Top 10 Most Influential People of All Time

The person who has had the largest impact on culture, society, and history. Whether positive or negative. These are the people who have had the biggest impact in shaping the world we live in.

The Top Ten

Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem, in the region historically known as Palestine. He was born to Mary, and 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

Leaders and founders of charismatic movements have a comparative advantage on the scale of influence compared to scientists, politicians, or literary philosophers. The actions and motivations of later individuals can more directly be traced back to the actions and ideas of leaders who are themselves outspoken and charismatic. Thus, the charismatic leaders' influence becomes more readily apparent and well-established.
It's no coincidence that in the current top five are the founders of three of the world's major religions: Jesus (1), Mohammed (2), Buddha (4). Mahatma Gandhi (3) and Adolf Hitler (5) likewise were founders of charismatic movements, the former for peace and the latter for war.
Religion, especially, often serves as a uniquely strong motivating force for a person's actions. Given that 2 out of every 7 people alive today profess Christian faith, and given that Christianity has made significant inroads on every inhabited continent, it is entirely fair to say that the net impact of Jesus Christ has been greater than that of every other person throughout history.
He's also my Lord and Savior, so of course, I voted for him in this ridiculous poll.
Muhammad

Muhammad ibn Abdullah (570 AD - 632 AD) was an Arab religious, social, and political leader who founded Islam, one of the world's major monotheistic religions. According to Islamic belief, he was the final prophet, tasked with confirming the teachings of earlier prophets such as Adam, Abraham, Moses... read more

He was the man of true justice. He offered peace to those who deserved it and respected peace. He stood for law and order, not like some silly baba or pandit who merely utters a few words about peace but doesn't actually guide or show the direction to attain peace in this world and the hereafter. My fellow Christians don't realize that the founder of Christianity is not Jesus. It's St. Paul. No matter how much I love Jesus, the son of Mary (peace be upon him), he can't be the most influential person because he doesn't meet the requirements.

Prophet Muhammad was a prophet of peace and love to the whole world. His teachings have influenced billions around the world. Moreover, Prophet Muhammad told his people that his message is universal. He believed in peace and unity and spread his message using words.
However, people in our modern day are interpreting it the wrong way. They are translating the holy book the way they want, essentially taking what they want and leaving what they don't need. Prophet Muhammad sought forgiveness for those who believed in him and those who didn't. He treated everyone equally. He gave his servant clothes from his own wardrobe, let him eat from the same plate he ate from, and allowed him to sleep on the same mattress he slept on.
In conclusion, I would like to ask the readers to acknowledge that not everyone who says they are Muslim represents Islam. For example, ISIS claims to represent it but actually does the opposite. Fellow readers, don't judge the whole religion and prophet based on what a few misguided individuals have done. Thank you, guys. May God (Allah) bless you. Peace out and enjoy life at its simplest.
Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India.
He's widely known for his philosophy of nonviolent resistance, or satyagraha, which helped lead India to independence in 1947. Gandhi's methods and beliefs influenced civil rights movements... read more

He lived what he taught. What more is there to say? His opponents admired him silently. He inspired millions to march for a common cause. He infused courage and pride into Indian women by leading some of the most important campaigns of the Indian independence movement.
Throughout his life, he advocated for Hindu-Muslim unity and spoke against societal ills in India, such as untouchability. His patience, courage, and ideas behind non-violence are simply admirable.

He is the most remembered and respected personality in the world today. The reservations were the only bad thing he did, but he still inspired many. I hope he inspires you as well. Just take a look at his good deeds.
Even if people remember some bad things, they often don't try to understand the reasons behind them. For example, consider the India-Pakistan partition crisis.
Buddha

Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhārtha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha, or simply the Buddha, was an Indian ascetic and sage whose teachings laid the foundation for Buddhism. Born in the 6th or 5th century BCE in present-day Nepal, he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree after years of meditation... read more

Siddhartha left all of his possessions, his pampered life, his food, and even his family to gain true knowledge of suffering and to find enlightenment. I am an anthropologist specializing in religion. The Buddha has influenced many people in China, Tibet, India, Japan, and so on.
This once-rich, famous prince gave up everything he had, becoming a man of the land, and achieved divinity. His followers even engaged in meditation with Jesus himself.

Praise be to Shakyamuni Buddha. If sources are to be believed, his teachings even influenced Jesus Christ. So I believe (although unknown to most) that he is the most positively influential person in history.
He was certainly the father of human rights. His teachings were the first to regard all sentient beings as equals. There would have been no Jesus, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, or Nelson Mandela if the Buddha had not set the wheel of compassion and love in motion all those years ago.
Albert Einstein

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

The greatest man ever. Fools voted for religion. Gandhi is among the most influential people, but he should not be above Einstein, the most influential person of all time.

