Is Obama the Most Famous Living Person Ever?

Barack Obama is the most famous living person in the history of the world.

I'm not trying to induce an acid flashback to John Lennon's infamous 1966 comment, "The Beatles are more popular than Jesus." But whether you measure fame in terms of saturation or sheer numbers, it seems indisputable to me that more people know at least something about the new American president than anyone alive, at this point -- or any -- in the planet's existence.

Who else could it be? One friend suggest Muhammad Ali, another Princess Diana, and a third said Bill Clinton. Surely all are global brands with enormous reach and broad appeal. But all fall short of the man-meets-the-moment frenzy unleashed by Obama.

To be sure, the digital revolution has made this feat of fame possible. Not only has it helped the son of an erstwhile Kenyan goatherd to become president, it has allowed a current Kenyan goatherd to follow the former's journey. And he is not alone. Exponential growth in access to the Internet, satellite television and radio, cell phones, and P.D.A.'s means that breaking news now reaches virtually every corner of the globe. At the same time, population continues to grow; there are now some 6.7 billion men, women, and children on earth, an historic high.

But technology and biology don't totally explain the Obama phenomenon. There's no denying that the world has been utterly captivated by the new American president with the international pedigree. His black African father, white American mother, Muslim middle name, and childhood spent partially in Asia make him more than the 21st-century embodiment of the classic American melting pot; his story makes him accessible to people the world over who might see in his life a few scenes from their own.

That someone like Obama could be elected president of the United States -- with its unrivaled power and prestige -- has begun to restore the country's and the world's faith in America as the land of opportunity. Gone is the hunkered-down defensiveness of the past eight years, the lock-the-doors, draw-the-curtains, load-the-guns-to-keep-out-the-bad-guys mentality that turned so much of the world against us. In its place is the restoration of that classic American optimism, eyes lifted to the horizon, reaching out across continents and oceans, not in fear, but with faith that we can help build a better world. It was no accident that President Obama's first televison interview from the White House went not to an American network but to an Arab one.

As Obama himself has acknowledged again and again, he begins his first term at a moment of profound crisis. The road ahead with be difficult, as gauzy goals give way to difficult decisions, and people from Chicago to Cairo, to Nairobi, find reasons to be disappointed. But at least for the moment, Obama has made America cool again -- and more than that, he's made his own brand arguably the most powerful the world has ever known.

Originally published in Vanity Fair.

Comments

[9jah]

(CONTD.)

Your qualification of "erstwhile" is a failed attempt to obscure the dark contrast being drawn: the apparently (to many) titilating­/self-sati­sfying picture of Africa as the pits of despair against...­well, everything else. Well, you should know that as with everywhere else, life kinda just "goes on" and need not be forced into your flawed schema just for your kicks.

Sorry if this is a little biting, but the incessant assumptions, characterizations and dismissals are equally fatiguing!

[9jah]

"NOT ONLY HAS IT HELPED THE SON OF AN ERSTWHILE KENYAN GOATHERD TO BECOME PRESIDENT" :

In this land of opportunity, I pray for when such statements are recognized as dismissive and racist. At minimum, it establishes you as hopelessly naive as to what may be completely condescending to others.

My first job was a cashier/truck loader at a grocery store as a teenager. Unsurprisingly, this fact didn't doom me to a destiny as truck loader and this 28-yr old black man obtained an Ivy post-grad degree and commensurate income. If I became president no one would look beyond allmy accomplishments to highlight my year-long truck loading responsibilities.

That you subsume a college graduate who would become a Harvard trained economist and one of the leading figures in post-colonial Kenyan economics to a "Kenyan Goatherd" leaves me dumbfounded. As one familiar with Africa, I can imagine a scenario where a kid goes out and lends a hand during a summer visit to the countryside to a relatives farm or animals. Our President, by most accounts not a Yam Hauler, hauled yam's for his Kenyan grandmother on a visit. Or maybe Barack Sr. as with any childhood job was earning a quick buck. No such consideration. (CONTD.)

[drock973]

So I guess this article concedes the point that he's nothing more than a celebrity.

[cmarmonhalm]

Or is he much much more than a celebrity? You glass half empty people really suck the joy from the world.

[Texas4Obama]

That is a ridiculous comment.
Using your logic then Jesus, The Pope, MLK, JFK, Abraham Lincoln, Mother Theresa were nothing more than celebrities. WRONG!
President Obama is much much more than just a famous person.

