Public figures play an important role in people’s lives. Most of them make laws that dictate what we can and cannot do daily. Some public figures don’t hold political roles but are in charge of companies where consumers spend their time and money. Others don’t hold political positions but help create conversations and hold beliefs that inspire change by creating laws that don’t oppress groups of people.
It’s no wonder millennials highly think of someone like Michelle Obama. For starters, it’s vital to note that millennials were born between 1981 and 1996. For a large percentage of this group, the Obama administration was either one of the first times they could vote or understand what was going on. The former First Lady pushed for healthier school lunches and became someone African-American women could look up to.
Another public figure millennials hold in high regard is Martin Luther King Jr. The Civil Rights leader had already been murdered by the time millennials were born, but his story has been passed down generations. Millennials like to think of themselves as a progressive group, maintaining King’s beliefs that everyone should be treated equally. King never backed down from anyone when talking about the legacy he wanted to leave on the world. For more millennial coverage, click here to read about the most popular beers millennials drinks.
To compile this list of the most popular public figures among millennials, 24/7 Tempo consulted outside sources. These include YouGov.com, White House Archives, and NobelPrize.org. Data is current as of April 17, 2024.
1. Martin Luther King Jr.
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 74%
It’s impossible to tell the story of United States history without talking about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Instead of sitting on the sidelines during the Civil Rights Movement, King was one of the faces who inspired people around the world. His message was far different than most, using peace and restraint instead of physically fighting back. While King’s message of peace seems easy to root for, it was challenging for people who wanted to see action.
King didn’t want anyone to get hurt. He understood that more violence would mean a longer path to recovery between everyone. Millennials strive to be a peaceful group of people and are willing to idolize anyone who shares that sentiment. Most millennials can agree that King is an icon who should be remembered with love.
2. Michelle Obama
- People who have a positive opinion of her: 70%
Being the First Lady of the United States comes with plenty of roles to take on. For Michelle Obama, she wanted to put her focus on children’s health and exercise. Given the fact that her daughters were both young when her husband, Barack, took office in 2009, it makes sense why that was close to Obama’s heart. One of her first changes was clearing out unhealthy food in vending machines around the country in schools.
At the time, the students who were missing out on these tasty treats were annoyed. Later on in life, they came to understand how important health is and how avoiding a bag of chips each day could be rewarding in the long term. Obama was a voice for young women around the world to look up to for inspiration as well. Millennials loved seeing someone they could relate to in office.
3. Barack Obama
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 64%
When Barack Obama was elected president, he broke down barriers that had been placed on presidents since the start of the United States. He was the first African-American to be elected president of the United States, giving an entire group of people someone they could aspire to be like. As president, Obama helped the nation escape the terrible economic collapse it suffered right before he was elected into office.
He also helped track down Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, the man responsible for the 9/11 attacks. After leaving office, Obama has continued to make appearances at public events and give his thoughts on world affairs. Ever year, he shares his list of favorite books, movies, and songs. He’s been the voice many millennials have desperately wanted from a leader ever since he entered the Oval Office.
4. Queen Elizabeth II
- People who have a positive opinion of her: 63%
Being a 25-year-old is hard enough. Most people this age are still figuring themselves out. For Queen Elizabeth II, it meant stepping up as the leader of the greatest superpower in the world at the time. The United Kingdom held colonies throughout Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean when Queen Elizabeth II took her place. For the next 70 years, she held the reigns and led the United Kingdom.
Being so young and learning how to serve as a proper leader (almost on the fly) is one of the reasons millennials find Queen Elizabeth II so amazing. Her father died so she didn’t have anyone around to answer questions that might’ve risen for her. While every millennial might not find her as impressive as the next, Queen Elizabeth II showed the world what young people can do when given the chance.
5. Bill Gates
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 60%
It’s rare to be a billionaire that people like and respect. Most of the time, billionaires are looked at in a negative way. People believe billionaires are selfish and don’t think about anyone other than themselves. That’s not the case with Bill Gates, though. Time and time again, Gates has proven he’s a generous man by the many donations he gives out on a routine basis. Gates has often talked about how when he dies, he’s donating his money to various charities around the world.
