Weird Facts About Salvador Dalí: 10 Insights into His Life and Art

Selecting only ten peculiar aspects of Salvador Dalí’s life was quite a challenge. Renowned as one of the most idiosyncratic artists in history, his eccentricities are vividly reflected in both his works and personal conduct. From his fascination with Freudian concepts to his interests in the occult, Dalí’s character was undeniably unique. Here are ten fascinating facts about Salvador Dalí that you might find intriguing!

1. His parents thought he was the reincarnation of his deceased brother

The first child of Salvador Dalí’s parents was born in 1901, but sadly passed away from gastroenteritis at just 22 months. They named him Salvador as well. Shortly after this tragic loss, Dalí was born and was given the same name in memory of the brother he was believed to have reincarnated.

At the age of five, Dalí was taken to his brother’s grave by his parents, who expressed their belief that he was the reincarnation of their late son. This revelation left a significant psychological impact on him.

2. He took a wife from his friend

In August of 1929, Dalí encountered the love of his life, Elena Ivanovna Diakonova, famously known as Gala. At that time, Gala was married to the French Surrealist poet Paul Éluard and had a relationship with Max Ernst prior. Nevertheless, Dalí was undeterred, and the couple married in 1934. Despite the age difference, with Dalí being ten years her junior, they remained together until her passing in 1982. Gala played a crucial role in Dalí’s life, serving as both his muse and business manager, steering his career with remarkable financial insight.

3. Dalí made an appearance on the TV show What’s My Line?

Dalí had a profound self-love. He once remarked, “Every morning upon waking, I find immense joy in the very act of being Salvador Dalí.” He seized the opportunity to flaunt his diverse talents during a whimsical episode of What’s My Line?, affirmatively responding to nearly every inquiry while claiming to be an athlete, author, and comic strip artist.

4. Dalí had a bizarre fascination with Hitler

While many Surrealists opposed fascism and Hitler, Dalí took a different approach by painting the dictator, creating works such as The Enigma of Hitler and a controversial sketch dubbed Hitler Masturbating. Dalí confessed that he frequently dreamt of Hitler as a woman and claimed the dictator intrigued him. His bold choices led to his expulsion from the Surrealist group, which he denied was due to any Nazi allegiance.

5. Dalí was so in love with wealth that he even acted in commercials

Dalí featured in an advertisement for Alka Seltzer in 1974.

Within the artistic realm, Dalí was infamous for his obsession with money, even being dubbed “Avida Dollars,” a clever play on his name that echoed his penchant for wealth. He appeared in promotional campaigns for various brands, including Lanvin chocolates, brandy, and Alka Seltzer—you can view some of these commercials here.

6. He created the logo for Chupa Chups

Dalí was the creative genius behind the iconic logo of Chupa Chups lollipops, as well as the 1969 logo for the Eurovision Song Contest. Simply remarkable!

7. Dalí organized weekly orgies

Dalí’s wife, Gala, encouraged him to embrace an unconventional marriage that included an open relationship. Some accounts suggest that the couple occasionally hosted wild gatherings. Notable figures, including Cher and director Francis Ford Coppola, recount attending one of Dalí’s events. Cher described encountering a bizarre, painted rubber fish controlled by a remote, which Dalí explained in an entertaining manner. Interestingly, Dalí preferred to watch these events rather than actively participating.

8. He struggled with an addiction to masturbation

For a significant period, I lived in the torment of believing I was impotent.

Salvador Dalí

In his memoirs, Dalí shared that, like many boys, he explored the pleasures of self-pleasure. However, his fixation with masturbation ultimately became his main sexual experience. He noted that he maintained this practice well into adulthood, often in front of mirrors. During his time, masturbation was associated with a myriad of negative consequences, which contributed to Dalí’s own anxieties regarding the act.

9. Cauliflowers held deep significance for him

In December 1955, Dalí filled a Rolls-Royce Phantom II with 500 kilograms of cauliflowers and drove it from Spain to Paris. He later explained to a gathering of 2,000 people that “everything leads back to the cauliflower!” Three years afterward, he explained to American journalist Mike Wallace that he was fascinated by their “logarithmic curve.”

10. He had an impressive circle of famous friends

Dalí maintained relationships with numerous eminent personalities, including Elvis Presley, John Lennon, David Bowie, Pablo Picasso, and even Sigmund Freud. One of his more unusual friendships was with rock artist Alice Cooper, who revealed that Dalí’s eccentric style had partially inspired his own stage acts.

Dalí reportedly gifted Cooper a plaster model of his brain topped with a chocolate éclair and live ants found crawling through it. He also invited Cooper to pose for a piece of art, during which he wore an exquisite diamond tiara provided by Dalí. The end result was a remarkable revolving hologram of Cooper encrusted with diamonds, playfully biting the head of a Venus de Milo figurine—achieved through laser technology.