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Top 50 Most Admired People in the World 2026

Top 50 Most Admired People in the World 2025 - Ultimate Rankings

Top 50 Most Admired People in the World 2025

The Ultimate Rankings of Global Inspiration & Respect

The most admired people of 2025 represent humanity's highest aspirations—leaders who transform nations, innovators reshaping technology, athletes inspiring excellence, and humanitarians healing the world.

Based on TIME100, Gallup polls, YouGov surveys, and global sentiment analysis, these 50 individuals command unprecedented respect through their actions, character, and positive impact on billions worldwide.

1

Elon Musk

TIME100 Leader 2025
USA/South Africa elonmusk Tech Visionary

Featured on TIME100 2025 Leaders list, Musk shapes global discourse through Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, X platform, and unprecedented government influence as DOGE head.

2

Michelle Obama

Most Admired Woman (Gallup)
USA michelleobama Inspirational Icon

Multiple years as Gallup's most admired woman, Michelle inspires through education advocacy, health initiatives, and authentic leadership beyond politics.

3

Donald Trump

45th & 47th US President
USA realDonaldTrump Commander-in-Chief

Reelected November 2024, TIME100 Leader, and historic Gallup most admired man—commanding unprecedented voter devotion and reshaping American politics.

4

Narendra Modi

72% Approval Rating
India narendramodi Highest Rated Leader

World's highest approval rating among major leaders at 72%, leading 1.4B people through digital transformation and economic growth.

5

Pope Francis

1.4 Billion Catholics
Vatican/Argentina Pontifex Spiritual Leader

Consistent Gallup top 10 most admired, Pope Francis leads global faith with climate advocacy, migration compassion, and interfaith dialogue.

6

Taylor Swift

Billion-Dollar Eras Tour
USA taylorswift Cultural Force

Most powerful entertainer 2025, voter registration drives, economic impact worth billions, and unprecedented fan devotion spanning generations.

7

Pharrell Williams

CALL 100 #1 Most Inspiring
USA pharrell Creative Visionary

Voted world's most inspiring person by international CALL 100 jury for "creative vision and influence on modern culture" as UNESCO Ambassador.

8

Serena Williams

TIME100 Multiple Years
USA serenawilliams GOAT Athlete

Three-time TIME100 honoree, Williams inspires through athletic excellence, venture capital success, and motherhood advocacy.

9

Mark Zuckerberg

TIME100 Titan 2025
USA zuck Meta Empire

Five-time TIME100 inclusion, Zuckerberg shapes global communication for 3.2B users through Meta's platforms and AI investments.

10

Oprah Winfrey

Gallup Hall of Fame
USA oprah Media Queen

Decades of Gallup top 10 placements, Oprah's media empire and philanthropy inspire millions globally through authentic connection.

11

Demis Hassabis

TIME100 Cover 2025
UK demishassabis AI Pioneer

Google DeepMind CEO featured on TIME100 cover, Nobel Prize winner shaping AI's future responsibly for humanity.

12

Demi Moore

TIME100 Cover 2025
USA dlomoore Career Renaissance

TIME100 cover star's "Substance" comeback inspires aging gracefully and artistic reinvention at 62.

13

Dalai Lama

Global Peace Icon
Tibet dalailama Spiritual Guide

Consistent Gallup most admired list, the Dalai Lama inspires compassion, mindfulness, and peaceful resistance worldwide.

14

Bill Gates

20+ Years Most Admired
USA BillGates Philanthropist

Twenty consecutive years on Gallup most admired list, Gates fights disease and poverty through $50B+ foundation work.

15

Ed Sheeran

TIME100 Cover 2025
UK teddysphotos Music Legend

TIME100 cover artist inspiring authenticity, mental health openness, and charitable giving across global tours.

16

LeBron James

NBA Icon & Activist
USA kingjames Sports Legend

TIME100 honoree for athletic excellence, I Promise School founder, and vocal social justice advocate.

17

Cristiano Ronaldo

635M Instagram Followers
Portugal cristiano Football GOAT

Most-followed person on Earth inspires through athletic longevity, discipline, and charitable donations exceeding $100M.

18

Lionel Messi

World Cup Champion
Argentina leomessi Football Legend

2022 World Cup winner inspires through humility, generosity, and transcendent skill admired across generations.

19

Queen Elizabeth II Legacy

70-Year Reign
UK royalfamily Historic Monarch

Posthumous admiration continues for duty, service, and stability across seven decades of global change.

20

Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Wartime Leadership
Ukraine ZelenskyyUa Courage Symbol

TIME Person of the Year 2022, Zelenskyy's wartime courage inspires democratic resistance worldwide.

21

Malala Yousafzai

Nobel Peace Laureate
Pakistan malaborafund Education Champion

Youngest Nobel laureate inspires girls' education globally through Malala Fund reaching 130M+ students.

22

Keanu Reeves

Hollywood's Kindest
Canada keanureeves Genuine Legend

Legendary humility, countless acts of kindness, and zero ego despite billion-dollar franchises make Keanu universally admired.

23

Dolly Parton

$1B+ Philanthropy
USA dollyparton National Treasure

Imagination Library sends 200M+ free books, COVID vaccine funding, and humble generosity earn universal admiration.

24

Beyoncé

Cultural Icon
USA beyonce Queen Bey

Renaissance/Cowboy Carter tours, BeyGOOD Foundation, and artistic excellence inspire global admiration.

25

Satya Nadella

Microsoft CEO
India/USA sataboradella Empathy Leader

Transformed Microsoft through empathetic leadership, accessibility focus, and $3T+ market cap growth.

