Celebrities Who’ve Cloned Their Dogs: Tom Brady, Paris Hilton, and Others
Tom Brady, Paris Hilton, and several other celebrities have developed an undeniable affection for their canine companions, leading some to take the extraordinary step of cloning their dogs to extend the joy they bring.
In November 2025, Brady disclosed that his new dog, Junie, is a clone of Lua, the beloved pitbull mix he shared with ex-wife Gisele Bündchen. (The couple confirmed Lua’s passing in 2023.)
“I love my animals,” Brady stated in a release from Colossal Biosciences, a biotech startup in which he invests. “They are everything to my family and me. Years ago, I partnered with Colossal and utilized their non-invasive cloning technology, which involved a simple blood draw of our elderly dog before she passed.”
At that time, Colossal had recently acquired Viagen Pets and Equine, a firm specializing in animal cloning.
“Through innovative technology to enhance animal conservation, Viagen’s team has successfully cloned 15 different species,” the company announced in a press release. “They have also cultured and bio-banked over 40 unique species, including 22 threatened or endangered species like the White rhino, Black rhino, Florida bonneted bat, Perdido beach mouse, and Indiana bat. These accomplishments firmly position Viagen as the global leader in animal cloning, setting unparalleled standards for innovation, efficiency, and conservation impact.”
While animal cloning has gained popularity in recent years, it also raises significant ethical concerns. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) acknowledged in a 2025 statement that serious “welfare concerns” exist.
“Reports on the health and condition of cloned mammals have indicated a range of anatomical and physiological issues,” a statement on their website read. “It is challenging to fully document the ramifications of cloning or bioengineered applications on companion animals, as many of these activities are not encompassed within publicly funded and regulated research frameworks.”
Despite the ongoing debate, let’s take a look at which celebrities have chosen to clone their cherished pets:
Paris Hilton
In a 2023 episode of Paris in Love, Paris Hilton surprised her mother, Kathy Hilton, by introducing the two clones of her late chihuahua, Diamond Baby, cleverly named Diamond and Baby, concealed beneath a blanket. (Paris had previously surprised her mother by announcing the birth of her son Phoenix similarly.)
“The two little twins that were cloned, they stick together,” Kathy shared with Us Weekly in January 2024. “They walk together, they snuggle, and they curl up like twins.”
Barbra Streisand
EGOT winner Barbra Streisand was so fond of her dog Samantha (known as Sammie) that she cloned her Coton de Tulear twice. Before Sammie passed away in 2017, Streisand had cells taken from her dog’s mouth and stomach, which were used to create Miss Violet and Miss Scarlett.
“They have distinct personalities,” Streisand told Variety in 2018. “I’m waiting for them to grow up to see if they inherit [Samantha’s] brown eyes and her serious demeanor.”
Tom Brady
Tom Brady stated in November 2025 that cloning Lua provided his family with “a second chance” to enjoy memories of their late dog. (Brady shares two children, Benjamin and Vivian, with Gisele Bündchen and his eldest son Jack with ex Bridget Moynahan.)
Barry Diller
Billionaire entrepreneur Barry Diller, married to fashion designer Diane von Furstenburg, revealed to the Irish Times in June 2025 that he cloned his late Jack Russell terrier, Shannon, five times after she passed away in 2014.
“They’re all little Irish girls,” he told the outlet about the clones of his first dog. “[Shannon] was a super dog. She was incredibly loving and adventurous — a truly remarkable little creature.”
For more insights into these celebrity pet owners, grab the latest issue of Us Weekly, available now.
