Top 10 People Who Were Known as the Greatest Ep 1

Athlete
Admittedly, we’re starting off with somewhat of a hot take. Some of you in the comments might protest by suggesting LeBron James or Kobe Bryant as the kings of modern-day basketball. However, as Jay-Z once so eloquently put it, “men lie, women lie, numbers don’t.” By the stats alone, it’s a little hard to argue with MJ’s record — or, should we say, records: playing almost his entire career with the Chicago Bulls, the North Carolina native holds the NBA records for most NBA Finals MVP (with six), and most scoring titles (with ten). Oh, and that’s not even mentioning his records for regular season and playoff scoring average. There’s a reason they call him the GOAT.

Athlete
We think it’s pretty fair to say that if your nickname is simply “The Great One,” then you lay a significant claim to being the best. Such is the case with Canadian-born hockey giant Gretzky, who overcame his small stature with sheer skill and determination. Popularly deemed the greatest hockey player of all time (with relatively little opposition), Gretzky holds the NHL records for career goals and points, as well as for producing assists. The winner of four Stanley Cups with his beloved Edmonton Oilers, Gretzky also holds the unique distinction of being the only player in NHL history to score 200 points in a season. Oh, and he managed that four times over. That’s just showing off!

Musician
Much like Gretzky and Jordan, the other MJ took the work of those who had come before him and elevated it to dizzying new heights that no one had ever dreamed possible. First rising to prominence as a member of the Jackson 5 family outfit, his 1979 album “Off the Wall” established him as a solo superstar. His follow-up, the hotly anticipated 1982 record “Thriller,” smashed several records — not only for a Black performer (although he definitely did that), but for any musician, period. “Thriller” would go on to become the best-selling album of all time, and Jackson continued to revolutionize the role of visuals and performance in his art up until his untimely death in 2009, aged 50.

Musician
Beethoven, who died in 1827, is still deeply revered by music lovers worldwide. That would be for his many contributions to the form, which are regarded as massively influential masterpieces that changed how audiences and musicians alike conceived of and thought about the art form. Beethoven is perhaps best-known for his 1824 “Symphony No. 9,” but maybe you know it for its famous fourth movement, the “Ode to Joy.” That was the first example of vocal parts accompanying such a symphony! Beethoven also enjoyed a level of artistic freedom rarely afforded to composers, in that from 1809 onwards, he did not require the patronage of wealthy aristocrats. Though he had almost totally lost his hearing by 1815, those last 12 years proved to be some of his most fruitful.

Politician
There’s no shortage of American presidents who are looked back upon with reverence. However, you’d be hard-pressed to think of one more beloved than the nation’s 16th. Sure, Lincoln wasn’t perfect — he initially promised southern states that he wouldn’t get involved in their affairs — but his accomplishments as commander-in-chief are second-to-none. That largely derives from Lincoln’s issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which gave escaped slaves their freedom; that’s more than 3.5 million people at the time on New Year’s Day in 1863. An exceptional orator who delivered the famous Gettysburg Address, the president’s negotiating skills helped usher in the end of the Civil War. Lincoln’s assassination by John Wilkes Booth made him a martyr — and an American legend.

Politician
The world hasn’t seen the likes of Caesar since his brutal assassination at the hands of his senators, and it’s unlikely that it ever will again. The architect of the Roman Empire, building it up from the ashes of the unstable Roman Republic, Caesar openly defied the will of the Roman Senate and refused to step down from his military command. His decision to cross the Rubicon led to a civil war that he won, consolidating unprecedented levels of power and lending the English language a pretty memorable expression. One of the greatest military commanders to have ever lived, Caesar’s end was just as striking and dramatic as his life had been.

Philosopher
The fact that we’re highlighting influential figures from throughout history would likely have pleased Confucius. The Spring and Autumn era Chinese philosopher’s approach to a virtuous life mandated the study of the Four Books and Five Classics. These are a series of ancient Chinese texts, largely compiled by Confucius, that eventually influenced the Sinosphere and its way of thinking. Confucius’ ideas were defined by their emphasis on kindness, sincerity, morality, and the importance of the family unit. The easiest way to understand Confucian philosophy? His “Silver Rule,” which essentially entailed not treating others in the way you wouldn’t want to be treated.