[drock973]

So where in the articles does it list his many accomplishments and good works that he's famous for? Nowhere! It talks about the digital media, his story, and his brand as the reasons for his popularity, sounds like a celebrity to me.

[hliberty7]

I agree, WHAT HAS OBAMA DONE?

[DannyBoy28]

The President of the United States will always be one of the most famous and recognizable names in the world. Obama is not the most famous living person the world has ever known, this title is the making the media. Hollywood, the sports world, and perhaps Queen Victoria would have something to say to anyone who believes that Obama is the most famous living person ever . Every year since President Reagan took office media has expanded at a incredible rate thus making every President since famous around the globe. President's Reagan, Clinton, and Bush II are still far more famous based on actions taken by each while in office.
Obama supporters may want to believe that Obama is the most famous living person ever but the man can have only so many feathers in his cap at any given time. Let him take action as President and lead this country in the best way he can. We dont need a famous president we need an effective one.

[Ugonna]

agreed, but I still think he's become much more of a phenomenon than any other president I've ever seen. Forget the Liberal elite, as you would call it, I'm talking WORLDWIDE, he's a real obsession and fascination. They think he's the best thing since JFK and MLK Jr.

[overd0g1]

And they know nothing about him.

[americanalien]

He is the most famous living person in the world and I might even say in the history of mankind. You are so jealous.

[mommadona]

WTF?

Good grief, woman.
Get a grip.

Thank GOODness, he seems to be a pretty normal human male with a really big job to do.
Nothing more, nothing less.

I'm looking forward to some NORMALCY for a change.

We don't need no "Jesus Christ, superSTAH.­.."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YPDXmEsQtQ&feature=PlayList&p=0CBD7AE89520BFB5&index=0&playnext=1

[dpiyjrtmfr]

I agree. I was walking through downtown Lisbon, Portugal today and saw Obama's name and picture several times. The only other American president that is internationally recognized to this extent is JFK I believe.

[DannyBoy28]

President's Clinton and George W. Bush have streets named after them in European countries which would lead me to believe that they have the upper hand on Obama.

[americanalien]

President Obama was more famous than Clinton and Bush even before he took office.

[CVN65]

Hey Deedee, I bet it was central planning and governmental action undertaken under the auspices of the UN that has brought about the world-wide technological explosion. What, it was the free market and private enterprise driven by the evil profit motive? Shocking!

[EducatedObserver]

The most famous person who has ever lived? One cannot really say.

However, I would nominate Mr Nelson Mandela as a far more worthy recipient of "most famous living person" - and suspect that his impact on our world will endure, long after Mr Obama has left the stage.

[Ugonna]

I think they are both worthy. Also, what you're describing is "best man" ever, not most famous.

[Troels Jakobsen]

How is this relevant at all????

[drock973]

He's not as popular as Stalin.

[Nikola Tesla]

With neo-cons.

[kepary]

he has the same policies

[Holt]

Mmmm. no.

Sorry Ms Meyers, I so much respect your work, but you are way over the top on this one. Obama is probably the most famous person alive NOW, but EVER? No.

Jesus is still the most famous ever. Whether you believe He is the Son of God or not (I do), he is still more famous than anyone else who has ever lived.

Let's see how famous Obama is 2000 years from now. In fact, Elvis & the Beatles will still end up being more famous than Obama in history's eyes. As will Lincoln, Washington, Moses...oh the list can just go on and on!

It's these kind of over-blown expectations that are going to doom this poor man!

[kurtlockwood]

You are wrong according to how Ms. Meyer's phrased it because though Jesus is arguably the most famous person ever, this was not true until after his death. More people knew who Pilate was than Jesus at the time of Jesus' life.

[Holt]

I just think President Obama is only hurt by these kind of over-the-top expectations.

Who can live up to that?

[Ugonna]

I agree with this!

[Lochmon]

For a few decades the most famous American across this planet was a man named R. Buckminster Fuller... even though most other Americans had no idea who he was.

[Jamchinadian]

D D - you are probably right. He likely is (also) the most well liked and respected person alive.

[CVN65]

This is the most hysterical post on this thread. I thought that you were being sarcastic until I read another post further down. You actually mean this, how funny.

[3fingerbrown]

Two pre-digital names that need mentioning in this discussion are Napoleon and Charlie Chaplin.

[Luvial]

Vacuous.

[drock973]

Consider the subject.