Who's the Most Famous Person in the World? 11 Contenders

With a career that spanned four decades and as the male artist with the most No. 1 hits (a record he now shares with Drake), Michael Jackson had a long-lasting career. Nicknamed the King of Pop, Jackson (had and continues to have) global appeal.

His album, "Thriller," is one of the best-selling of all times worldwide. His music video for "Thriller" was even inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.

Diana, Princess of Wales, known as Princess Diana, is one of the most famous people in the world. About 750 million viewers tuned in to watch her marry Prince Charles, and about 16 years later, an estimated 2.5 billion people watched her funeral.

Though she married the then-future king of the United Kingdom, what made Princess Diana so well-loved was her kindness and charitable contributions. Princess Diana famously hugged a 7-year-old boy with AIDS, helping to challenge the stigma against the infection.

Barack Obama made history as the country's first Black president. The former president won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009. Before serving as the 44th president, Obama was a U.S. senator from Illinois.

As one of the best soccer players of all time, Leo Messi is one of the most famous people in the world. The Argentine soccer star has won eight Ballon d’Or awards. His popularity on the field has also made him one of the most-followed accounts on Instagram, where he has 505 million followers.

Cristiano Ronaldo is also one of the greatest soccer players of all time. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner became the first to score 900 goals, a record he set in September 2024. His Instagram account, where he shares photos of his family and work, boasts 648 million followers.

Beyoncé first became famous as the lead singer of Destiny's Child. Her celebrity has only grown since then.

In 2023, the singer and actress embarked on the 56-stop Renaissance World Tour, which grossed $579 million. That same year, she broke the record for the most Grammy wins.

In December 2024, 65 million people tuned into to watch her Christmas Day NFL halftime performance, which featured cameo appearances from artists Post Malone and Brittney Spencer and daughter Blue Ivy.

Robert Downey Jr. was a dancer before he became famous. His acting career spans five decades and includes roles like Sherlock Holmes and Charlie Chaplin.

He helped launch the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his role as Iron Man. He led the ensemble cast of the Avengers in one of the highest-grossing film franchises.

In 2024, he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Oppenheimer," three decades after his first nomination for "Chaplin." He won a Golden Globe that same year.

Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson, has had a lasting influence on pop culture. From the charming characters she portrayed in movies like "Some Like It Hot" to her personal life, people remain interested in Monroe.

In 2022, Kim Kardashian drew controversy and attention for donning (and damaging) the Bob Mackie dress Monroe wore to sing "Happy Birthday" to President John F. Kennedy.

Jungkook, a member of the South Korean group BTS, is one of the most famous people on Earth. For more than a decade, he and his fellow members have sold out concerts and set records. In November 2023, he released his debut album, "Golden," which critics praised.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is not only one of the most famous people, he's also one of the richest. The billionaire is regularly on annual lists of the wealthiest people.

Pop star Justin Bieber got his start on YouTube and eventually went on to global fame. Bieber has 294 million followers on Instagram.