The most recognized profile or talent ever?

[jydk]

I’ve heard the two most recognizable face on earth are Elvis Presley and Mickey Mouse.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

If we are talking "fictional' characters, maybe, Bhuda, Jesus, Belzabub, Alla

If we are talking "real" people, maybe, Jackie Chan, Stalin, Hitler, Mao Zedong

[pope04]

Val Kilmer.

[Ford Prefect]

Queen Elizabeth ... John, Paul, George & Ringo ... Mick Jagger ... Chairman Mao ... the Dalai Lama ... Winnie Churchill ... Abe Lincoln ... George Washington ... Einstein

[Hack&Lube]

Chuck Norris is recognized by 101% of the world's population

[Ozy_Flame]

Actually, a lot of foreign countries are huge on the classic entertainers, and I know people from obscure places who know a lot more about Western music culture than I ever did.

The Beatles and Elvis Presley are pretty much recognizable wherever you go, IMO.

[octothorp]

Surprised that nobody has said Yao Ming. Universally recognised in China, very well known in the western world, and probably fairly well known even in lesser-developed nations.

[North East Goon]

got to be the Beatles, but Mickey mouse is a good choice as well.

[malcolmk14]

In sports - Woods, Jordan, Ali

in that order.

As far as the pope goes, show me a picture of the guy without his big hat on and I wouldn't be able to pick him out of a crowd to be honest. I don't even know his name.

[The Ditch]

I don't know in sports I think Michael Schumacher would be really far up there, Formula 1 is insanely popular worldwide.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

In sports - Woods, Jordan, Ali

in that order.

i reckon Pele would argue differently.

[malcolmk14]

I don't know. Show 100 strangers on the street a picture of Woods and Pele and see who people can name more often.

[FurnaceFace]

If there was a world wide poll of pictures and you had to write down the name of the person, Dubya would win for sure.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I don't know. Show 100 strangers on the street a picture of Woods and Pele and see who people can name more often.

i think it depends on the part of the world, but running, wearing a skirt and carring a handbag (read soccer) is fairly popular.....

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

i think it depends on the part of the world, but running, wearing a skirt and carring a handbag (read soccer) is fairly popular.....

as opposed to manly activity of going for a stroll in a park, and having some kid carry around your bag?

I do think Pele is much more recognizable outside of NA than Woods. Nobody really gives a crap about golf outside of NA and a few select rich countries around the world.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by Table 5

as opposed to manly activity of going for a ride in the park in a motorized cart, and having some kid carry around your bag?

don't read into it....it was not an endorsement of golf......

[FurnaceFace]

For sports figure I would put Woods over Pele at least for the reason Woods is around now when there is many times more media than in Pele's day. Ronaldinho would be more recognizable than Pele mainly because he has a unique look. Beckham would probably be more recognizable that either of them.

Assuming you agree bodybuilding is a sport, I'd vote Arnold as the most recognized sports figure. He's transitioned into two other "public eye" classifications so it's a little sneaky to put him on the list but he'd still fit.

[malcolmk14]

Maybe Pele in the 60's would've been more popular than Tiger is now on a "percentage of the world population knowing who he is" basis, but almost 40 years after his career has ended, the fact is not many people would recognize him if you pointed him out. You don't even have to watch sports to know who Tiger Woods is, so the popularity of the sport in this case is irrelevant.

Also, golf is very popular in Europe, and is becoming increasingly popular in Asia.

Edit: Nevermind about him being more popular in the 60's. FurnaceFace brought up a very good point about media coverage.

Tiger by a long shot.

[cyclone3483]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

If we are talking "fictional' characters, maybe, Bhuda, Jesus, Belzabub, Alla

If we are talking "real" people, maybe, Jackie Chan, Stalin, Hitler, Mao Zedong

Whoa, hold on there, Bub. Let's do some fact checking.

"Fictional" is your opinion in this case. It is my opinion that Jesus was "real". We can agree to disagree, no need to stir up the age old argument here, 'nuff said.

Buddha is a supreme human, an eternal being, or a God, depending on which school of thought/culture you listen to.

Allah the name of God (Muslim), not a person.

Belzabub is a Philistine god whose name became synonymous with Satan, a fallen angel, not a person.

And I don't think Jackie Chan is real. You can't tell me a real person can do all those moves.

[cyclone3483]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

I don't know. Show 100 strangers on the street a picture of Woods and Pele and see who people can name more often.

Show 100 strangers on the street a picture of Pam Anderson and Angelina Jolie, and the pictures will mysteriously disappear