The Most Influential People of All Time
List Criteria: Vote on humans who have had the most influence on the history of the world--good or bad. They can be from any period of time.
This is a list of the most influential people of all of human history. This means that the individuals on this list have had a significant effect on how regular people live their lives today and have had a large impact on how modern society works. The names on this list include religious figures, scientists and inventors, and some of the most important leaders in world history. Vote for your top choices and re-rank this list your way.
What makes an individual worthy of a spot on a list of the most influential people ever? Certainly, some of the greatest minds of all time deserve to be ranked highly. Examples include Leonardo da Vinci, Sir Isaac Newton, and certainly Albert Einstein. Each one of these incredible people used the power of their minds to change the world. Not surprisingly, several names on this list are also among the most famous role models we'd like to meet in person.
And modern-era figures also deserve to be listed here. Can anyone argue that Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg aren't among the most influential contemporary Americans? It's time to add your opinions on who you believe are the most influential people who ever lived, with your votes and your rankings.
- 197 ReRanks
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- Women
- Men
- Age
- Region
- 2 See list ranked by
- 1+ 25297- 17313
the people's #1 & most listed Why is this #1?
Jesus Christ Carpenter, Prophet, Preacher - 2+ 14795- 11469
Why is this #2?
Isaac Newton Mathematician, Physicist, Chemist - 3+ 14521- 11159
Why is this #3?
Albert Einstein Mathematician, Physicist, Scientist - 4+ 12820- 9372
Why is this #4?
Leonardo da Vinci Military Engineer, Musician, Scientist - 5+ 10460- 8923
Why is this #5?
Aristotle Tutor, Polymath, Scientist - 6+ 9563- 7377
Why is this #6?
Galileo Galilei Mathematician, Physicist, Scientist - 7+ 23823- 18442
Why is this #7?
Muhammad Merchant, Prophet - 8+ 8843- 8681
Why is this #8?
Charles Darwin Biologist, Scientist, Naturalist - 9+ 7397- 7049
Why is this #9?
Alexander the Great - 10+ 9320- 8150
Why is this #10?
Mahatma Gandhi Politician, Writer, Philosopher - 11+ 6613- 6055
Why is this #11?
William Shakespeare Poet, Lyricist, Author - 12+ 8032- 7315
Why is this #12?
Plato Mathematician, Physicist, Writer - 13+ 7462- 6280
Why is this #13?
Socrates Philosopher - 14+ 8040- 6370
Why is this #14?
Moses Prophet - 15+ 7128- 6218
Why is this #15?
Martin Luther King, Jr. Civil rights activist, Writer, Minister of religion - 16+ 7570- 6405
Why is this #16?
Abraham Lincoln Statesman, Politician, Lawyer - 17+ 6929- 6258
Why is this #17?
Nikola Tesla Futurist, Physicist, Inventor - 18+ 5999- 5796
Why is this #18?
Julius Caesar Politician, Author - 19+ 5644- 5984
Why is this #19?
George Washington Surveyor, Politician, Soldier - 20+ 4726- 3854
ranked low on reranks Why is this #20?
Nelson Mandela Statesman, Politician, Peace activist - 21+ 6722- 7116
often listed & Ranked High on Reranks Why is this #21?
Gautama Buddha Philosopher - 22+ 3421- 2800
ranked low on reranks Why is this #22?
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Pianist, Musician, Composer - 23+ 5303- 6510
often listed & Ranked High on Reranks Why is this #23?
Karl Marx Sociologist, Politician, Historian - 24+ 6486- 5512
Why is this #24?
Genghis Khan Warrior - 25+ 5110- 5073
Why is this #25?
Napoleon Bonaparte Politician, Military Officer - 26+ 3723- 3807
Why is this #26?
Martin Luther Priest, Theologian, Professor - 27+ 3710- 4152
Why is this #27?
Johannes Gutenberg Engraver, Inventor, Printer - 28+ 5032- 5198
Why is this #28?
Thomas Edison Businessperson, Entrepreneur, Film Producer - 29+ 22076- 36895
alert! Why is this #29?
Adolf Hitler Politician, Soldier, Writer - 30+ 2535- 1994
ranked low on reranks Why is this #30?
Ludwig van Beethoven Songwriter, Pianist, Musician - 31+ 2972- 2908
Why is this #31?
Homer Poet, Author, Writer - 32+ 4474- 3985
Why is this #32?
Paul the Apostle Missionary, Prophet, Tentmaker - 33+ 3270- 2577
Why is this #33?
Michelangelo Sculptor, Painter, Poet - 34+ 2076- 1815
Why is this #34?
Marie Curie Physicist, Chemist, Scientist - 35+ 3732- 3151
Why is this #35?
Pythagoras Mathematician, Philosopher, Astronomer - 36+ 4060- 3597
Why is this #36?
Benjamin Franklin Statesman, Librarian, Politician - 37+ 3912- 3498
Why is this #37?
Henry Ford Business magnate, Businessperson, Entrepreneur - 38+ 4271- 4942
Why is this #38?
Confucius Philosopher - 39+ 3915- 3926
Why is this #39?
Bill Gates Programmer, Software Architect, Businessperson - 40+ 2291- 3202
often listed & Ranked High on Reranks Why is this #40?
John F. Kennedy Politician, Military Officer, Author - 41+ 3805- 3918
Why is this #41?
Thomas Jefferson Statesman, Inventor, Author - 42+ 3112- 3974
often listed & Ranked High on Reranks Why is this #42?
Christopher Columbus Navigator, Sailor, Explorer - 43+ 1120- 1078
added by LukasOtapka Why is this #43?
Pope Francis Priest, Writer - 44+ 497- 423
Why is this #44?
Franz Kafka Novelist, Writer, Lawyer - 45+ 3381- 3450
Why is this #45?
Winston Churchill Statesman, Painter, Politician - 46+ 3073- 4254
often listed & Ranked High on Reranks Why is this #46?
Vladimir Lenin Politician, Economist, Revolutionary - 47+ 3637- 3363
Why is this #47?
Wright brothers - 48+ 1414- 1610
Why is this #48?
Charlie Chaplin Film Score Composer, Comedian, Film Producer - 49+ 3079- 3578
Why is this #49?
Nicolaus Copernicus Mathematician, Diplomat, Physician - 50+ 3045- 3075
Why is this #50?
Alexander Graham Bell Businessperson, Physicist, Entrepreneur
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