Top 10 Greatest Inventors in History

Here is a list of the top ten inventors of all time who have made significant contributions to the world as we know it. From the invention of the telephone to the harnessing of electricity, these inventors have revolutionized the way we live our lives.

In this list, let's explore the lives and inventions of these great minds and examine how their work has impacted the world.

The Top Ten

Nikola Tesla

Nikola Tesla was a Serbian-American inventor, electrical engineer, and futurist best known for his contributions to the design of the modern alternating current electricity supply system. He also developed technologies in areas such as X-rays, wireless communication, and early radar concepts. Tesla held hundreds of patents worldwide, and his work laid the foundation for many technologies used today.

I couldn't even fit all of his achievements here. The man was far ahead of his own time, and if you look up what he has come up with, it would blow your mind. The man is said to have made a ball of lightning. A BALL OF LIGHTNING! The dude's a wizard.

Tesla is the best. Eighty percent of world technology is based on his ideas. He could make things we can't in this century. People like Edison don't know anything. Tesla, you are the greatest.

Thank you! Tesla died penniless and was pretty much lost for a while. His inventions are actually his own ideas instead of Edison's!
Artem Mikoyan

Artem Mikoyan was an Armenian-Soviet aircraft designer who co-founded the MiG military aviation design bureau. Best known for his line of fighter aircraft that served in various wars, he was a key figure in Soviet aviation history. Mikoyan was awarded numerous honors including the Hero of Socialist Labour and the Order of Lenin.
Hovannes Adamian

Hovannes Adamian was an Armenian engineer and one of the pioneers of color television technology. He developed the first tricolor principle of television imaging and reproduction. His work significantly influenced the evolution of television systems and technologies.
Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessman who held over 1,000 patents. He is most famous for inventing the phonograph, the incandescent light bulb, and the motion picture camera. Edison also founded General Electric, which remains one of the largest publicly traded companies in the world.

Most influential inventor in history. Famously known for inventing the lightbulb.

The guy's a genius. We wouldn't have light bulbs without him.
Asatour Sarafian (Oscar H. Banker)

Asatour Sarafian, also known as Oscar H. Banker, was an Armenian-American inventor renowned for his contributions to automotive engineering. He is credited with the invention of the automatic transmission for automobiles and the improvement of power steering systems. Banker holds multiple patents, and his work has had a lasting impact on automotive design.
Raymond Damadian

Raymond Damadian is known for his groundbreaking work in the development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging. He was an American medical doctor and inventor who created the first full-body MRI scanner. His innovations revolutionized medical diagnostics by allowing for detailed imaging of soft tissues.
Archimedes of Syracuse

Archimedes of Syracuse was an ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, and inventor. He is famous for his work in geometry, calculus, and mechanics, and for inventions like the Archimedes screw, a water pump still used today. He also formulated the principle of buoyancy and developed methods for determining the volume and density of objects.

He invented engines that changed the world in his time.
Alexander Kemurdzhian

Alexander Kemurdzhian was an Armenian-Russian engineer and a key figure in the Soviet Union's space program. He designed the first rovers to land on another celestial body, specifically the Moon and Mars. His work laid the foundation for subsequent planetary exploration missions and robotic vehicles.
Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell was a Scottish-born inventor, scientist, and engineer. He is best known for inventing the first practical telephone. His innovations in telecommunications had a lasting impact on how humans communicate over long distances.
Edward Keonjian

Edward Keonjian was an Armenian-American electrical engineer renowned for his work in microelectronics and computer engineering. Often cited as the father of microelectronics, he contributed to the development of low-power technologies. His work has had significant implications for portable and implantable medical devices.

The Newcomers

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Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson (April 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826) was an American Founding Father who authored the Declaration of Independence and served as the third President of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He died on July 4, 1826, the same day as John Adams, the second president.
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Wernher von Braun

Wernher von Braun was a German-American aerospace engineer and space architect who played a central role in the development of rocket technology for both Nazi Germany and the United States. He led the development of the V-2 rocket during World War II and later became a key figure in NASA's Apollo program. His contributions were instrumental in the effort to land humans on the Moon.

