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 iconic religious figures, recognizable scientists and inventors, and some of the most powerful 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 and inspirational 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.
Featuring historical figures, interesting men, and impactful people, this list of the world's most legendary figures have had all kinds of effects on the biggest and historic events.
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 in history, with your votes and your rankings.
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58,49236,079Jesus (c. 4 BC – c. AD 30 / 33), also referred to as Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ, was a... more2
20,52513,460Nikola Tesla
Dec. at 87 (1856-1943)Birthplace: Smiljan, Croatia
Nikola Tesla was a Serbian American inventor, electrical engineer, mechanical engineer,... more3
11,5327,469Marie Curie
Dec. at 67 (1867-1934)Birthplace: Warsaw, Second Polish Republic
Marie Skłodowska Curie ( KEWR-ee, French: [kyʁi], Polish: [kʲiˈri]; born Maria Salomea... more4
31,62021,011Leonardo da Vinci
Dec. at 67 (1452-1519)Birthplace: Vinci, Italy
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian polymath, painter, sculptor, architect,... more5
22,25015,022Moses () was a prophet according to the teachings of the Abrahamic religions. Scholarly... more6
23,67215,923Abraham Lincoln
Dec. at 56 (1809-1865)Birthplace: Kentucky, Hodgenville, United States of America, United States, with Territories
Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American statesman and lawyer who... more7
38,14826,129Albert Einstein
Dec. at 76 (1879-1955)Birthplace: Ulm, Germany
Albert Einstein ( EYEN-styne; German: [ˈalbɛɐ̯t ˈʔaɪnʃtaɪn] (listen); 14 March 1879 – 18 April... more8
15,74610,783Julius Caesar
Dec. at 56 (99 BC-43 BC)Birthplace: Rome, Italy
Gaius Julius Caesar (12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC) was a Roman general and statesman who... more9
27,23718,136Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dec. at 39 (1929-1968)Birthplace: Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and... more10
33,44023,464Isaac 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
9,3876,131The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, were two American brothers, inventors, and aviation... more12
19,43013,678Socrates (; Ancient Greek: Σωκρᾰ́της, romanized: Sōkrátēs, [sɔːkrátɛːs]; c. 470 – 399 BC) was... more13
10,9497,420Benjamin Franklin
Dec. at 84 (1706-1790)Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Benjamin Franklin (January 17, 1706 [O.S. January 6, 1705] – April 17, 1790) was an American... more14
6,1684,249Archimedes of Syracuse (; Greek: Ἀρχιμήδης; c. 287 – c. 212 BC) was a Greek mathematician,... more15
49,99235,519Muhammad (Arabic: مُحمّد, pronounced [muħammad]; c. 570 CE – 8 June 632 CE) was an Arab... more16
24,56017,168Mahatma Gandhi
Dec. at 79 (1869-1948)Birthplace: Porbandar, India
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was an Indian lawyer,... more17
8,9196,134Ludwig van Beethoven
Dec. at 57 (1770-1827)Birthplace: Bonn, Germany
Ludwig van Beethoven ( (listen); German: [ˈluːtvɪç fan ˈbeːthoːfn̩] (listen); baptised 17... more18
22,66016,281Galileo Galilei
Dec. at 78 (1564-1642)Birthplace: Pisa, Italy
Galileo Galilei ( GAL-il-AY-oh, also US: -EE-oh, Italian: [ɡaliˈlɛːo ɡaliˈlɛi]; 15 February... more19
12,9259,233Genghis Khan (born Temüjin, c. 1162 – August 18, 1227) was the founder and first Great Khan... more20
8,2905,897Michelangelo
Dec. at 89 (1475-1564)Birthplace: Caprese Michelangelo, Italy
Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, commonly known as Michelangelo, was an Italian... more21
5,7133,733Stephen Hawking
Age: 78Birthplace: Oxford, United Kingdom
Stephen William Hawking (8 January 1942 – 14 March 2018) was an English theoretical... more22
16,89912,236George 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... more23
9,4636,782Winston Churchill
Dec. at 91 (1874-1965)Birthplace: Blenheim Palace, Woodstock, United Kingdom
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill (30 November 1874 – 24 January 1965) was a British... more24
5,3123,788Louis Pasteur
Dec. at 73 (1822-1895)Birthplace: Dole, France
Louis Pasteur (, French: [lwi pastœʁ]; December 27, 1822 – September 28, 1895) was a French... more25
9,2496,742Henry Ford
Dec. at 84 (1863-1947)Birthplace: Greenfield Township, Wayne County, Michigan
Henry Ford (July 30, 1863 – April 7, 1947) was an American industrialist and a business... more
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