989 Eurovision song contest winners
* Ivo Robić – singer
* Darko Rundek – singer and actor
* Saša, Tin i Kedžo – first Croatian boy band
* Krunoslav "Kićo" Slabinac – singer and composer of traditional folk songs
* Jura Stublić – rock singer
* Ivica Šerfezi – singer
* Miroslav Škoro – singer
* Luka Šulić – cellist
* Branimir Štulić (Djoni) – rock singer-songwriter
* The Bambi Molesters – rock band
* Elizabeth Anka Vajagic – singer/guitarist
* Johnny Vidacovich – drummer
* Siniša Vuco – singer
* Severina Vučković – pop singer
* Vice Vukov – singer

## Literature

* Ivo Andrić – novelist, poet and short story writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1961
* Ivan Aralica – writer
* Franjo Babić – writer, journalist
* Zvonimir Balog – poet, writer
* Juraj Baraković – poet
* Milan Begović – writer
* Sabo Bobaljević – poet
* Lukrecija Bogašinović Budmani – poet
* Ivana Brlić-Mažuranić – writer
* Mile Budak – writer
* Dobriša Cesarić – writer
* Milan Crnković – writer
* Džore Držić – poet, playwright
* Blanka Dovjak-Matković – poet, writer
* Slavenka Drakulić – writer, journalist
* Tomislav Dretar – writer, politician, journalist, critic
* Marin Držić – writer
* Ignjat Đurđević – poet, translator, historian, astronomer and Benedict monk
* Viktor Car Emin – writer from Istria
* Filip Erceg – writer and socialist politician
* Đuro Ferić – poet
* Drago Gervais – poet and playwright, paternal French descent
* Đivo Šiškov Gundulić – poet, dramatist and nobleman
* Ksaver Šandor Gjalski – writer
* Stanka Gjurić – poet and essayist
* Ivan Gundulić – Ragusan poet
* Petar Hektorović – writer
* Miljenko Jergović – writer
* Marija Jurić Zagorka – novelist
* Andrija Kačić Miošić – poet
* Janko Polić Kamov – avant-garde writer
* Brne Karnarutić – poet
* Radoslav Katičić – linguist, classical philologist, Indo-Europeanist, Slavist and Indologist
* Snježana Kordić – linguist
* Ante Kovačić – writer
* Ivan Goran Kovačić – poet
* Ron Kovic – Vietnam War veteran, writer and peace activist
* Josip Kozarac – writer
* Silvije Strahimir Kranjčević – poet
* Miroslav Krleža – novelist, writer, philosopher, encyclopedist
* Eugen Kumičić – writer
* Tomislav Ladan – writer
* Božena Loborec – poet, writer
* Hanibal Lucić – writer
* Darko Macan – writer
* Vjekoslav Majer – poet
* Igor Mandić – journalist
* Ranko Marinković – writer
* Marko Marulić – writer
* Antun Gustav Matoš – poet
* Ivan Mažuranić – poet
* Šiško Menčetić – poet
* Slavko Mihalić – poet, writer, journalist
* Zvonimir Milčec – writer, journalist
* Mijo Mirković – writer, economist
* Vjenceslav Novak – writer
* Josip Novakovich – writer
* Janus Pannonius (Ivan Česmički) – Hungarian poet of 15th century, of Croatian descent
* Vesna Parun – poet
* Vlatko Pavletić – theorist of literature, essayist and critic, politician
* Mikša Pelegrinović – poet
* Dalibor Perković – writer
* Sanja Pilić – writer
* Paula Preradović – poet
* Petar Preradović – poet
* Ivan Raos – writer, journalist
* Matija Antun Relković – writer
* Milan Rešetar – writer (ethnic Serb)
* Paul Salopek – journalist
* Paul Skalich – encyclopedist, Renaissance humanist and adventurer
* Antonio Skármeta – Chilean writer
* Ivan Slamnig – poet, novelist, literary theorist, translator
* Sonja Smolec – poet and writer
* Antun Sorkočević – writer, diplomat, composer
* Višnja Stahuljak – writer
* August Šenoa – writer
* Antun Branko Šimić – poet
* Dinko Šimunović – writer
* Sunčana Škrinjarić – writer, poet, journalist
* Slobodan Šnajder – writer
* Antun Šoljan – poet
* Drago Štambuk – poet
* Dragutin Tadijanović – poet
* Mihály Táncsics – writer, teacher, journalist and politician
* Ante Tomić – writer
* Josip Eugen Tomić – writer
* Jagoda Truhelka – writer, pedagogist
* Dubravka Ugrešić – writer
* Tin Ujević – poet
* Mavro Vetranović – writer, Benedictine friar
* Viktor Vida – writer
* Mirko Vidović – writer
* Jeronim Vidulić – Renaissance poet, priest
* Grigor Vitez – poet
* Pavao Ritter Vitezović – writer, historian, linguist and publisher
* Ivo Vojnović – writer
* Stanko Vraz – poet (ethnic Slovene)
* Sonja Yelich – poet
* Dinko Zlatarić – poet, translator, considered the best translator of the Renaissance
* Petar Zoranić – writer
* Nikola Zrinski – poet, philosopher, soldier
* Aleksandar Žiljak – writer

