# Who will be famous longest? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 9, 2003, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817 "2003-12-09T01:20:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![stuyguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@stuyguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stuyguy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/21 "2003-12-09T16:59:31Z")
notquite, meaning no disrespect, I am not underestimating the power of global sports. We’re talking (using the OP as my guide) 500 years from now. Think about that: 500 years! The only names to survive the half-millenium culling tend to be great artists (composers, writers, etc. included), inventors or businesspeople whose work essentially changed the course of history or the lifestyle of much of the world’s population, statesmen (polititians and military leaders) or “firsts.” Sports figures and other “popular heroes” (thank goodness) generally do not make the cut, usually because tastes change (goodbye Beatles) or records get broken. Do you really think any sports record will survive for 500 years. Armstrong is a “first” that will endure like Columbus or the Wright Brothers. (Lindburgh, on the other hand is a “first” who will deservedly fade as the current generation dies off. What the hell were we thinking, anyway?) For better or worse, Gates is still in the running as (possibly) a global Henry Ford (who did not invent the car but who ushered in the automobile age). These two are not just “businessmen who Americans like to remember,” notquite; they are businessmen whose work reshaped the business and lifestyle practices of the entire world population. Closing thought: I suspect that there is someone alive today who will do something in the field of biotechnology that will make him/her well-known in 500 years. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/22 "2003-12-09T17:00:21Z")
Hymie Stankowitz. Well, either Hymie or Muhammed Ali. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/23 "2003-12-09T17:49:32Z")
One of the English princes. I figure one of them will be the last King of England, which will be remembered for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![noname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@noname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noname)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/24 "2003-12-09T17:51:51Z")
Pres Bush does have a shot at being famous/infamous. He is the unelected leader of a democratic country, led his country into two wars, misled the media every chance he got, opposed a legislation for making the environment safe…and that not even the end of his term yet!! The list may grow if the wins a second term. Neil Armstron is quite known in the third world countries, so he is a possible contender as well. In my part of the world (India), it has to be Amitabh Bachchan (actor). He is still a phenomenon at nearly 60. People are going to forget him easily. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/25 "2003-12-09T18:18:31Z")
Paris Hilton? \ ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/26 "2003-12-09T18:26:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by noname \* > \*\* He is the unelected leader of a democratic country… \*\* Time to get over this, really! Just because you don’t like the result, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Gore accepted it, so should you. * * * Denial ain’t just a river in the desert! ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/27 "2003-12-09T19:35:25Z")
I think there’s a big potential category that everyone is missing… many, if not most, of the people we remember from 500+ years back are artists… painters, composers, etc. Who’s the equivalent of that in today’s society? I’m not quite sure, actually… one name that pops to mind is **Steven Spielberg** , but there’s no real precedent in world history to be able to guess how well films will survive as works of art over the long haul. Along those lines, less US-centric, might be **Miyazaki** (is that his name? the **Spirited Away** guy.) Is **Kurosawa** still alive? I’m sure that there’s _some_ author or playwright writing today who will achieve some level of lasting fame. But who? Other people who might count as being “famous” are people after whom things are named. **Amerigo Vespucci** , for instance. I’m not sure who qualifies for that from the current world population, however. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/28 "2003-12-09T21:19:02Z")
Science: Hawking (honorable mention: Crick & Watson) Music: The Beatles (Fine, just Paul and Ringo if you need them to be alive). (honorable mention: Elvis) Tastes do change, but there are always classicists. We still remember Bach & Handel after nearly 300 yrs. In addition, the advent of recorded media will have a big impact on this too. Film: Tough one here. It’s such a new media, relatively speaking, that it’s tough to say who will be seen as the innovators. I suspect it will be the more auteur-like directors, and one or two superstars. So… maybe Spielberg. Maybe Scorcese or Coppola. For the actors, it doesn’t have to be the best ones, just the superstars. (Nearly 100 yrs later, more people recognize Chaplin than Keaton.) So maybe Tom Cruise? Or Julia Roberts? ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Serpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3be4f8/32.png) [@Silver\_Serpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Serpentine)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/29 "2003-12-09T23:21:25Z")
Well, since we’re talking about art, and no one’s really covered it, I’ll toss my $.02 in. The only modern artist I can think of (not being one who follows art) is Pollock. I hate his work, but I still know who he is. Then there’s Spielburg and George Lucas. I don’t know if any of those three will be remembered, tho. And Bush might be remembered for (and I’ll keep my own political beliefs out of this) being elected through such controversy (I’ve heard than an unofficial recount was made and that he actually lost Fl. Not claiming its truth one way or another.) And in the category of Firsts, I’d go with Neil Armstrong. All in all, I have no idea who’ll be well-remembered, ---
