# Greatest living American elimination game (game thread) **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [June 16, 2025, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715 "2025-06-16T19:12:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/221 "2025-07-14T20:04:00Z")
A vote for Spielberg. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/222 "2025-07-14T20:46:51Z")
Lovins ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2025, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/223 "2025-07-14T23:03:40Z")
Stephen King Persisting with the black spot vs an exponent of a genre I have nowt truck with. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/224 "2025-07-15T01:12:56Z")
Scott ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/225 "2025-07-15T21:01:25Z")
I’m Johnny Come Lately here, but my three finalists from the list might be Dylan, Gates and Obama. I’d love to believe that Sanders might turn out to be very important, but I am not so optimistic. Other finalists missing from the list might be Francis Ford Coppola, Jack Nicholson and – for her creativity and success – _maybe_ Taylor Swift. (I certainly put these three ahead of Spielberg, Springsteen, Parton.) The choice of Miss Swift will surely attract sneers, so this first post by me in the thread should also be my last. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/226 "2025-07-15T23:24:47Z")
So you get some sneers. You will not die, they’re not poison. 😉(Also, Ms. Swift was nominated, and voted off in round 5). ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/227 "2025-07-16T17:54:38Z")
Our votes this round: José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef - 1 vote Warren Buffett: Level-headed billionaire - 1 vote Bob Dylan: Poet of generation - 1 vote Bill Gates: Futurist, philanthropist, billionaire - 1 vote Stephen King: Great American writer - 1 vote Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist - 7 votes MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist - 1 vote Steven Spielberg: Director, writer, entertainer - 3 votes Amory Lovins finally reaches critical mass and is gone. Our remaining nominees: José Andrés: Humanitarian, chef Joe Biden: President, uniter, overcomer Warren Buffett: Level-headed billionaire Bob Dylan: Poet of generation Anthony Fauci: Physician, immunologist, scientist Bill Gates: Futurist, philanthropist, billionaire Jesse Jackson: Civil rights leader Mark Kelly: Senator, astronaut, aviator Stephen King: Great American writer Barack Obama: President, statesman, lawyer Dolly Parton: Artist, humanitarian Bernie Sanders: Democratic Socialist leader MacKenzie Scott: Philanthropist, prize-winning novelist Steven Spielberg: Director, writer, entertainer Bruce Springsteen: Singer, songwriter, activist Elizabeth Warren: Fighting political foes **Eliminated** 1. Jim Gaffigan: Comedian, author, commentator 2. Craig Ferguson: Polymath, director-writer, comedian 3. Mitt Romney: Senator, impeachment juror 4. Buzz Aldrin: Second on Moon 5. Taylor Swift: Musician, songwriter, icon 6. Tim Walz: Honorable political messenger 7. Simon Biles: GOAT gymnast 8. Judy Blume: Children’s literature icon 9. Amanda Gorman: Poet, activist, prodigy 10. Jim Lovell: Apollo 13 astronaut 11. Spike Lee: Filmmaker, Knicks fan 12. Janet Yellen: Economist, Treasury secretary 13. Magic Johnson: Superstar, survivor, inspiration 14. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Athlete, writer, activist 15. Amory Lovins: Physicist, energy activist Voting for our next round will end at noon EST on Fri. July 18. José Andrés yet again. Just not GLA material. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/228 "2025-07-16T18:00:07Z")
I will join you with Jose Andres. His contributions are not insignificant, but not GLA material. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/229 "2025-07-16T18:02:00Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > José Andrés yet again. Just not GLA material. He and World Central Kitchen have served more than 450 million meals to people in catastrophe zones (e.g Haiti after earthquakes, Puerto Rico), as well as Gaza, Ukraine, North Carolina, etc etc etc. We need more Americans like him. Back to Mackenzie Scott for me ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/230 "2025-07-16T18:02:37Z")
Buffet. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/231 "2025-07-16T18:16:17Z")
I think **Steven Spielberg** is the weakest link at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/232 "2025-07-16T18:18:40Z")
Bruce Springsteen ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/233 "2025-07-16T18:22:12Z")
I sense a bias against greatness reached by being an artist here, how can people vote to eliminate Steven fricking Spielberg from the list while Warren Buffet is still there? Is the ability to accumulate money “greater” than the ability to create wonderful art? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/234 "2025-07-16T18:22:57Z")
Is there even a single Messi among them!? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/235 "2025-07-16T18:25:09Z")
Messi is not “American” for the purposes of this thread, otherwise… well I wouldn’t pick him as a winner (Football IS my religion but I’m not a zealot) but I would rate him above Warren Buffet… ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/236 "2025-07-16T18:26:40Z")
Right, I was just making an analogy and tweaking you a bit. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/237 "2025-07-16T18:28:39Z")
I know 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/238 "2025-07-16T18:29:21Z")
Everyone has a bias. Picking an athlete over the greatest philanthropist the country has ever seen is certainly one. [Warren Buffett Philanthropy 2024: Making a Difference with Impact, Values, and Compassion - Impact Wealth](https://impactwealth.org/warren-buffett-philanthropy-2024-making-a-difference-with-impact-values-and-compassion/) ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/239 "2025-07-16T18:32:59Z")
I guess it depends on how you define “greatness”, as I see it anybody could be the greatest philanthropist if they had enough money, at that level he probably didn’t have to abstain from buying anything he wanted, let alone _needed_ in order to donate all that money. Whereas basically nobody (currently living) but Messi could’ve given that assist against the Netherlands… ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715/240 "2025-07-16T18:36:35Z")
That’s certainly one way to look at it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/greatest-living-american-elimination-game-game-thread/1019715.md?page=13)