We can say nothing about him. We are all fools before him. He is the greatest human ever. The world will never see his like again. He should have lived over 100 years. If that had happened, the world would have been even better. Thanks to him.

An influential man, I will certainly remember him. Not just because he shares my birthday, but also because he was a dreamer. Dreamers are hard to find these days.
Paul the Apostle

Paul the Apostle, commonly known as Saint Paul and also by his native name Saul of Tarsus, was an apostle who taught the gospel of Christ to the 1st-century world. He is considered one of the most important figures in the spread of Christianity. Paul's epistles make up a significant portion of the New... read more

Other than Jesus Christ, Paul is my favorite person in the Bible. He went through so much yet didn't complain at all. He pointed to Christ in every situation. In my opinion, he was the most influential Apostle. The books in the Bible that he wrote provide not only comfort for many but also strength for those who are crumbling under struggles and pressure.
Martin Luther looked to the Apostle Paul as one of his inspirations. So, how did Martin Luther rank above the Apostle Paul? Even though they all lived for the glory of Jesus Christ, I know for a fact that the Apostle Paul is more influential than Martin Luther. If Martin Luther were alive, he'd agree too.
Martin Luther King Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. (born Michael King Jr.. January 15, 1929 - April 4, 1968) was an African American minister and a pioneering civil rights leader. From 1955 until his assassination in 1968, he became the most visible spokesperson for the civil rights movement. King is best known for leading nonviolent... read more

He was the most influential American ever. I always imitate him when speaking in public. I am a victim of racism and will always support the civil rights movement. He was the leader of America. If he had been born some years later, I think he would have replaced Obama.

Promoted equality between all people and things. Without him, we may still be stuck with the clouded ideas of "justice" and "fairness" we once had.

I love MLK, but I find it very sad that he was assassinated. Such a loving and caring man who stood up for so many people. He should have at least died peacefully at an old age instead of being murdered by some thug. Rest in peace, MLK, gone but never forgotten.
Charles Darwin

Charles Robert Darwin (February 12, 1809 - April 19, 1882) was an English naturalist, geologist, and biologist. He is best known for formulating the theory of evolution by natural selection, which posits that all species of life descend from common ancestors. In 1858, he and Alfred Russel Wallace published... read more

Darwin came up with the theory of evolution, and I greatly admire him for it, considering he was a Christian. If it weren't for him, I might be a Christian, when I am strongly atheist. The pressure he was under was immense.
He lived in a creationist world. His book, The Origin of Species, was ridiculed, yet he didn't keep his theory hidden for fear of this happening. He showed it to the world and changed the subject of science forever.

Science has answers to many questions about the universe, and Charles Darwin demonstrated this. While we may not yet have answers to everything, we will in the future. Charles Darwin represented that future for the millions of humans who lived before his time and developed his theory. May science continue to emphasize his work.
Religion is often seen as an excuse for why we are here, as anyone could have made it up. In science, there is proof. In religion, there is myth. The fact remains that proof is infinitely greater than myth.
Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist and mathematician who is widely recognized as one of the most influential scientists of all time and a key figure in the scientific revolution. He is best known for formulating the laws of motion and universal gravitation. Newton also made significant contributions... read more

He's well-known for physics, but he also invented differential and integral calculus, developed color theory, studied the speed of sound, and was an astronomer who built the first reflecting telescope. He was arguably the single most important thinker in human history, contributing to numerous fields.

The whole world follows the laws and theories of Isaac Newton. I feel he should be number one. It's not because I don't love Jesus, but because Newton is followed by literally the whole world, while Jesus, on the other hand, has a smaller majority of the human population. Newton is the basis of all modern science. Even Einstein, at some point, had to apply Newton's principles.
Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler (April 20, 1889 to April 30, 1945) was a German politician of Austrian descent who led the Nazi Party from 1921, served as Chancellor of Germany from 1933, and held the position of Führer from 1934. As dictator of Nazi Germany, he reversed the Treaty of Versailles, initiated World War II... read more

Are you joking? Is this just an American Idol site? Has there been any hack on this site to vote Hitler this far down? He wasn't any hero at all, for most people at least. He was an Austrian man who tried to conquer the world. In my eyes, he was a moron, but he changed history more than anybody else could.
He is the worst individual of all time. So how could he be rated so low? He showed humanity its darker side. He served as a lesson, teaching us how not to be. If this isn't considered an impact, then what is? Should we remain ignorant and never learn from history?
Hitler made us more aware of our humanity, and if he didn't, why are we still living?