Philosopher
There are seemingly few individuals that everyone can at least sort of agree on; Aristotle is one of those individuals. An ancient Greek thinker and student of countless disciplines, Aristotle was known by various reverential nicknames, like “The First Teacher,” “the master of those who know,” and simply “The Philosopher.” Plato’s successor has even been referred to as the first scientist, writing groundbreaking treatises and texts on subjects as diverse as physics, astronomy, biology, and psychology. Although only a third of his life’s work has survived into the modern day, Aristotle’s output has influenced philosophy and various schools of thought for thousands of years beyond his death in 322 BC.

Inventor
Enjoying the use of your computer? Or movies? Or simply even the lights in your home? You have American inventor and businessman Edison to thank for those. One of the most crucial minds of the 19th and 20th centuries, Edison’s teamwork-focused approach to research and development revolutionized science and led to the evolution of the industrialized world. Edison’s 1876 Menlo Park research laboratory was the first of its kind, and over the years became the birthplace of many of our modern conveniences, like electricity, the motion picture camera, and the phonograph. Edison’s commitment to technological progress and advancement was such that he registered nearly 1100 patents in the United States during his lifetime, becoming America’s most prolific inventor.

Inventor
While Edison stands as a towering figure in American history, it’s hard — if not impossible — to discuss his contributions without bringing up the Croatian-born Tesla. A futurist and early advocate for wireless technology and communications, Tesla’s alternating-current induction motor led to his victory over Edison in… well, let’s call it “the electricity race.” This invention made possible the high-voltage transmission of electricity over long distances, and effectively helped to reshape how people lived their lives. Although he was able to devise a remotely-controlled boat, his passion project, the Wardenclyffe[b] Tower, was never completed. However, it’s been recognized as a pioneering and prescient idea in wireless power transfer.

Entrepreneur
The Apple co-founder and CEO changed not only the tech industry, but the world as we knew it — and all without a college or university degree. Jobs birthed Apple with his friend Steve Wozniak[c] in 1976 as a way to invest in the latter’s Apple I personal computer. The development of the Apple II put them on the proverbial map, and the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984 permanently revolutionized personal computers. Over a long and often combative career at the company, Jobs introduced the now-ubiquitous Apple ecosystem and masterminded its widely acclaimed marketing campaign. Upon his 2011 death from respiratory failure caused by a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, he was remembered not only as a genius, but a visionary.

Entrepreneur
Born in 1971 to a wealthy family in South Africa, Musk emigrated to Canada, and later the United States to study at the University of Pennsylvania. In the late ‘90s, Musk was involved in several business ventures that allowed him to amass vast amounts of wealth. The businessman used his riches to found SpaceX, a privately held space technology company that aims to be the first on Mars, and among others, Tesla, Inc., which completely changed the world’s idea of what an “electric car” could be. Musk has increasingly sought to be in the public eye, buying the social media platform Twitter (and renaming it X), as well as working closely with the second administration of President Donald Trump.

King
The fourth monarch of the Kingdom of Israel and Judah stands as one of history’s most revered rulers — even if the actual facts of his existence are elusive. Although historians generally agree on Solomon’s existence, as alluded to in the Hebrew Bible, they’re less sure of his opulent wealth. Regardless of the details of Solomon’s life, it’s inarguable that the biblical king is seen as a unifying figure, serving as a major prophet in both Christianity and Islam, as well as Judaism. A brilliant and cunning strategist who is said to have derived his intellect straight from divine inspiration, Solomon’s wisdom is largely what led to his enduring legacy.

King
Founder of the Persian Achaemenid[d] Empire, Cyrus is heralded around the world to this day, with a particularly fervent following in Iran. In fact, Cyrus is even known as “the Father” there. His military campaign focused on the ascension of his Achaemenid royal house, and eventually came to dominate what would be the greatest empire of the era. Like Solomon, everyone seemingly agrees on Cyrus — in Judaism, the ruler is lauded for his role in freeing Jewish slaves in the Kingdom of Judah. An accomplished statesman and soldier, the conqueror was looked up to even by Alexander the Great, who took influence from Cyrus in his own career.

