215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time2016

2016

Who the world actually read about in 2016 - readers across every language edition we measure, whoever they were and whenever they lived.

Most read

Who people actually looked up in 2016, across every language edition we measure.

  1. 1Donald Trumpborn 1946 · 20th century · United States · Politicians81.8M
  2. 2David Bowie1947-2016 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Musicians21.2M
  3. 3Pablo Escobar1949-1993 · 20th century · Colombia · Politicians20.5M
  4. 4Melania Trumpborn 1970 · 21st century · Slovenia · Models20.2M
  5. 5Hillary Clintonborn 1947 · 20th century · United States · Politicians19.1M
  6. 6Elizabeth II1926-2022 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Historical Figures18.3M
  7. 7Muhammad Ali1942-2016 · 20th century · United States · Athletes17.7M
  8. 8Barack Obamaborn 1961 · 20th century · United States · Politicians17.5M
  9. 9Cristiano Ronaldoborn 1985 · 21st century · Portugal · Footballers15.7M
  10. 10Leonardo DiCaprioborn 1974 · 21st century · United States · Actors15.3M
  11. 11Carrie Fisher1956-2016 · 20th century · United States · Actors15M
  12. 12Lionel Messiborn 1987 · 21st century · Argentina · Footballers14.9M
  13. 13O. J. Simpson1947-2024 · 20th century · United States · Athletes14.2M
  14. 14Ivanka Trumpborn 1981 · 21st century · United States · Models13.8M
  15. 15Bernie Sandersborn 1941 · 20th century · United States · Politicians12.8M
  16. 16Michael Phelpsborn 1985 · 21st century · United States · Athletes12.3M
  17. 17Adolf Hitler1889-1945 · 20th century · Austria · Politicians12.3M
  18. 18Dwayne Johnsonborn 1972 · 21st century · Canada · Actors11.9M
  19. 19Alan Rickman1946-2016 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Actors11.6M
  20. 20Stephen Hawking1942-2018 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Scientists11M
  21. 21Stephen Curryborn 1988 · 21st century · United States · Basketball Players10.7M
  22. 22Ronald Reagan1911-2004 · 20th century · United States · Politicians10.5M
  23. 23Bill Clintonborn 1946 · 20th century · United States · Politicians10.4M
  24. 24Margot Robbieborn 1990 · 21st century · Australia · Actors10.4M
  25. 25George Michael1963-2016 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Musiciansnot measured10.3M
  26. 26Fidel Castro1926-2016 · 20th century · Cuba · Politicians10.3M
  27. 27Steve Jobs1955-2011 · 20th century · United States · Founders10.1M
  28. 28Ivana Trump1949-2022 · 20th century · Austria · Founders9.9M
  29. 29Conor McGregorborn 1988 · 21st century · Ireland · Athletes9.5M
  30. 30Ryan Reynoldsborn 1976 · 21st century · Canada · Actors9.5M
  31. 31Debbie Reynolds1932-2016 · 20th century · United States · Actors9.4M
  32. 32Kim Kardashianborn 1980 · 21st century · United States · Actors9.4M
  33. 33Michael Jackson1958-2009 · 20th century · United States · Musicians9.4M
  34. 34Elon Muskborn 1971 · 21st century · South Africa · Founders9.3M
  35. 35Vladimir Putinborn 1952 · 20th century · Russia · Politicians9.2M
  36. 36Gigi Hadidborn 1995 · 21st century · United States · Models9.2M
  37. 37LeBron Jamesborn 1984 · 21st century · United States · Basketball Players9.1M
  38. 38Edward Snowdenborn 1983 · 21st century · United States · Actors9M
  39. 39Johnny Deppborn 1963 · 20th century · United States · Actors8.9M
  40. 40Queen Victoria1819-1901 · 19th century · United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured8.9M
  41. 41Sunny Leoneborn 1981 · 21st century · Canada · Actors8.8M
  42. 42Michael Jordanborn 1963 · 20th century · United States · Basketball Players8.8M
  43. 43Ariana Grandeborn 1993 · 21st century · United States · Musicians8.7M
  44. 44Angelina Jolieborn 1975 · 21st century · United States · Actors8.6M
  45. 45Kanye Westborn 1977 · 21st century · United States · Musicians8.6M
  46. 46Eminemborn 1972 · 21st century · United States · Musicians8.6M
  47. 47Alexander Hamilton1757-1804 · 18th century · United States · Politicians8.5M