The Newcomers

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Anton Corbijn

Should be on this list. Anton Corbijn is a music video director known for influential work for Depeche Mode and U2.
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Jim Sensenbrenner

The Contenders

Abraham Lincoln

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, bolstering... read more

Are you serious? As a white Australian, I still rate him as the number one. This is the man who brought equality to everyone without consideration for himself. We would be so lucky to have a leader half his worth in this world again. Look at the list above. It's a list written by people with no vision or respect!

"That government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish on this earth."
"Trusting in Him who can go with me and remain with you, I confidently hope that all will yet be well."
"I am a firm believer in the people. If given accurate information, they can be relied upon to meet any national crisis."
Confucius

Confucius was a Chinese teacher, editor, politician, and philosopher during the Spring and Autumn period of Chinese history. He is considered the founder of Confucianism, a philosophical and ethical system based on his teachings. Confucius believed he was fulfilling the Will of Ti'en (Heaven or God)... read more

I am Chinese, and I hope that we will believe in him again, rather than in communism. I am against communism!

There are not many people who think like him.

He is awesome, and even his ideas are too!
Abraham

Abraham, originally Abram, is the first of the three biblical patriarchs. His story, told in chapters 11 through 25 of the Book of Genesis, plays a prominent role as an example of faith in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Bahá'í Faith. According to the Bible, God called upon him and promised to... read more

This great man built a huge, box-like building in the middle of a desert that still stands today. Over a billion people face it to pray five times a day, every day, for all their lives. Great prophet of God. Peace be upon Abraham.

Without Abraham, there would be no Jesus. Jesus himself was Jewish, and he was the first to establish a monotheistic religion, setting an example for the rest of the world. He definitely should be higher.

The original monotheist, whose theological foundation has spread to the entire world through Christianity and Islam, should be much higher up.
Martin Luther

Martin Luther was a German professor of theology, composer, priest, monk, and a seminal figure in the Protestant Reformation.
He's best known for his Ninety-five Theses, which he is said to have nailed to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in 1517, challenging the Catholic Church's practices... read more

Is this about Martin Luther, or Martin Luther King Jr.? Martin Luther is the Christian reformationist, and Martin Luther King Jr. is the campaigner for black rights in the USA. Considering the lack of 'King' after the name, it seems most people are ignorant of the original Martin Luther.
The original Martin Luther is probably the reason Martin Luther King Jr.'s parents named him Martin Luther, and probably also the reason his father was named Martin Luther as well (Martin Luther King Sr.).

For those of you who are confused, no, this is not about Martin Luther King Jr., the man who gave the "I Have a Dream" speech. Although he is very important and an inspiration to me and millions of others, Martin Luther was a monk and the creator of Lutheranism. Born in Germany, he lived from 1483 to 1546. Martin Luther was also a composer, theology professor, and priest, but he's mostly known as a monk.
Constantine I

Without Constantine, there may be no discussion about the merits of Jesus Christ. Constantine helped lay the foundation for what is the modern Catholic Church and was instrumental in organizing its members to determine a uniform Christian doctrine at the First Council of Nicaea. Without this, the church would have fractured and most likely never would have gained the success it did. Whether good or bad, Constantine paved the way for converting the greatest nation the world had ever seen into the center for the Holy Roman Church.

He changed the course of history. Two of his major decisions, the foundation of Constantinople and his conversion to Christianity, had a profound impact on history.
Our world would have been different without him, probably still in the Dark Ages. Besides, he was a great statesman and a superb military leader.
Moses

Moses is a prophet in Abrahamic religions. He is the Lawgiver of Judaism. God sent him to the Pharaoh in Egypt to tell him to release the children of Israel from bondage.
When the Pharaoh disobeyed God, God sent ten plagues. Finally, Pharaoh relented, and Moses led the children of Israel through... read more

Founded the Jewish nation, another move without which we wouldn't have Christianity or Islam through Judaism, and whose laws also influenced the modern world. Should be much higher up.

Moses talked to God, peace be upon Moses, the prophet, the first to wake up from the graves on the day of resurrection, before Muhammad and the rest of the prophets and their peoples.