**Author:** ![Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raymond_luxury_yacht/32/4099_2.png) [@Raymond\_Luxury\_Yacht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raymond_Luxury_Yacht)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/30 "2003-12-09T23:59:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by noname \* > \*\*In my part of the world (India), it has to be Amitabh Bachchan (actor). \*\* What about **Otm Shank**? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gex\_gex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/94ad74/32.png) [@gex\_gex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gex_gex)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/31 "2003-12-10T12:24:09Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by stuyguy_ > The only names to survive the half-millenium culling tend to be great artists (composers, writers, etc. included), inventors or businesspeople whose work essentially changed the course of history or the lifestyle of much of the world’s population, statesmen (polititians and military leaders) or “firsts.” Sports figures and other “popular heroes” (thank goodness) generally do not make the cut, usually because tastes change (goodbye Beatles) or records get broken. Do you really think any sports record will survive for 500 years. It’s not a useful guide to look at who we remember from 500 years prior to determine who will be remembered 500 year in the future. I wouldn’t be surprised if quite a few people alive today will be remembered simply because of the advance in communications, especially over the past 100 years. 500 years ago, there were very high levels of illiteracy, no newspapers, not even much in the way of novels. I can, without too much difficulty, find a copy of the New York Times from a century ago and read that, and I’d say that someone 100 years into the future would be able to do the same. With better communications and better archiving of information, I wouldn’t be surprised if at least some of today’s pop celebrities are remembered. ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/32 "2003-12-10T12:55:32Z")
I thought of all of these but I don’t think any of them would be more famous in 500 years than Neil Armstrong - Muhammed Ali - Pele - Bill Gates - Nelson Mandela - Pope John Paul II - Roger Bannister (alive?) - Yuri Gugarin (alive?) ---
**Author:** ![CanvasShoes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@CanvasShoes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CanvasShoes)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/33 "2003-12-10T13:10:51Z")
Madonna… What??? (come on, it’s been 40 years, MM is still “famous”). ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/34 "2003-12-10T14:51:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MaxTheVool \* > **I’m not quite sure, actually… one name that pops to mind is Steven Spielberg, but there’s no real precedent in world history to be able to guess how well films will survive as works of art over the long haul. Along those lines, less US-centric, might be Miyazaki (is that his name? the Spirited Away guy.) Is Kurosawa still alive?** Kurosawa died in 1998. I agree that cultural contributions are the easiest way to long-lasting fame. However, you need to be careful. Just because someone is very famous now doesn’t mean they’ll be famous in 200 years. Flashback to 1875 and ask anyone who, of William Bouguereau or Claude Monet will be more famous in the 21st century. The answer you’re likely to get is: Claude _who_? Some people, like Vermeer and Vivaldi sink into obscurity and shoot back into the spotlight big time. Of Elvis Presley and John Cage, who will be more famous in 2300? I say Cage, at least, we can be pretty sure that [they’ll still be playing Cage’s music](http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/arts/highlights/010911_cage.shtml). ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/35 "2003-12-10T14:53:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sirtonyh \* > \*\*- Yuri Gugarin (alive?) \*\* Gagarin died in a test plane crash in 1968. ---
**Author:** ![jehovah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@jehovah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jehovah)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/36 "2003-12-10T15:43:55Z")
This is probably a little controversial, (but since when did that matter?), so how about… Jesus Christ? Those of us who believe in him affirm that he is still alive today, and he is certainly famous. ---
**Author:** ![noname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@noname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noname)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/37 "2003-12-10T17:30:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jehovah68 \* > \*\*What about **Otm Shank**? > 😉 \*\* Who??? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![noname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/58f4c7/32.png) [@noname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/noname)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/38 "2003-12-10T17:37:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gatopescado \* > \*\*Time to get over this, really! Just because you don’t like the result, doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. Gore accepted it, so should you. > \*\* Hey, I just stated a fact. Are you gonna deny it? ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/39 "2003-12-10T18:18:59Z")
Well, no you didn’t. ---
**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:** [December 10, 2003, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817/40 "2003-12-10T18:54:19Z")
It’s the “reasonably well known by the world population” clause that keeps tripping me up. I can think of a number of people who will be remembered in their fields: Hawking Watson and Crick Gates Pele Muhammed Ali But when it comes to popular fame, it’s hard to guess what historians will consider important. Here are a few that I consider possible. Reagan and Gobachov Pope John Paul II Billy Graham Nelson Mandela Yassir Arafat [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-will-be-famous-longest/217817.md?page=3)