  48. 48Mia Khalifaborn 1993 · 21st century · United States · Actorsnot measured8.5M
  49. 49Beyoncéborn 1981 · 21st century · United States · Musicians8.4M
  50. 50John Cenaborn 1977 · 21st century · United States · Actors8.4M
  51. 51Blake Livelyborn 1987 · 21st century · United States · Actors8.3M
  52. 52John F. Kennedy1917-1963 · 20th century · United States · Politicians8.3M
  53. 53Justin Bieberborn 1994 · 21st century · Canada · Musicians8.3M
  54. 54Scarlett Johanssonborn 1984 · 21st century · United States · Actors8.2M
  55. 55Marla Maplesborn 1963 · 20th century · United States · Actors8.1M
  56. 56George VI1895-1952 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Historical Figures8.1M
  57. 57Albert Einstein1879-1955 · 20th century · Switzerland · Scientists8M
  58. 58Tom Hardyborn 1977 · 21st century · United Kingdom · Actors8M
  59. 59Winston Churchill1874-1965 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Politicians8M
  60. 60Eazy-E1964-1995 · 20th century · United States · Musicians8M
  61. 61Dr. Dreborn 1965 · 21st century · United States · Musicians8M
  62. 62Adeleborn 1988 · 21st century · United Kingdom · Musiciansnot measured8M
  63. 63Abraham Lincoln1809-1865 · 19th century · United States · Politicians7.9M
  64. 64Arnold Schwarzeneggerborn 1947 · 20th century · Austria · Actors7.9M
  65. 65Taylor Swiftborn 1989 · 21st century · United States · Musicians7.8M
  66. 66Jennifer Anistonborn 1969 · 21st century · United States · Actors7.8M
  67. 67Sylvester Stalloneborn 1946 · 20th century · United States · Actors7.8M
  68. 68Zlatan Ibrahimovićborn 1981 · 21st century · Sweden · Footballers7.7M
  69. 69Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh1921-2021 · 20th century · United Kingdom7.7M
  70. 70Ted Cruzborn 1970 · 21st century · United States · Politicians7.6M
  71. 71Peyton Manningborn 1976 · 21st century · United States · Athletes7.6M
  72. 72Jennifer Lawrenceborn 1990 · 21st century · United States · Actors7.6M
  73. 73Rihannaborn 1988 · 21st century · Barbados · Musicians7.6M
  74. 74Emilia Clarkeborn 1986 · 21st century · United Kingdom · Actors7.5M
  75. 75William Shakespeare1564-1616 · 16th century · United Kingdom · Writers7.5M
  76. 76Mila Kunisborn 1983 · 21st century · United States · Actors7.5M
  77. 77Mahatma Gandhi1869-1948 · 20th century · India · Activists7.4M
  78. 78Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon1930-2002 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Historical Figures7.3M
  79. 79Mike Penceborn 1959 · 20th century · United States · Politicians7.2M
  80. 80Tom Cruiseborn 1962 · 20th century · United States · Actors7.2M
  81. 81Tupac Shakur1971-1996 · 20th century · United States · Musicians7.2M
  82. 82Tiffany Trumpborn 1993 · 21st century · United States · Models7.2M
  83. 83Elvis Presley1935-1977 · 20th century · United States · Musicians7.2M
  84. 84Usain Boltborn 1986 · 21st century · Jamaica · Athletes7.2M
  85. 85Lady Gagaborn 1986 · 21st century · United States · Musicians7.2M
  86. 86Brad Pittborn 1963 · 20th century · United States · Actors7.1M
  87. 87Ice Cubeborn 1969 · 21st century · United States · Musicians7M
  88. 88Tom Hanksborn 1956 · 20th century · United States · Actors7M
  89. 89Selena Gomezborn 1992 · 21st century · United States · Musicians6.9M
  90. 90Charles Manson1934-2017 · 20th century · United States6.9M
  91. 91George W. Bushborn 1946 · 20th century · United States · Politicians6.9M
  92. 92Marilyn Monroe1926-1962 · 20th century · United States · Actors6.9M
  93. 93Heath Ledger1979-2008 · 21st century · Australia · Actors6.9M
  94. 94Joseph Stalin1878-1953 · 20th century · Russia · Politicians6.9M
  95. 95Zayn Malikborn 1993 · 21st century · United Kingdom · Musicians6.9M
  96. 96Will Smithborn 1968 · 21st century · United States · Actors6.8M
  97. 97Alicia Vikanderborn 1988 · 21st century · Sweden · Actors6.7M
  98. 98Ben Affleckborn 1972 · 21st century · United States · Actors6.4M
  99. 99Bill Gatesborn 1955 · 20th century · United States · Founders6.4M
  100. 100Tom Hiddlestonborn 1981 · 21st century · United Kingdom · Actors6.4M