26

Angela Merkel

16-Year Chancellor
Germany bundeskanzlerin Steady Leadership

Former Chancellor's refugee compassion, EU stability, and scientific approach earn lasting global respect.

27

Dwayne Johnson

395M Instagram
USA therock People's Champ

Motivational energy, Make-A-Wish commitments, and genuine fan dedication inspire millions daily.

28

Jacinda Ardern

Compassionate Leadership
New Zealand jacindaardern Crisis Leader

Christchurch response, COVID handling, and empathetic governance redefined modern leadership.

29

MacKenzie Scott

$14B+ Donated
USA mackenziescott Mega Philanthropist

Largest individual philanthropist distributes billions to 2,000+ nonprofits without fanfare.

30

Roger Federer

Tennis Ambassador
Switzerland rogerfederer Grace Champion

Retired legend's sportsmanship, foundation work, and graceful exit inspire athletic integrity.

31

Ryan Reynolds

Mental Health Advocate
Canada vancityreynolds Authentic Star

Anxiety awareness, humor, and genuine persona make Deadpool star universally beloved.

32

Selena Gomez

Mental Health Pioneer
USA selenagomez Rare Impact

Rare Impact Fund, lupus advocacy, and authentic vulnerability inspire young people globally.

33

Tom Hanks

America's Dad
USA tomhanks Trusted Voice

Decades of kindness, WWII advocacy, and trusted persona earn "America's Dad" status.

34

Greta Thunberg

Climate Activist
Sweden gaborathunberg Youth Voice

Fridays for Future movement inspires millions of young climate activists globally.

35

Jimmy Carter

Habitat for Humanity
USA cartercenter Service Legacy

Former President's post-presidency service through Carter Center and Habitat builds earned universal respect at 100.

36

Shah Rukh Khan

King of Bollywood
India iamsrk Global Icon

3B+ global fans, rags-to-riches inspiration, and humble demeanor despite superstardom.

37

David Attenborough

Nature's Voice
UK davidattenborough Conservation Legend

97-year-old broadcaster's lifetime dedication to nature education inspires environmental awareness globally.

38

Priyanka Chopra

UNICEF Ambassador
India priyankachopra Global Bridge

East-West cultural bridge, children's rights advocacy, and entrepreneurial success inspire millions.

39

Trevor Noah

Global Satirist
South Africa trevornoah Thoughtful Voice

Born a Crime memoir, thoughtful commentary, and bridging cultures through comedy earn respect.

40

Emma Watson

UN Women Ambassador
UK emmawatson HeForShe

HeForShe campaign, sustainable fashion advocacy, and intellectual depth beyond acting.

41

Barack Obama

12x Gallup Most Admired
USA barackobama Historic President

Record 12-time Gallup most admired man, Obama Foundation work, and memoir success continue inspiring.

42

Jensen Huang

NVIDIA CEO
Taiwan/USA nvidia AI Architect

TIME100 leader powering AI revolution through chips enabling global technological transformation.

43

Simone Biles

GOAT Gymnast
USA simonebiles Mental Health Icon

Olympic return after mental health break inspires athletes prioritizing wellbeing over medals.

44

Sundar Pichai

Google/Alphabet CEO
India/USA sundarpichai Tech Leader

Humble leadership, AI responsibility focus, and immigrant success story inspire globally.

45

Virat Kohli

Cricket Legend
India virat.kohli Sports Icon

Cricket's global superstar inspires through fitness dedication, charity work, and passionate play.

46

Rihanna

Billionaire Mogul
Barbados badgalriri Business Queen

Fenty empire, Clara Lionel Foundation, and inclusive beauty revolution inspire entrepreneurs.

47

Hugh Jackman

Triple Threat
Australia thehughjackman Genuine Nice Guy

Laughing Man coffee charity, Broadway talent, and genuine kindness make him universally loved.

48

Lewis Hamilton

7x F1 Champion
UK lewishamilton Diversity Champion

Racing excellence, Mission 44 foundation, and motorsport diversity advocacy inspire change.

49

BTS (Group)

ARMY Global Movement
South Korea bts_bighit Cultural Phenomenon

UN speeches, UNICEF partnership, and positive messaging inspire 100M+ ARMY worldwide.

50

Pedro Pascal

Internet's Favorite
Chile/USA pascalispunk Beloved Actor

LGBTQ+ advocacy, genuine fan interactions, and emotional vulnerability make him 2025's most beloved celebrity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Everything You Need to Know About 2025's Most Admired

Who is the most admired person in 2025?
Elon Musk tops TIME100 2025 while Michelle Obama leads Gallup's most admired woman poll for consecutive years.
How are rankings determined?
Combined data from Gallup polls, TIME100, YouGov surveys, approval ratings, social sentiment, and philanthropic impact.
Which country has most representation?
USA (28), UK (8), India (5) reflecting media/cultural influence, followed by global distribution across 15+ nations.
Are politicians more admired than celebrities?
Mix of both—leaders (Trump, Modi, Pope) compete with entertainers (Swift, Beyoncé) and philanthropists (Gates, Scott).
What qualities drive admiration?
Authenticity, philanthropy, courage, excellence in craft, positive impact, humility, and consistent character over time.
How often do rankings change?
Gallup conducts annual polls; TIME100 releases yearly; real-time sentiment shifts with major events and actions.

Last Updated: November 2025

Data compiled from Gallup Most Admired polls, TIME100 2025, YouGov global surveys, Statista approval ratings, and social sentiment analysis as of November 30, 2025. All 50 individuals ranked by global admiration metrics.

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