Damn Skippy. I was just about to report you to … you.
gotta be Ronald Macdonald!
Depends on what kind of criteria you’re going to use:
Irving Berling wrote the most popular song ever. (Sold more songs.)
The Beatles were the most popular group ever.
Elvis was the most popular entertainer ever.
Franklin Roosevelt had the most votes ever.
Bill Gates made the most money ever.
Stephen Speilberg made the most popular film ever.
and ect.
It has got to be Muhammad a.k.a. the dude that came up with Islam. There are about 1 billion or more Muslims in the world and they love the man.
Either that or the Pope, every catholic loves the pope, actually alot of people love the Pope 
How about The Queen? (of England - just the fact that she gets to be known as “the queen” and all of the other queens out there have to be qualified with their nations says something, doesn’t it?)
This is no place for speculation. Someone got a cite? An AP poll? A Q-score?
It would be a good argument if she was refered to as “the queen” everywhere. But is it the case outside the commonwealth (and possibly the US)? I doubt it. Here, she’s called “the queen of England”. Nobody would just say “the queen”. I assume it’s even more in true in countries who have actual kings/queens/princes of their own.
Mickey Mouse?
The Smiley Face?
Since these aren’t people, why does Ronald McDonald count?
Why is this inane poll in GQ? It ain’t factually answerable.
Exac-a-dactly. And if someone doesn’t come up with something along the lines of “In 1997, the Lou Harris organization asked a cross-section of the world’s population…” it’s going to go bye-bye pretty quick.
They don’t say who was surveyed, but here’s a cite for Robin Hood:
I got it! I got it! the father of three religions…the man…the myth…
Abraham!
Taaa daaaa!
ELIVIS BABY!
I can’t believe I spelt Elvis wrong! lol
I live in Central Florida and the answer around here seems to be…Walt Disney. Dead or alive or frozen or whatever, everyone loves the guy.
"The most popular person … EVER! "
Ain’t that me?
runs for cover
I would have to agree with astorian- Muhammad Ali. Popular and recognizable, although have never been a big fan of the boxer.
My guess would be Bob Hope…Especially with military people…
Off to IMHO.
DrMatrix - General Questions Moderator
I gotta think you’d have a hard time finding many rational detractors from Mandela and Ghandi. Or Buddha. or Abarham. If we are talking about world population.
Some of the above answers are definitely western favorites, but remember that we are still a minority (however vocal) on this planet.