Has the story of Moses reached you? Read the story in the Quran and let your heart decide. Peace be upon this prophet.
Napoleon Bonaparte

Napoléon Bonaparte (August 15, 1769 - May 5, 1821) was a French military and political leader who rose to prominence during the French Revolution. He became Emperor of the French in 1804 and led successive military campaigns across Europe. His Napoleonic Code and administrative reforms continue to influence... read more

I am just going to say that this man spread democracy throughout Europe. If it wasn't for him, Europe would still be a continent ruled by absolute monarchy. Stop right there and just think about it. In his time, there was legitimately no other country besides the U.S. that was a democracy. This man also spread the idea of equality.

A French statesman and king of France, he was the most brilliant general of his time. He won a series of splendid victories against England, Russia, and Austria in 1805. However, he was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo in June 1815 and was exiled to St. Helena, where he died in 1821.
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 acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, which was ruled a homicide. Jackson is widely regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures... read more

His musical genius and humble humanitarian work place him among the greats. It's not about what you do for a living, but what you've done for others that will matter in the end. Michael has helped so many people outside of his charity work.
He's truly a role model and a hero. The way Michael faced betrayal and adversity while showing love and true class is why he is loved all across the globe and is truly one of the most influential individuals. Long live the King!

No one has had more impact on our society than Michael. Listen to his songs and his message. Consider all the money from his concert tours that he donated to help the poor.
He was a great humanitarian and an inspiration to all.
Aristotle

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist born in the city of Stagira, Chalkidice, on the northern periphery of Classical Greece. He was a student of Plato and later became the tutor of Alexander the Great. Aristotle's writings covered a wide range of subjects, including physics, biology, metaphysics... read more

A massive contributor to every field of human knowledge, Aristotle started from nearly nothing and ended up as the near-sole basis of all science for almost two thousand years. He was possibly the only person in human history to have known everything there was to know in his time. He was a true polymath. His metaphysics still hold clear merit in the modern world, and much of how we see and separate the sciences is derived from him.

The basis of many scientific theories and philosophies comes from Aristotle. Along with his direct contribution to history as the teacher of Alexander the Great, he also served as an inspiration to other philosophers and scientists such as René Descartes.
George Washington

George Washington (February 22, 1732 - December 14, 1799) was the first President of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. He led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War and presided over the Constitutional Convention of 1787, helping to shape the U.S. Constitution and... read more

Thanks to him, we have America. And how much has America given us? Well, they are one of the largest economies, one of the largest militaries, with huge influence over other countries.

He was a general of the US Army and unanimously elected president. How is that not important and influential?
Nelson Mandela

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

Nelson Mandela is amazing! My family is African, and we had to leave Africa because of apartheid. Just as we left, he got out of prison. I'm so proud of my country now because of what he has done, and even today he brings great happiness to my family.

A selfless leader, modest, popular, and yet a down-to-earth global icon who paid most of his attention to the people he led. "Suffer little children," thus the Mandela Children's Fund came into being. He's one African who walked the talk.

He is the father of reconciliation in our country. He led the ANC post-apartheid and became the first black president. Over 100 heads of states attended his memorial service, which shows how influential and powerful he was, not only in South Africa but in the rest of the world.
Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (January 6, 1706 - April 17, 1790) was an American polymath active as a writer, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, printer, publisher, and philosopher. Among the leading intellectuals of his time, he was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and a drafter and signer... read more
Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan (c. 1162 - August 18, 1227), born Temüjin, was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. He united the Mongol tribes and launched a series of military campaigns that conquered vast territories across Asia and into... read more

Largest empire in the world, had an influence on most of Asia, and therefore, without him, world history would be drastically different. Although not above people like Hitler and Muhammad, he definitely deserves top 10.

Without him, Europeans would have probably stayed on their own little continent and would have never come to America. There are more influential people, but he was so low down that I had to boost him up.

He was a powerful leader and a very supportive man to Mongolia against the Tatars. He had many sources and many documentaries.
Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452 - May 2, 1519), more commonly Leonardo da Vinci or simply Leonardo, was an Italian polymath. His areas of interest included invention, painting, sculpture, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany... read more

Leonardo had thought of things that were way beyond his own time! He made many amazing works, although some met an unfortunate fate. Leonardo was truly deserving of the "Renaissance Man" title.

This is the man who has brought us out of the dark. Math, science, art, inventions. Without him, who knows where we could have been? Thumbs up for this guy!

Italian painter, sculptor, engineer, scientist, and architect. The most versatile genius of the Italian Renaissance.
Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor, producer, and semi-retired professional wrestler. He gained fame in WWE during the late 1990s and early 2000s before transitioning to a successful Hollywood career, starring in films such as The Fast... read more