## Business

* Andrónico Luksic Abaroa - prominent Chilean businessman
* Madeline-Ann Aksich – businesswoman, philanthropist and artist
* Benedetto Cotrugli – merchant, economist, scientist, diplomat and humanist. Wrote the first description of double-entry bookkeeping.
* Mike Grgich – winemaker
* Victor Grinich – pioneer in the semiconductor industry
* Robert Herjavec – businessman, Herjavec Group, Dragons' Den and Shark Tank
* Antony Lucich-Lucas – engineer; crude oil exploration, Gulf Oil; Texaco
* Andrónico Luksic – Antofagasta PLC; richest Croat ever
* Michela Magas – designer, entrepreneur and innovation specialist
* Anthony Maglica – Maglite
* Branko Marinkovic – businessman
* Dietrich Mateschitz – Burgenland Croats; billionaire, owner of Red Bull corp.
* Nicolás Mihanovich – shipping magnate
* Boris Mikšić – Cortec Corporation
* Nikola Nobilo – wine maker
* Mario Puratić – inventor, businessman
* Bill Rancic – entrepreneur
* Al Ljutic – Ljutic Industries
* Mate Rimac – Rimac Automobili and Bugatti Rimac

## Exploration

* Ferdinand Konščak – explorer
* Dragutin Lerman – explorer
* Ignacije Szentmartony – explorer
* Željko Malnar – explorer, producer
* Mirko and Stjepan Seljan – explorers
* Ignacije Szentmartony – explorer
* Ivan Visin – explorer

