Magic Johnson is single-handedly for converting casual basketball supporters into full-blown fanatics throughout the '80s as one of the originators of the Lakers 'Showtime' era. Not only was Magic Johnson's basketball IQ unlike anything ever seen before, his speed and fluidity were, and still is, one of the most awe-inspiring things to ever be seen in the Great Western Forum. At 6'9, Magic took command of the court at the point guard position, something that was unheard of when he hit the professional hardwood for the first time in 1979.
But prior to being drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers first overall in the 1979 NBA Draft, the Lansing, Michigan-bred superstar led his Michigan State teammates to an NCAA National Championship in 1979. The following year as a rookie, Magic Johnson was forced to play the center position in the 1980 NBA Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers and earned his first NBA Championship. Johnson would go on to win additional four NBA Championships with Los Angeles Lakers (1982, 1985, 1987, 1988). Twelve NBA All-Star honors and five MVPs don't hurt his resume either. Not to mention the guy's a billionaire so, basically, everything he touches turns to gold. What a life, what a legacy.
When we think of inventors, the image that comes to mind is usually that of a frazzled scientist toiling away in a lab, not celebrities pulled from the pages of Us Weekly. However, a number of well-known public figures hold patents for various innovations. Some are related to the work that made them famous, while others are offshoots of hobbies or just a single great idea.
Part of guitar wizard Eddie Van Halen's signature sound was his two-handed tapping technique, but letting all ten fingers fly while simultaneously holding up the guitar's neck could get a bit tricky. Van Halen came up with a novel way to get around this problem, though; he invented a support (top) that could flip out of the back of his axe's body to raise and stabilize the fretboard so he could tap out searing songs like "Eruption." While Van Halen was obviously interested in improving his guitar work, the patent application he filed in 1985 notes that the device would work with any stringed instrument. Want to tap out a scorching mandolin solo? Find someone selling Eddie's device.
It’s probably not surprising that James Cameron—who designed a submersible to take him to the deepest known part of the ocean—will often invent technology to make his films if what he needs doesn’t exist. He holds a number of patents, including US Patent No. 4996938, “apparatus for propelling a user in an underwater environment,” that he and his brother, Michael, created to film The Abyss and patented in 1989. The device is basically an underwater dolly equipped with propellers that makes it easy for a camera operator to maneuver in the water—and allowed Cameron to capture the shots he wanted for the 1989 film, part of which was filmed in an abandoned nuclear reactor.
In 1987 Jamie Lee Curtis designed and patented a disposable diaper that included a waterproof pocket that held baby wipes. She hasn't profited from her idea yet, though, since she refuses to license the patent until diaper companies make biodegradable products.
You know him as a rock legend, but Neil Young also loves trains—so much that he owns a stake in a model train manufacturing company and has an extensive collection. He also holds seven patents related to model trains, including Patent No. US5441223, "Model train controller using electromagnetic field between track and ground."