Gates is the man responsible for making work easier to do as well. Millennials grew up using Gates’ products during school and everyday during their professional careers. Gates’ willingness to be a good person while making the best products for consumers are reasons why millennials like him so much.
6. Arnold Schwarzenegger
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 06: Arnold Schwarzenegger speaks onstage at the 15th Annual Holocaust Museum Gala at The Beverly Hills Hotel on November 06, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 60%
Plenty of kids want to grow up to be a movie star, political leader, and have amazing muscles. Arnold Schwarzenegger has accomplished each of these during his career. As a young man, Schwarzenegger competed in body-building competitions around the world. He won the majority of the events he participated in. There are tons of pictures depicting what Schwarzenegger looked like as a younger man.
Once that part of his life was finishing up, Schwarzenegger transitioned to doing blockbuster movies. He’s most well-known for his role in the Terminator series. He used his muscles to intimidate the world during the series. After that, he announced his desire to be the governor of California. Because he wasn’t born in the United States, that was the highest level of office Schwarzenegger could reach. Millennials love how he was willing to chase and reach all of his dreams.
7. Bernie Sanders
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 58%
Ever since Barack Obama left the Oval Office, Bernie Sanders has put his name in the running for becoming the next president. His ideas stick like glue to the millennial crowd. He appears to be as genuine as any politician ever. Even though he hasn’t been elected as president, Sanders has continued to fight day and night to make the United States the best place in the world.
One of the reasons millennials love Sanders so much is his refusal to take money from large corporations. He’s one of the few politicians to actually practice that. For many people trying to get to the top, they feel a need to take money from every direction they can. Accepting donations from large corporations comes with an expectation that the politician will come through for them once they’re elected. Millennials love that Sanders hasn’t sold out in order to win these elections.
8. Dalai Lama
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 58%
Throughout time, the Dalai Lama has stood as the leader of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. This religion is one of the main spiritual practices that’s honored around the world. He’s someone who’s calm and preaches being peaceful, like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The Dalai Lama also serves as a symbol of people being unified in Tibet. As a leader, the Dalai Lama is tasked with meeting countless people around the world and being the voice of peace.
Like with King, millennials love learning about the history of the Dalai Lama and what he stands for. The first person to be the Dalai Lama was in the 1500s, as it was awarded after Gendun Drubpa had died. In 2024, a man named Tenzin Gyatso holds the title. He’s 88 and still going strong with his message.
9. Jimmy Carter
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 57%
Leaving a lasting imprint as a president is a difficult task. Doing so in only four years is even more impressive. More often than not, presidents are elected for two four-year terms. It’s rare to see a president only elected once without a second term, unless they decide not to run a second time. Jimmy Carter only served four years as president during his run, but he accomplished more than most presidents do in eight years.
The reason millennials love Carter so much is the way he handled the people who didn’t want to fight in the Vietnam War. That war was controversial at the time, creating a massive divide among people. Anyone who was drafted but refused to go was jailed for that. When Carter was president, he pardoned everyone who was jailed for dodging the war. Millennials appreciate how serious Carter was about being peaceful regarding the war.
10. Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 57%
The Royal Family is made up of plenty of people who are either loved or hated. Prince Harry is no different, other than that most people love him. His family (and some citizens) have talked about their displeasure for him, but he stands up for what he believes in. He wants to live the best life he can with his wife. Meghan Markle is a mixed-race woman, which makes her one of the few individuals who wasn’t fully white to marry into the Royal Family.
Once married, the Royal Family frequently talked down to Markle and made her feel horrible about herself. Rather than doing nothing, Prince Harry got her out of the terrible situation by choosing to settle down in the United States. He clearly has no desire to continue a relationship with his family who have done nothing but be disrespectful to his wife. Millennials understand that everyone should be accepted, regardless of their skin color and ethnicity.
11. Catherine, Princess of Wales
- People who have a positive opinion of her: 56%
There has been plenty of speculation regarding the health and well-being of Princess Catherine in 2024. She hasn’t been seen in public for a long while, even though there have been videos released of her talking about her cancer diagnosis. During her time as Princess, Catherine has withstood plenty of people making snark remarks at her. She also had to power through her sister, Pippa, stealing the spotlight during her wedding.