## Military

* Edgar Angeli – Rear Admiral during World War II (ethnic Jewish)
* Vilko Begić – Colonel General during World War II
* Matija Čanić – General during World War II
* Bernhard Caboga-Cerva – Feldzeugmeister of the Austrian Empire
* Josip Kazimir Drašković – General in the Seven Years' War (1756–1763)
* Mato Dukovac – Croatian World War II fighter ace
* Mirosław Ferić – Polish fighter pilot of World War II, Bosnian Croat father
* Jure Francetić – Ustashe Commissioner
* Cvitan Galić – Croatian World War II fighter ace
* Ilija Gregorić – Military commander of rebels during the Croatian and Slovenian peasant revolt
* Matija Gubec – leader of the Croatian and Slovenian peasant revolt
* Luka Ibrišimović – Priest and Hajduk
* Đuro Jakčin – Naval Commander and first Commander of the Navy during World War II
* Nikola Jurišić – nobleman, soldier, and diplomat
* Ivan Karlović – ban of Croatia
* Petar Keglević – ban of Croatia and Slavonia
* Vinko Knežević – nobleman and General in the Habsburg Austria Army
* Vladimir Kren – Major General and Commander of the Air Force during World War II
* Petar Krešimir IV of Croatia – medieval king and military leader
* Petar Kružić – heroic defender of Klis against the Turks
* Grgo Kusić – tallest Croat ever, tallest soldier of Austro-Hungarian Army
* Slavko Kvaternik – Minister of Armed Forces during World War II
* Ivan Lenković – Army general and the leader of the Uskoks
* Mladen Lorković – Foreign Minister and Minister of Interior during World War II
* Richard Marcinko - U.S. Navy SEAL commander, Vietnam War veteran and first commanding officer of SEAL Team Six
* Marko Mesić – priest and war hero from the Ottoman Wars
* Vladimir Metikoš – General during World War II
* Vladimir Majder – Croatian partisan and Spanish Civil War veteran
* Miroslav Navratil – fighter pilot during WWI, General during WWII
* Michael J. Novosel – hero of the Vietnam War
* Rüstem Pasha Opuković – Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire
* Piyale Pasha – Ottoman Grand Admiral and Vizier
* Peter Vitus von Quosdanovich - Nobleman and General of the Habsburg monarchy
* Lothar Rendulic – Austrian Colonel General during World War II
* Mathias Rukavina von Boynograd – General in the Austro-Hungarian Army
* Stjepan Sarkotić – General in the Austro-Hungarian Army
* Arsen Sečujac – General in the Habsburg Austria Army
* Tomislav Sertić – General during World War II
* Ivan L. Slavich, Jr. – United States Army colonel, military pioneer, served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War
* Andrijica Šimić – legendary hajduk
* Tom Starcevich – Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross during WWII
* Ivan Tomašević – soldier and World War II General
* Tomislav – first Croatian king
* Peter Tomich (Petar Tomić) – U.S. Army and U.S. Navy
* Mijat Tomić – Croatian legendary Hajduk
* Baron Franjo Trenk – leader of Pandurs; father of military music
* Franjo Vlašić – General and Ban
* Josef Philipp Vukassovich – Habsburg commander
* Matija Zmajević – Admiral of the Baltic fleet
* Petar Zrinski – Croatian ban and conspirator
* Nikola Šubić Zrinski – Croatian ban, hero of the Battle of Szigetvár
* Nikola VII Zrinski – Croatian ban, warrior and poet

### Croatian War for Independence

* Janko Bobetko – general
* Ante Gotovina – general pukovnik
* Josip Jović – Croatian policeman, first victim in Independence War
* Rudolf Perešin – fighter pilot
* Blago Zadro – general

## Politics

* Mehmed Alajbegović – Foreign Minister and Minister of Welfare during World War II
* Josip Broz Tito – ruler of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1980
* Dražen Budiša – politician
* Ivana Dulić-Marković – Serbian politician of Croat ethnicity; vice-president of G17 Plus; former Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and once Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management
* Josip Frank – Croatian patriot politician (ethnic Jewish)
* Andrija Hebrang – Croatian communist party leader, nationally conscious (ethnic Jewish)
* Većeslav Holjevac – a president of SR Croatia in Yugoslavia and a long-time mayor of its capital Zagreb
* Josip Jelačić – soldier, former Croatian ban
* Osman Kulenović – Deputy Prime Minister NDH
* Džafer-beg Kulenović – politician in NDH
* Vladko Maček – political centrist, leader of the Croatian Peasant Party before the establishment of the Independent State of Croatia
* Nikola Mandić – Prime Minister during World II
* Ante Marković – former Yugoslav prime minister
* Stipe Mesić – President of the Republic of Croatia
* Dr. Ante Pavelić (older) – vice-president of the National assembly of the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs
* Ante Pavelić – Ustaša leader
* Andrej Plenković – prime minister
* Stjepan Radić – Croatian national leader in 1st half of 20th century
* Ante Starčević – "father of Croat nation"
* Milan Šufflay – historian, one of greatest albanologists
* Ante Trumbić – Croatian national leader
* Franjo Tuđman – first President of Croatia, founder of modern Croatia
* John Zápolya - King of Hungary and Croatia. Descended from a Croatian nobility