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in 2016, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Natalie Portmanborn 1981 · United States · Actors2 decades
  2. 2Beyoncéborn 1981 · United States · Musicians2 decades
  3. 3Zlatan Ibrahimovićborn 1981 · Sweden · Footballers0 decades
  4. 4Serena Williamsborn 1981 · United States · Tennis Players2 decades
  5. 5Britney Spearsborn 1981 · United States · Musicians2 decades
  6. 6Roger Federerborn 1981 · Switzerland · Tennis Players2 decades
  7. 7Jessica Albaborn 1981 · United States · Actors2 decades
  8. 8Chris Evansborn 1981 · United States · Actorsnot measured-
  9. 9Ivanka Trumpborn 1981 · United States · Models1 decades
  10. 10Meghan, Duchess of Sussexborn 1981 · United States · Actorsnot measured-
  11. 11Rami Malekborn 1981 · United States · Actors0 decades
  12. 12Xabi Alonsoborn 1981 · Spain · Footballers1 decades
  13. 13Justin Timberlakeborn 1981 · United States · Musicians2 decades
  14. 14Nayib Bukeleborn 1981 · El Salvador · Politiciansnot measured-
  15. 15Paris Hiltonborn 1981 · United States · Actors2 decades
  16. 16Tulsi Gabbardborn 1981 · United States · Politicians0 decades
  17. 17Fernando Alonsoborn 1981 · Spain · Athletesnot measured-
  18. 18Tom Hiddlestonborn 1981 · United Kingdom · Actors0 decades
  19. 19Elijah Woodborn 1981 · United States · Actorsnot measured-
  20. 20Sienna Millerborn 1981 · United States · Actors0 decades
  21. 21Alicia Keysborn 1981 · United States · Musicians2 decades
  22. 22Anna Kournikovaborn 1981 · Russia · Tennis Players1 decades
  23. 23Joseph Gordon-Levittborn 1981 · United States · Actors0 decades
  24. 24Péter Magyarborn 1981 · Hungary · Politiciansnot measured-
  25. 25Alexis Bledelborn 1981 · United States · Actors0 decades
Show 75 more

How to read these rankings

  • Attention, not reputation. A place on these lists reflects the attention a person still draws in the public record. It is not a judgement on the life.
  • Fame in print. The curves show how often a name appeared in the books of each decade from 1800 to 2019, drawn from the Google Books Ngram corpus.
  • Gaps are left as gaps. Where the record is too thin to be fair, we would rather show nothing than guess.