Entertainment
The Most Influential People Of 2021
List Rules
Vote up the individuals who have most effectively made impacts over the course of the year..
Editor's Note: Voting has been closed.
UPDATED: Check out the most influential people of 2022!
Who are the most influential people of 2021? The year has just started but there are already new power players in 2021. From influential actors, musicians, and athletes to politicians, scroll on below for some of the male and female role models making an impact in 2021.
Such people include newly elected President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Some other politicians who made quite the entrance this year include Georgia State's first Black Senator Raphael Warnock and the first Jewish Senator Jon Ossoff, whose wins as Democrats flipped control of the Senate.
Athlete Cristiano Ronaldo is a person of impact as a talented soccer player who also happens to be the most followed person on Instagram. Powerhouse moguls like Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey will hold influence for many years to come. As will famous celebrities like Michael B. Jordan, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Tyler Perry.
Who are the most impactful people of the year? Vote for who you think is the most influential person in 2021, keeping it strictly to influencers with positive impacts.
- Pau Gasol Sáez (born July 6, 1980) is a retired Spanish professional basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a six-time NBA All-Star and a ...more
- Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She is known for her unconventionality, provocative work ...more
- Kyrie Andrew Irving (born March 23, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was named NBA Rookie of the Year after ...more
- Megan Jovon Ruth Pete (born February 15, 1995), known professionally as Megan Thee Stallion (pronounced "Megan the Stallion"), is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. Originally from Houston, ...more
- Tyler Perry (born Emmitt Perry Jr.; September 13, 1969) is an American actor, playwright, filmmaker, and comedian. In 2011, Forbes listed him as the highest paid man in entertainment, earning $130 ...more
- Belcalis Almanzar (born October 11, 1992), known professionally as Cardi B, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and media personality. Born and raised in The Bronx, New York, she first ...more
- Nancy Patricia Pelosi (born March 26, 1940) is an American politician and a member of the Democratic Party. She has served as speaker of the United States House of Representatives since January 2019, ...more
- Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter (born September 4, 1981) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Beyoncé performed in various singing and dancing competitions ...more
- Oprah Gail Winfrey (born Orpah Gail Winfrey, January 29, 1954) is an American media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show ...more
- Bernard Sanders (born September 8, 1941) is an American politician who has served as the junior United States Senator from Vermont since 2007. Vermont's at-large Congressman from 1991 to 2007, he is ...more
- Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg (born 3 January 2003) is a Swedish environmental activist who has gained international recognition for promoting the view that humanity is facing an existential ...more
- Selena Marie Gomez (born July 22, 1992) is an American singer and actress. After appearing on the children's television series Barney & Friends (2002–2004), she received wider recognition for her ...more
- Jill Tracy Biden (née Jacobs, previously Stevenson; born June 3, 1951) is an American educator who is the First Lady of the United States. She was the Second Lady of the United States from 2009 to ...more
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (born October 13, 1989) is an American activist, community organizer, and democratic-socialist politician. On June 26, 2018, Ocasio-Cortez won the Democratic primary in New ...more
- Anderson Hays Cooper (born June 3, 1967) is an American journalist, television personality, and author. He is the primary anchor of the CNN news show Anderson Cooper 360°. The program is usually ...more
- Kamala Devi Harris (born October 20, 1964) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 49th vice president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, Harris is the second African ...more
- Justin Drew Bieber (born March 1, 1994) is a Canadian singer-songwriter and actor. Discovered at 13 years old by talent manager Scooter Braun after watching his YouTube videos covering songs, he was ...more
- Jennifer Shrader Lawrence (born August 15, 1990) is an American actress. Her films have grossed over $6 billion worldwide, and she was the highest-paid actress in the world in 2015 and 2016. Lawrence ...more
- William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate, investor, author, philanthropist, and humanitarian. He is best known as the principal founder of Microsoft ...more
- Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (/ˈbaɪdən/ BY-dən; born November 20, 1942) is an American politician serving as the 46th and current president of the United States. A member of the Democratic Party, Biden ...more
- Zachary David Alexander Efron (; born October 18, 1987) is an American actor and singer. He began acting professionally in the early 2000s and rose to prominence in the late 2000s for his leading ...more
- Jennifer Kate Hudson (born September 12, 1981) is an American singer and actress. She rose to fame in 2004 as a finalist on the third season of American Idol, placing seventh. Hudson made her film ...more