### Foreign figures of Croatian descent

People of Croatian ancestry who are high-ranked officials of other countries:
* Mark Begich – US Senator from Alaska
* James Belich – former Mayor of Wellington, New Zealand
* Cesar Bielich-Pomareda – Minister of the Navy of Peru
* Michael Bilandic – former Mayor of Chicago; former Illinois State Supreme Court Chief Justice
* Gabriel Boric – President of Chile
* Natasha Stott Despoja – Australian Democrat Senator
* Ivan Gašparovič – President of Slovakia (Croatian father)
* Cedomil Lausic Glasinovic – Chilean MIR activist, executed 1975
* Alejandro Jadresic – Chilean Energy Minister, engineer, economist; awarded the Order of Prince Trpmir of the Republic of Croatia
* John Kasich – Governor of Ohio
* Néstor Kirchner - former President of Argentina (Croatian mother)
* Dennis Kucinich – US Representative from Ohio; former Mayor of Cleveland
* Frank Mahovlich – Canadian Senator (NHL Hall of Famer)
* Mary Matalin – US political consultant
* Josip Marohnić – founding father of Croatian Fraternal Union
* Javier Milei – President of Argentina
* John Newman – assassinated Australian politician, martyr
* Roy Nikisch – Governor of Chaco, Argentina
* Francisco Orlić Bolmarčić – former President of Costa Rica, Croat parents
* Rudy Perpich – former Governor of Minnesota
* Baldo Prokurica – former Congressman, current Senator in Chile
* Edmundo Pérez Zujovic – Chilean PDC, Minister of Finance, Interior and of Public Works, assassinated in 1971
* George Radanovich – US Representative from California
* Anisha Rosnah - Princess of the royal family of Brunei (Croat father)
* Clem Simich – Member of NZ Parliament
* Jorge Sobisch – Governor of Neuquén, Argentina
* Leonor Oyarzún Ivanovic – former Chilean First Lady
* Néstor Carlos Kirchner Ostoić – former president of Argentina (Chilean mother of Croatian descent)
* Eric Skrmetta – US politician
* Vincent Thomas – US politician
* Michael Anthony Stepovich – former Governor of Alaska
* Radomiro Tomic – former Chilean Deputy, Senator and Ambassador
* Lynne Yelich – Member of Canadian Parliament

## Religion

* Ivan Ančić – theological writer
* Josip Bozanić – cardinal
* Markantun de Dominis – archbishop
* Matija Vlačić Ilirik – Protestant reformer
* Juraj Habdelić – Jesuit and writer
* Luka Ibrišimović – friar, leader of an uprising against Ottoman forces in Slavonia
* Estanislao Esteban Karlic – Cardinal of Argentina
* Bartol Kašić – Jesuit and grammarian during the Counter-Reformation
* Baltazar Adam Krčelić – historian, theologian and lawyer
* Marko Krizin (Marko Križevčanin) – saint
* Antun Mahnić – bishop
* Leopold Mandić – saint
* Ivan Merz – beatified
* Gregory of Nin – bishop
* Franciscus Patricius – philosopher and scientist
* Marija Petković – beatified nun
* Ivo Protulipac – layman
* Vinko Puljić – Cardinal Priest of the Roman Catholic Church in Sarajevo
* John of Ragusa – Cardinal
* Franjo Šeper – Cardinal and Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
* Alojzije Stepinac – archbishop, beatified
* Zlatko Sudac – stigmatic
* Nikola Tavelić – saint
* Miroslav Volf – Christian theologian
* Bernard Zamanja – theologist