The Contenders

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was an Italian polymath who lived during the Renaissance. Known for masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper, he also excelled in science and engineering. His notebooks reveal a wide range of inventions, from flying machines to armored vehicles, demonstrating his immense creativity and curiosity.
Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a polymath who made contributions in multiple fields. Among his many inventions are the lightning rod, bifocal glasses, and the Franklin stove. His scientific endeavors in the field of electricity were groundbreaking and have made him a lasting figure in American history.

What do you mean 6th?! He discovered electricity. Think what you would do without it!
Johannes Gutenberg

Johannes Gutenberg was a German inventor and printer who introduced printing to Europe with his movable-type press. His most famous work, the Gutenberg Bible, was printed around 1455 and is considered one of the first major books produced in Europe. Gutenberg's invention played a pivotal role in the spread of knowledge by enabling the mass production of books.
Luther George Simjian

Luther George Simjian was an Armenian-American inventor known for developing the Bankograph, an early version of the ATM. He held more than 200 patents for a variety of technologies ranging from optical devices to flight simulators. His innovations influenced multiple industries including finance and aviation.
The Wright Brothers

The Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright, were American inventors and aviation pioneers. They achieved the first powered, sustained, and controlled airplane flight on December 17, 1903. Their work laid the groundwork for modern aeronautics and significantly influenced transportation technology.
Stephen Stepanian

Stephen Stepanian was an Armenian-American inventor who developed the concept of the self-discharging motorized transit mixer, which led to the creation of the ready-mixed concrete industry. His invention transformed the construction sector by enabling more efficient delivery and use of concrete. This innovation accelerated the pace of construction projects worldwide.
Eli Whitney

Eli Whitney was an American inventor best known for creating the cotton gin. This machine mechanized the process of separating cotton seeds from fiber, greatly speeding up production and contributing to the expansion of the cotton industry. Although his invention had profound economic effects, it also indirectly led to the expansion of slavery in the American South.
Henry Ford

Henry Ford was an American industrialist who revolutionized the automotive industry with the introduction of assembly line production techniques. He founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903 and produced the Model T, the first mass-produced automobile. Ford's innovations made cars affordable for the average American and transformed transportation and industry.
Hero of Alexandria

Hero of Alexandria was an ancient Greek mathematician and engineer. He is best known for his work on simple machines, such as the Aeolipile, often described as the first recorded steam engine. His inventions and writings have had a lasting impact on engineering and mechanical design.
Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein was a German-born physicist known for developing the theory of relativity. Although he did not invent a physical object, his intellectual contributions have had a profound influence on science and technology. His famous equation, E=mc^2, has applications ranging from nuclear energy to modern GPS technology.
George Westinghouse

George Westinghouse was an American entrepreneur and engineer who invented the railway air brake and was a pioneer in the electrical industry. He founded the Westinghouse Electric Company and was instrumental in promoting the use of alternating current electrical systems. His work had a profound impact on the development of modern electricity and transportation.
Ivan Knunyants

Ivan Knunyants was a Soviet chemist best known for his work in the field of polymer chemistry. He was instrumental in the development of poly-caprolactam, a material used in the production of nylon. His contributions had a long-lasting impact on the textiles and plastics industries.
Tim Berners-Lee

Tim Berners-Lee is an English engineer and computer scientist who invented the World Wide Web. He proposed the idea of a global hypertext system in 1989 while working at CERN. The development of HTTP, URLs, and HTML laid the foundation for the modern internet and transformed how information is shared and accessed.
Jerome "Jerry" Hal Lemelson

Jerome "Jerry" Hal Lemelson was an American inventor and engineer who held more than 600 patents in various fields. Some of his most significant inventions include innovations in automated warehouses, industrial robots, and cordless telephones. He also advocated for the rights of independent inventors and founded the Lemelson Foundation to support invention and innovation.
Isaac Newton

Isaac Newton was an English mathematician, physicist, and astronomer who made groundbreaking contributions in various fields of science. He formulated the laws of motion and universal gravitation, developed calculus, and conducted pioneering work in optics. His work laid the foundation for classical physics and has had an enduring impact on scientific thought.

Isaac Newton was a revolutionary physicist and mathematician. He discovered the Three Laws of Motion and invented calculus.