Top 10 Most Beloved People of All Time
This is a list of the most popular and beloved figures in the world and throughout all of history. If you go to remote places on Earth, you should be able to find people who are not only familiar with these figures but also fans of them. Their popularity should transcend cultural barriers, religion, and race.This list is not about infamy, such as the case with Adolf Hitler. It is also not centered on North America, as most of the global population resides in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Keep this in mind when you vote, especially if you have little interest in American popular culture.
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452 - May 2, 1519) more commonly Leonardo da Vinci or simply Leonardo, was an Italian polymath whose areas of interest included invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy,... read more A polymath of the Italian Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci excelled in fields as diverse as painting, sculpture, architecture, and engineering. His masterpieces, such as the "Mona Lisa" and "The Last Supper," are among the most recognized and visited artworks in the world. Da Vinci's notebooks reveal a mind endlessly curious about the natural world, exploring topics from anatomy to flight. Now, approximately 8 million people around the world visit the Louvre each year to get a glimpse of Leonardo's famous painting, "The Mona Lisa".
The Virgin Mary is a central figure in the Gospel and in Christianity as a whole. She is recognized as the mother of Jesus Christ, who is the central figure of the Gospel and is mentioned more than any woman in the Islamic Quran. Anyone familiar with the Gospel would have heard of the Virgin Mary.
Her story and her role in the life of Jesus are well-documented in the New Testament of the Bible. This means that over 4 billion people worldwide are familiar with the life of the Mother of Christ.
Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, Palestine. He was born to Mary, as the bible says "she was found with child of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 1:18). He was both man and God (John 20:28). According to the bible He is God alone (Deuteronomy 6:4)... read more Central to the Christian faith, Jesus Christ is believed by Christians to be the Son of God and the savior of humanity. His teachings, as presented in the New Testament, have been the foundation for Christian theology and have significantly influenced Western philosophy and ethics. Crucified around 30 AD, Jesus' sacrificial death and subsequent resurrection are seen as the means by which individuals can attain eternal life, according to Christian beliefs.
According to Christian missionaries, approximately 4.6 billion people have heard of Jesus Christ's life and tribulations as of 2023, several millennia after his life. His influence on society is so great that "Jesus" has become a common everyday phrase around the world.
Albert Einstein (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theory of relativity, but he also made important contributions to the development... read more Albert Einstein (14 March 1879 – 18 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist, widely acknowledged to be one of the greatest and most influential physicists of all time. Einstein is best known for developing the theory of relativity. He also made important contributions to the development of the theory of quantum mechanics. Relativity and quantum mechanics together form the two pillars of modern physics. His mass–energy equivalence formula, E = mc^2, which arises from relativity theory, has been dubbed "the world's most famous equation." Einstein is a globally recognized figure, and his fame extends to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha, or simply the Buddha, after the title of Buddha, was an ascetic and sage, on whose teachings Buddhism was founded. Born Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha was an ancient Indian monk and the founder of Buddhism. After attaining enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, he spent the remainder of his life teaching the path to enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of rebirth and suffering. His Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path continue to serve as the foundation of Buddhist philosophy. Buddhism, originating from his teachings, has become one of the world's major religions, profoundly influencing a range of cultures across Asia. There are an estimated 500 million followers of him today.
Michael Jackson (Michael Joseph Jackson; August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, dancer, and songwriter. He passed away from cardiac arrest caused by a propofol and benzodiazepine overdose on June 25, 2009. He donated (at least) a remarkable 500,000,000 dollars to charity. Michael... read more Known as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson is recognized as the greatest and most influential artist of all time, against whom all popular musicians are measured and compared. Since his death in 2009 shocked the world, his fan base has been estimated at a figure of 4.8 billion people worldwide by numerous media outlets. Reports suggest he has the largest fan following ever.
According to the National Portrait Gallery in London, he is the single most depicted figure in art. A study conducted in 2010 found that a remote tribe in the Amazon were fans of the singer's music and recognized him instantly, despite being unfamiliar with Islam, soccer players, and even snow. He has repeatedly been cited as the most famous person of all time, with fans in every corner of the planet. In a world where an estimated 7 billion people listen to music in some form or fashion, it's unlikely you'll find many places where the name "Michael Jackson" isn't known by all.
William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. William Shakespeare is widely considered the greatest dramatist of all time, as well as the most influential writer in the history of the English language. It's been estimated that over 50% of the world's population studies Shakespeare in school. His plays have been performed in almost every language, on stage and screen, and at popular festivals around the world.
Bruce Lee (November 27, 1940 – July 20, 1973) was a Hong Kong and American martial artist, martial arts instructor, actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and philosopher. He was the founder of Jeet Kune Do, a hybrid martial arts philosophy drawing from different combat disciplines that is often... read more
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined... read more
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential of all composers. His best-known compositions include 9 symphonies, 5 piano concertos, 1 violin concerto,... read more Recognized as one of the greatest and most influential composers of the Western classical tradition, he defied the onset of deafness from the age of 28. His output encompasses 722 works, including 9 symphonies, 35 piano sonatas, and 16 string quartets. He is universally recognized as one of the greatest musicians of all time. Even in a place as isolated as North Korea, where Western societal culture is so unknown that people are unaware of Mickey Mouse or Disney, people know Beethoven's symphonies.
The Newcomers
Judy Garland, born Frances Ethel Gumm (June 10, 1922 – June 22, 1969) was an American singer, actress, and vaudevillian. The American Film Institute named her 8th greatest female star of classic American cinema. She's also the mother of actress and singer Liza Minnelli.
Muhammad ibn Abdullah (570 AD - 632 AD) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader and the founder of the world religion of Islam. According to Islamic doctrine, he was a prophet, divinely inspired to preach and confirm the monotheistic teachings of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and other prophets... read more Known as the Prophet in Islam, Muhammad was born in Mecca around 570 CE and is revered for receiving revelations from the Islamic God, Allah. These revelations were eventually compiled into the Quran, the holy book of Islam. His teachings formed the basis of Islamic jurisprudence, social systems, and ethics. Muhammad's impact on history is immense, with Islam currently reaching over 2 billion followers worldwide a millennium later.
Walter Elias Disney (December 5, 1901 – December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film producer, he holds the record for most Academy Awards earned... read more
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, baptised as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era, born in Salzburg. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is widely recognized as one of the greatest composers in the history of Western music. His music has been performed and recorded by countless musicians and ensembles throughout the world. His influence spans centuries, and his music is appreciated across various cultures hundreds of years after his death.
Louis Pasteur was a French chemist and microbiologist renowned for his discoveries of the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization.
Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra, often credited as K. S. Chithra or simply Chithra, is an Indian playback singer from Kerala. Chithra also sings Indian classical, devotional, and popular music.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India.
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation through the American Civil War and succeeded in preserving the Union, abolishing slavery,... read more
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist and mathematician who is widely recognised as one of the most influential scientists of all time and a key figure in the scientific revolution.
Diana, Princess of Wales (born Lady Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 - 31 August 1997), was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, who is the eldest child and heir apparent of Queen Elizabeth II, and the mother of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex... read more
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government... read more
Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.; January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an African American minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. King is best known for advancing civil rights through... read more
George Herman Ruth Jr., better known as Babe Ruth, was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935.
Fred McFeely Rogers was an American television personality, musician, puppeteer, writer, producer, and Presbyterian minister.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29th, 1917 - November 22, 1963) commonly referred to by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until his assassination. The Cuban Missile Crisis, The Bay of Pigs Invasion, the Nuclear Test Ban... read more
Barack Hussein Obama II (born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. He was the first African-American president of the United States... read more