## Heroism

* Paul Bucha
* Mila Gojsalić
* Nikola Jurišić
* Marko Križevčanin
* Michael J. Novosel
* Petar Perica
* Nikola Tavelić
* Mijat Tomić
* John J. Tominac
* Ivan Vranetić

## Urban legends

* Jure Grando – first real person described as a vampire in historical records
* Joe Magarac – American steel worker of Croatian extraction.
* Joe "Pegleg" Morgan – first non-Hispanic member of the Mexican Mafia
* Frane Selak – survivor of seven incidents of possible death, lottery winner
* Matija Babić

## Sport

* John Abramovic – former basketball player, played in the Basketball Association of America for Pittsburgh Ironmen, St. Louis Bombers, Baltimore Bullets and Syracuse Nationals
* Mirko Alilović – handball goalkeeper
* Mario Ančić – tennis; Davis Cup Champion
* Johnny Babich – former baseball player, played in Major League Baseball for Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Bees, and Philadelphia Athletics
* Dalibor Bagarić – former NBA player
* Ivano Balić – handball player, IHF player of the year 2003, 2006
* Zvonko Bego – football player
* Željko Bilecki – football player
* Bill Belichick – NFL Coach
* Brian Billick – NFL coach
* Gary Beban – former NFL player
* Dragan Bender (born 1997) – basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Pete Bercich – former NFL player
* Dražen Besek – football coach and former player
* Sandra Bezic – figure skater, choreographer and television commentator
* Val Bezic – figure skater
* Slaven Bilić – former football player, former manager of Croatian national football team and former manager of West Ham United in the Premier League
* Dražen Biškup – football coach and former player
* Djurdjica Bjedov – swimmer
* Zlatko Dalić – former football player, current manager of Croatian national football team
* Zlatan Ibrahimović – football player
* Antonio Blasevich – football player and coach
* Goran Blažević – football goalkeeper
* Miroslav Blažević – football Manager
* Zvonimir Boban – football player
* Bojan Bogdanović – basketball player in NBA
* Andrew Bogut – NBA basketball player
* Alen Bokšić – football player
* Tamara Boroš – table tennis champion
* Mark Bosnich – football goalkeeper, Premier League
* Mark Bresciano – football player (Italian father, Croat mother)
* Reid Brignac – baseball player
* Denis Buntić – handball player
* Nick Burley – boxer
* Tony Butkovich – American football player, All-American
* Pete Carroll – NFL head coach and executive vice president
* Joseph Cattarinich – NHL Hall of Famer
* George Chuvalo – heavyweight boxer
* Branko Cikatić – First K-1 Grand Prix Winner (kickboxing)
* Marin Čilić – No. 1 Junior in the World (tennis) and US Open champion
* Ann Cindric – baseball player
* Vedran Ćorluka – football player
* Krešimir Ćosić – member of the basketball Hall of Famer
* Fred Couples – golfer (former World number 1)
* Helen Crlenkovich – athlete
* Dario Cvitanich – football player, Ajax
* Ivona Dadic – Austrian track and field athlete
* Nick Dasovic – football player and coach
* Paul Diamond – professional wrestler, soccer player
* David Diehl – NFL player
* Nicholas Drazenovic – ice hockey player
* Stipe Drews – boxing champion
* Domagoj Duvnjak – handball player
* Marina Erakovic – tennis player, New Zealand
* Abby Erceg – football player, New Zealand
* Eddie Erdelatz – American football player
* Elvis Fatović – former water polo player and coach, European and World medalist
* Mirko Filipović (Cro Cop) – mixed martial artist and kickboxer; K-1
* Jonathan Filewich – ice hockey player
* Mark Fistric – ice hockey player
* Dražen Funtak – sprint canoer
* Gary Gabelich – American automobile-racing driver