Commander
The man born Temüjin[e] came from humble beginnings, but would eventually become known as perhaps the most fearsome conqueror the ancient world had ever known. Genghis is single handedly credited with uniting the disparate Mongol tribes into a centralized empire, in turn becoming the first “khan” (or leader) of the Mongol Empire. Genghis’ empire would eventually stretch as far as China and Central Asia, and its birth would leave him a complex legacy, rife with bloodshed and vast losses. At the same time, we might not have our world as it currently exists without his empire’s establishment of important trade routes — which are even responsible for major cultural developments.

Commander
By the time of his death in 323 BC, aged only 32 at the time, Alexander III of Macedon[f] had become a king twice over, a pharaoh once, and founded at least 20 cities. On top of that, the empire he founded grew to become one of history’s largest and most significant, and in doing so, had gone completely undefeated in battle. Alexander’s actions have ripple effects reaching all the way to the modern day, with his military campaign ushering in the Hellenistic era and forming the basis for Western society. So, yeah… we’d say he qualifies as one of the greatest to ever do it.

Scientist
Many of the individuals listed in our video today share a commonality: they helped, in one form or another, to shape the world we live in. However, in some ways, Newton was not only such a pioneer, but he played a large part in helping society to understand the world it lived in. Maybe you’ve heard the old folktale that an apple falling on Newton’s head from a tree allowed him to understand the functions of gravity. While evidence suggests that it could very well have happened, it’s beside the point: Newton’s “Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy” was the first science of the new world. Fittingly enough for a “new world,” Newton also determined the shape of the earth and built the first reflecting telescope.

Scientist
If Isaac Newton opened the gateway to modern science, Albert Einstein took the discipline to other worlds. The theoretical physicist posited the theory of relativity that would make him a household name. As defined by Space.com, general relativity dictates that “the spacetime is a 4-dimensional object that has to obey an equation, called the Einstein equation, which explains how the matter curves the spacetime.” Einstein’s discovery changed the face of physics, as well as how scientists understood the universe. The godfather of what some have called the most beautiful mathematical theory of all, Einstein’s work endures for not only how it continues to influence science, but for its sheer imagination and out-of-the-box thinking.

Prophet
Although his earthly life lasted only 62 years at most, his legacy lives on for eternity in the religion he founded: Islam. Muhammad is touted as receiving the word of God aged 40, preaching the word that he was the Lord’s messenger. His oral revelations eventually formed the basis of the Qur’an[g], believed by Muslims to be God’s direct communication with humanity via Muhammad. Designated in the Qur’an as the Seal of the Prophets, Muhammad’s teachings continue to be practiced and disseminated as sunnah, an essential body of Muslim practices — in every possible way, he is the founder of the Islamic world.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Actor

Banker

Actor

CEO

Writer

Prophet
We feel that there’s a chance that you’ve heard of this guy. The founder of the world’s largest religion, Jesus was a humble Jewish preacher who went on to become possibly the most important historical figure who ever existed. Crucified by the Roman government of Pontius Pilate[j], Jesus’ followers continued to espouse his word, building it into one of the most important drivers of culture in human history. Whether or not you personally believe that Jesus will return and bring about Judgment Day sooner or later, we can all take a page from his teachings.

Did we miss any of history’s greatest figures? Be sure to let us know in the comments below!

[b]WARDIN-cliff https://forvo.com/search/Wardenclyffe%20Tower/
[c]WOZ-NEE-ack https://forvo.com/search/Steve%20Wozniak/
[d]uh-KEEMA-nid https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Achaemenid
[e]tuh-MOO-jin https://youtu.be/NRipDEuuiyg?si=zOH34-OqsD9_1T9-&t=773 OR https://forvo.com/search/Tem%C3%BCjin/
[f]MASSA-dawn https://forvo.com/search/Macedon/
[g]koor-RAWN https://www.dictionary.com/browse/quran
[h]MY-ur AM-shull ROTH'S-child https://youtu.be/C9TK3hB4xRA?si=JK_0BBbRurdwUmlU&t=467
[i]SAWTY-uh nuh-DELLA https://youtu.be/6Fu96cE9eHw?si=40O3pUlaRLC6kuqB
[j]PAWN-shuss pilot https://forvo.com/search/Pontius%20Pilate/