Gallup has been asking the U.S. public to name the men and women they admire the most around the world every year since 1948. In 2019, Barack Obama and Donald Trump were tied as the most admired man with 18 percent. No other man was mentioned by more than two percent of respondents and Jimmy Carter, Elon Musk and Bill Gates all followed a significant distance behind with two percent.
Gallup states that historically, it has been more common for a former first lady to be named the most admired woman than for a former president to be named the most admired man. In 2019, Michelle Obama was the most admired woman in the U.S. with 10 percent while Melania Trump came second with five percent. Oprah Winfrey, Hillary Clinton and Greta Thunberg all followed with three percent.