* Ray Gabelich – Australian Rules footballer
* Gabre Gabric – track and field athlete
* Gino Gardassanich – football player
* Gordan Giriček – former NBA player
* Mike Golic – co-host of ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning; former NFL player
* Kara Goucher – long-distance runner
* Elvis Grbac – NFL player
* Great Antonio – strongman
* Visco Grgich – former NFL player
* Bobby Grich – former MLB player
* Tom Haller – MLB baseball player
* Justin Hamilton – basketball player
* Travis Hamonic – ice hockey player
* John Havlicek – basketball player
* John Hecimovic – ice hockey player
* Frankie Hejduk – football player, MLS
* Mario Hezonja – basketball player, NBA
* Zvonimir Boban – football player
* Robert Jarni – football player
* Saša Hiršzon (born 1972) – tennis player
* Ico Hitrec – football player
* Hrvoje Horvat – handball player
* Les Horvath – former NFL player
* Tony Hrkac – ice hockey player
* Dick Hrstich – New Zealand wrestler
* Goran Ivanišević – tennis player; Wimbledon Champion; two Olympic bronze medals, 1992
* Andreas Ivanschitz – football player
* Robert Jarni – former football player
* Nikica Jelavić – former football player
* Ana Jelušić – skier
* Dražan Jerković – football player (top scorer WC 1962 and EURO 1960)
* Ed Jurak – baseball player
* Al Jurisich – baseball player
* Igor Jurković – kickboxer
* John Jurkovic – NFL player
* Tvrtko Kale – football player, goalkeeper (Hapoel Haifa)
* Ivo Karlović – tennis player
* Mario Kasun – former NBA player, Orlando Magic
* Jason Kelce - American football player
* Travis Kelce - American football player
* Siniša Kelečević (born 1970) – basketball player
* Ivan Klasnić – former football player
* Marko Kopljar – handball player
* Ante Kostelić – Alpine skiing coach
* Ivica Kostelić – Alpine Skiing Slalom World Cup Champion (three Olympic silvers)
* Janica Kostelić – A.S. World Cup Champion in 2001, 2003 & 2006 (four Olympic golds, two silvers)
* Dan Kordic – ice hockey player
* John Kordic – ice hockey player
* Robert Kovač – football player
* Niko Kovač –former football player current manager of Wfl Wolfsburg
* Mario Kovačević – football coach and former player
* Niko Kranjčar – former football player
* Mike Kreevich – baseball player
* Toni Kukoč – NBA player (NBA Sixth Man of the Year 1995–96)
* Blaženko Lacković – handball player
* Dražen Ladić – former football goalkeeper
* Stefan Leko – kickboxer
* Curt Leskanic – former MLB pitcher
* Matija Ljubek – kayaker
* Ivan Ljubičić – former tennis player; Davis Cup Champion (#3)
* Johnny Logan – baseball player
* Mickey Lolich – baseball player
* Venio Losert – handball goalkeeper
* Steve Lubratich – baseball player
* Dan Luger – rugby union player
* Frank Mahovlich – NHL Hall of Famer (1958 Calder Trophy winner)
* Pete Mahovlich – NHL player
* Iva Majoli – Roland Garros Champion
* Tony Mandarich – American football player
* John Mandic – NBA player
* Mario Mandžukić – former football player
* Todd Marinovich – former NFL player
* Marv Marinovich – former NFL player
* Vic Markov – American football player
* Roger Maris – baseball player, MLB
* Željko Mavrović – former European boxing champion
* John Mayasich – former hockey player
* Catfish Metkovich – baseball player
* Petar Metličić – handball player
* Siniša Mihajlović – (mother's side family) football player
* Marcello Mihalich – football player
* George Mikan (Mr. Basketball) – NBA (Basketball Hall of Fame)
* Pat Miletich – UFC mixed martial artist
* Stipe Miocic – UFC mixed martial artist
* Luka Modrić – football player, plays for Real Madrid C.F.
* Nika Mühl – basketball player, plays for Seattle Storm
