These are the famous folks it would be most exciting to meet in person, as ranked by the wisdom of the crowd. Some of the best people to ever live make great role models for people of all ages. Who doesn't love a good celebrity putting forth positive energy and only good in the world? Maybe you've dreamed of having tea with Mother Teresa, or just shaking the hand of Honest Abe. Maybe you just want to say "hey" to Taylor Swift. This list includes both modern day and historical role models, dead and alive - some of the most inspirational, creative, selfless, and intelligent people ever to have walked the earth. Throughout history, common people have sought to surround ourselves with popular folks who can inspire and influence others. Anyone can add their personal role models to this list, making it an accurate, real-time ranking of the most interesting and inspiring role models in the world. From idols to heroes, these are the people other people most aspire to meet. So, add your two cents and see how your personal heroes stack up against the crowd's.
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6,9802,192Leonardo da Vinci
Dec. at 67 (1452-1519)Birthplace: Vinci, Italy
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian polymath, painter, sculptor, architect,... more2
9,1973,605Jesus (c. 4 BC – c. AD 30 / 33), also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ, was a... more3
4,1082,162Plato (; PLAY-toe Greek: Πλάτων Plátōn, pronounced [plá.tɔːn] in Classical Attic; 428/427 or... more4
1,755637Michelangelo
Dec. at 89 (1475-1564)Birthplace: Caprese Michelangelo, Italy
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian... more5
3,5931,787William Shakespeare
Dec. at 52 (1564-1616)Birthplace: Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
William Shakespeare (bapt. 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English poet, playwright, and... more6
3,3691,947Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Dec. at 35 (1756-1791)Birthplace: Salzburg, Austria
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791), baptised as Johannes Chrysostomus... more7
1,639741Charles Darwin
Dec. at 73 (1809-1882)Birthplace: The Mount, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom
Charles Robert Darwin, (; 12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882) was an English naturalist,... more8
1,776738Charles Dickens
Dec. at 58 (1812-1870)Birthplace: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social... more9
1,825906J. R. R. Tolkien
Dec. at 81 (1892-1973)Birthplace: Bloemfontein, South Africa
John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (; 3 January 1892 – 2 September 1973) was an English writer, poet,... more10
1,9111,240Isaac Newton
Dec. at 84 (1643-1727)Birthplace: Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, United Kingdom
Sir Isaac Newton (25 December 1642 – 20 March 1726/27) was an English mathematician,... more11
1,148618Ludwig van Beethoven
Dec. at 57 (1770-1827)Birthplace: Bonn, Germany
Ludwig van Beethoven ( (listen); German: [ˈluːtvɪç fan ˈbeːthoːfn̩] (listen); baptised 17... more12
1,064630Virginia Centurione Bracelli
Dec. at 64 (1587-1651)Birthplace: Genoa, Italy
Saint Virginia Centurione Bracelli (2 April 1587 – 15 December 1651) was an Italian Roman... more13
1,393779Sonja Henie
Dec. at 57 (1912-1969)Birthplace: Oslo, Norway
Sonja Henie (8 April 1912 – 12 October 1969) was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She... more14
1,050462Steve Irwin
Dec. at 44 (1962-2006)Birthplace: Essendon, Australia
Stephen Robert Irwin (22 February 1962 – 4 September 2006), nicknamed "The Crocodile Hunter",... more15
1,303861Jane Goodall
Age: 86Birthplace: London, England
Dame Jane Morris Goodall (; born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall on 3 April 1934), formerly... more16
1,7471,210Fridtjof Nansen
Dec. at 69 (1861-1930)Birthplace: Europe, Northern Europe, Nordic countries, Norway, Oslo
Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (Norwegian: [²fɾɪtːjɔf ˈnɑnsn̩]; 10 October 1861 – 13 May... more17
2,2071,375George Washington
Dec. at 67 (1732-1799)Birthplace: Popes Creek, Colony of Virginia, British America
George Washington was the first President of the United States, the Commander-in-Chief of the... more18
2,2181,205Edgar Allan Poe
Dec. at 40 (1809-1849)Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts
Edgar Allan Poe (; born Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer,... more19
2,034998Robin Williams
Dec. at 63 (1951-2014)Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
Robin McLaurin Williams (July 21, 1951 – August 11, 2014) was an American actor and comedian.... more20
1,7161,229Elsa Brändström
Dec. at 60 (1888-1948)Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
Elsa Brändström (26 March 1888 – 4 March 1948) was a Swedish nurse and philanthropist. She was... more21
1,359835Chloe McCardel
Age: 35Chloe McCardel, born 10 May 1985, is a 29-year-old accomplished open water swimmer, triathlete... more22
1,178816Erik the Red
Erik Thorvaldsson (c. 950 – c. 1003), known as Erik the Red, was a Norse explorer, described... more23
5,1692,740Albert Einstein
Dec. at 76 (1879-1955)Birthplace: Ulm, Germany
Albert Einstein ( EYEN-styne; German: [ˈalbɛɐ̯t ˈʔaɪnʃtaɪn] (listen); 14 March 1879 – 18 April... more24
1,206769Oscar Wilde
Dec. at 46 (1854-1900)Birthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish poet... more25
2,0391,380Aristotle
Dec. at 62 (383 BC-321 BC)Birthplace: Stagira, Greece
Aristotle (; Greek: Ἀριστοτέλης Aristotélēs, pronounced [aristotélɛːs]; 384–322 BC) was a... more
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