Millennials find Princess Catherine’s story fascinating and worth keeping up with. It’s unknown what the next steps are for Catherine. She appears to hold her diagnosis close to her chest and want as few people to know details as possible. No matter what happens in the future to her, Princess Catherine is revered by millennials around the world.
12. Elizabeth Warren
- People who have a positive opinion of her: 56%
Politics is the cornerstone behind any nation. Few politicians have left their mark on a country like how Elizabeth Warren has left a mark on the United States. She’s a senator from Massachusetts who identifies as a progressive candidate. She focuses her ideas on equal rights in the workplace and putting consumers first. Over the years, millennials have felt like the government doesn’t have their back when it comes to inflation and wages. Warren is aiming to change that.
In 2020, Warren ran to be the Democratic candidate, where she finished in third place in the vote. That hasn’t stopped her from continuing to do what’s right. She aims to leave the United States in a better place than when she entered office. Expect Warren to run again in 2024. She will have another steep hill to climb, though, with Joe Biden. He appears to be the favorite to land the Democratic nominee, as he’s currently in office.
13. Mark Zuckerberg
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 56%
Few people around the world are as powerful as Mark Zuckerberg. Even though he doesn’t hold a political seat, Zuckerberg owns and operates both Facebook and Instagram. These are two of the largest social media platforms in the world. In 2024, running social media channels is like controlling the media. He’s able to dictate what posts are seen and what posts are shadow banned. Being shadow banned means a post or page is only found by looking up the exact words in the post.
There are some people who don’t think one person should have that much power over what people see and read online. Millennials appreciate Zuckerberg for creating multiple platforms to stay connected with friends around the world. The creation of Facebook is a fascinating story, since it was only meant for college-aged kids at first. These days, it’s rare to come across someone who doesn’t have their own Facebook or Instagram account.
14. Joe Biden
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 56%
For many millennials, seeing Joe Biden’s name appear on the ballot gave them a sense of relief in 2020. The former second in command under Barack Obama won the election in 2020. Ever since then, Biden has been doing his best to restore the United States back to what it once was before the Covid-19 Pandemic. The economy was once in shambles but appears to be heading in the right direction.
A large percentage of millennials hold the same values as Biden does. His presidency was welcomed with open arms by millennials around the world. There isn’t any sense of how Biden will do in the upcoming 2024 election. There are plenty of people who support him and his efforts. However, there are others who are excited by the prospect of getting Donald Trump back in office.
15. Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- People who have a positive opinion of her: 55%
All most people want to do in life is leave a legacy that they can be proud of. That’s what many people think Ruth Bader Ginsburg did during her time on the United States Supreme Court. She served nearly 30 years from 1993 until her death in 2020. During that time, Ginsburg helped women around the country gain the same rights as men. She helped minorities get the same rights that they’d been fighting centuries for.
Ginsburg paved the way for more women to take a stand and create their own legacies. She was the second women to ever be nominated as a Supreme Court Justice, which she took seriously. Millennials appreciate Ginsburg for all of the work she did in progressing Civil Rights for women and minorities. Ginsburg died from cancer in 2020 and was replaced by Amy Coney Barrett.
16. Neil deGrasse Tyson
- People who have a positive opinion of him: 55%
Few people have ever had the knowledge that Neil deGrasse Tyson has. What’s more remarkable is Tyson’s ability to teach people the things he knows in an interesting way. His teaching methods make sense to folks who don’t have physics or science backgrounds. Tyson is responsible for discovering plenty of theories and learning about the universe. During his career, Tyson’s been a teacher to anyone who’s willing to listen and learn.
Millennials are fascinated by the universe and want to learn as much as they can about it. Tyson has one of the most active and followed social media pages in the world. Whenever there’s something new to share, Tyson jumps on it right away. His knowledge and legacy will be easy to follow beyond his death. He’s inspired countless people to learn more about physics and science in his lifetime. For more millennial coverage, click here to read about the best and worst states for millennials to live.