* Sofía Mulánovich – surfer
* Dražen Mužinić – football player
* Zdravko Miljak – handball player
* Rob Ninkovich – American football player
* Frank Nobilo – NZ golfer
* Mirjana Ognjenović – former Yugoslav/Croatian handball player
* Phil Oreskovic – ice hockey player
* Victor Oreskovich – ice hockey player
* Erv Palica – former MLB pitcher
* Mate Parlov – boxing champion
* Mark Pavelich – ice hockey, NHL
* Marty Pavelich – ice hockey, NHL
* Matt Pavelich – ice hockey, NHL official
* Snježana Pejčić – shooting player
* Sandra Perković – discus thrower
* Nikolaj Pešalov – Olympic gold medal winner in weightlifting
* Johnny Pesky – baseball player, manager and coach
* Dražen Petrović – NBA Hall of Famer
* Zoran Planinić – former NBA player
* Dan Plesac – former MLB pitcher
* Diana Prazak – professional boxer
* Robert Prosinečki – football player
* Joel Prpic – ice hockey player
* Dado Pršo – football player
* Braslav Rabar – chess player
* Dino Rađa – former NBA star
* Paul Radisich – racing driver
* Nikola Radulović – basketball player
* Ivan Rakitić – footballer, plays for FC Barcelona
* Ante Razov – football player
* Jules Rykovich – former NFL player
* Borna Rendulić – NHL player
* Vedran Runje – former football goalkeeper
* Lou Saban – NFL coach
* Nick Saban – college football coach
* Spider Sabich – alpine skier
* Vladimir Sabich – American skier murdered by girlfriend Claudine Longet
* Brian Sakic – NHL player
* Joe Sakic – NHL player (2001 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner)
* Dario Šarić (Super Dario) – NBA player with the Philadelphia 76ers
* Cory Sarich – ice hockey player
* Buzz Schneider – ice hockey player
* Branko Šegota – football player
* Frank Sinkwich – American football player and awarded the Heisman Trophy
* Elvis Sinosic (King of Rock N Rumble) – mixed martial artist, UFC
* Paul Skansi – American football player
* Nick Skorich – American football player and coach
* Matt Skrmetta – baseball player
* Paul Spoljaric – baseball player
* Josef Spudich – American football player
* Darijo Srna – football player
* Max Starcevich – All-American football guard
* Steve Stipanovich – former NBA player, No.2 pick in 1983 NBA Draft
* Dominik Straga – swimmer
* Dario Šimić – football player
* Davor Šuker – football player (best scorer of the 1998 WC most goals winner of golden shoe in 98 WC with six goals)
* Bruno Šundov – former NBA player
* Žan Tabak – former NBA player
* Marko Tomas – basketball player
* Rudy Tomjanovich – former NBA player and coach
* Andy Tonkovich – first NBA pick in 1948
* Igor Tudor – football player
* The Great Antonio – strongman and eccentric
* Roko Ukić – NBA player
* Auggie Vidovich – NASCAR driver
* Mark Viduka – football player, Premier League
* Blanka Vlašić – high jumper
* Marc-Édouard Vlasic – ice hockey player
* Antonio Vojak – football player
* Oliviero Vojak – football player
* Nikolai Volkoff – WWE Hall of Famer, born Josip Peruzović
* Danny Vranes – basketball player
* Stojko Vranković – former NBA player
* Nikola Vujčić (born 1978) – basketball player and team manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv
* Bernard Vukas – football player
* Vladimir Vuković – chess player
* Božo Vuletić – Olympic water polo gold medalist
* Wesna – professional wrestler
* Slaven Zambata – football player
* Fritzie Zivic (The Croat Comet) – former World Welterweight Champion
* Chris Zorich – former NFL player
* Zdravko Zovko – handball player
* Bob Zupcic – baseball player
* Ante Žižić (born 1997) – basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
* Mario Andretti – racing driver, born in Motovun