Over the centuries-old history of Russia, there have been many personalities whose names are included in the chronicles of the country in red letters. Outstanding rulers, artists, travelers, generals, heroes, athletes - they all deserve to be on the list of “Famous People of Russia”. Odanko there are too many such names, and compiling a complete list is extremely difficult, or rather, practically impossible. Therefore, each of the authors tries to enter the names of celebrities into it, based on various criteria, taking as a basis a certain principle. After analyzing the pages of Russian history, we tried to compile a list of the great ones according to their recognition outside our country.

Initially, the Russian state did not have individual rulers. Each city had its own prince, who considered himself a ruler. Among these feudal lords there were those who were able to stand out more than others. Therefore, the list of “The most famous people of Russia” begins with the names of some of these rulers, for example, Prince Oleg, Igor, under whom Kievan Rus adopted the Christian faith, Yaroslav the Wise, etc. I would also like to add to this list the name of the Grand Russian Duchess Olga, wife. Also quite famous personalities are Vladimir Monomakh and his son Yuri Dolgoruky. And Alexander Nevsky? Novgorod prince, who became famous thanks to his victory over the Swedes in the Battle of the Neva. A century later, another Russian prince, Dmitry Donskoy, became famous in the Battle of Kulikovo. Ivan the Fourth, nicknamed the Terrible for his temper, is one of the most iconic figures in Russian history. In addition, he “became famous” as a son-killer tsar, and, naturally, it is impossible to do without him when compiling a list of “Famous People of Russia”. Here you also need to enter the name of the reformer tsar who “cut a huge window into Europe,” Peter the Great (the First). After him, for almost two centuries, the country was mainly ruled by female persons: Catherine the First, Elizaveta Petrovna, Anna Ioannovna, Anna Leopoldovna, Great Empress Catherine the Second. Then the tsars began to rule Russia again: Nicholas the First, Alexander the Second and the Third, etc. The last Russian emperor was Nicholas the Second, who became a victim of communist terror.

Great favorites

It so happened that Russian rulers gave great powers to their favorites. So, for example, under Peter the Great, one of the highest positions in the state was occupied by a certain Alexander Menshikov, a peasant by birth. As for the queens, they were generally surrounded by a whole army of favorites, the most persistent of whom began to rule the state instead of royalty, receiving the ranks of ministers and chancellors. Naryshkin, Shuvalov, Biron, Grigory Orlov, etc. - all these names can also occupy places in the list of “famous people of Russia”, since their role in governing the state is simply colossal. The last favorite of the Russian throne was the healer and healer Grigory Rasputin. He had unlimited power over Empress Maria Feodorovna, since he treated her sick son, the heir to the throne.

Leaders and first secretaries of the Communist Party of the USSR - famous people of Russia in the 20th century

The beginning of the twentieth century was marked by events of unprecedented significance - the fall of the Russian Empire as a result of the revolution, as well as the beginning of the First World War. During this period, Vladimir Lenin was considered the most famous person not only in Russia, but throughout the whole world. Later, the “Great Leader of Peoples” Joseph Stalin, who was considered the winner of World War II, gained no less popularity. Of the Soviet leaders abroad, Nikita Khrushchev also managed to distinguish himself, whose eccentric antics in the hall of the UN Assembly simply shocked the entire Western society, and Mikhail Gorbachev - the first president of the USSR, who contributed to the “redrawing” of all of Europe and forever wrote his name on the pages world history. You can also see some photos of famous people of Russia that are mentioned in this article in the text.

Famous Russian artists

Our people have always been famous for their creative potential. A great many writers and poets, composers and artists, architects, playwrights and actors, singers and dancers, etc. form part of the world's treasury of art. Among poets and writers, a special place is occupied by Pushkin, Lermontov, Derzhavin, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Dostoevsky, Bunin and others. Of the composers, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Rimsky-Korsakov, Shostakovich and others are especially popular. Konstantin Stanislavsky is still considered one of the most prominent figures in the development of modern theatrical art. Well, the famous ballet dancers Maya Plisetskaya and Galina Ulanova glorified Russian ballet throughout the world.

Famous people of Russia of the 21st century

The 21st century is the century of globalization. The Internet, satellite television, the ability to easily tour from one end of the world to the other have made names for many Russian artists, athletes, politicians, etc. more recognizable outside their country. Of course, the most famous Russian of our days is none other than the President of the Russian Federation - Vladimir Putin. Some oligarchs are also quite famous personalities: Abramovich, Berezovsky, Khodorkovsky, Usmanov, etc.

The most famous people of Russia of our time are also the prima donna of the Russian stage Alla Pugacheva, famous directors-brothers Andrei Konchalovsky and Nikita Mikhalkov, the famous conductor and violinist Spivakov, singers Lyubov Kazarnovskaya and Anna Netrebko, ballet dancers Tsiskaridze, Volochkova, Liepa, etc.

Conclusion

There are a great many famous names among the sons and daughters of Russia. Among them are world-famous scientists, for example Lomonosov and Mendeleev, Kurchatov and Landau; designers and testers, cosmonauts (Gafgarin and Tereshkova), actors, painters, etc.

Our century has come quite recently, and therefore we cannot yet say who exactly are the outstanding personalities of Russia in the 21st century. However, an analysis of the past will give us the opportunity to understand what truly great things we can expect from Slavic blood. After all, as we know, whoever knows the past knows the future.

Sergey Yesenin

A contemporary of Mayakovsky and his complete opposite as an author. A subtle and soulful lyricist, who at the same time managed to remain an eternal hooligan and teenager. He raised themes of the individual’s struggle with the environment, love for nature and, of course, for women.

Vladimir Vysotsky

Bard, author of many songs and poems. The greatest poet His hoarse voice seemed to submerge his voice under the legacy that all the outstanding personalities of Russia of the 20th century left him. He raised themes of the internal and external struggle of man, his place in society and in the world in general. Subtle satirist.

Bulat Okudzhava

Also a poet who independently performed his poems in the form of songs. Touching and honest, he wrote poems filled with some kind of cosmic thoughtfulness. He often used metaphors, creating deep images with them. His songs had a parable form, which was once even (good-naturedly) parodied by Vysotsky.

Filmmakers

Lev Kuleshov

Thanks to him, outstanding personalities of Russia began to appear in cinema. The discoverer of the “Kuleshov effect” - “two frames that are independent in meaning, glued together, create a new meaning.” In fact, the founder of the montage story.

The first person in Russia to use color in cinema was the red flag in the same “Battleship Potemkin”.

Mikhail Romm

Director of documentaries (“Ordinary Fascism”) and feature films (“Nine Days of One Year”). One of the most important film theorists of the mid-20th century. Teacher at VGIK and author of many scientific works.

Andrei Tarkovsky

A man who manages to film a true art house in the USSR. His feeds are filled with personal meanings, full of metaphors and subtle hints. He directed “Solaris” and “Stalker”, most often making his works into sort of parables and allegories.

Artists

Andrey Rublev

Modern outstanding personalities of Russia among artists would be impossible without the man who laid the foundation of Russian painting.

Each of his paintings is like a photograph taken during the culmination of the event that he was trying to capture. His paintings are endlessly alive and cannot always reveal their true meaning at first glance. The main thing in Repin is the emotions of the characters and details.

Kazimir Malevich

The great modernist, known as the author of the now household name “Black Square”. He was busy searching for new forms and ways of expressing color in painting. His paintings are full of abstractions and geometric shapes, attempts to invent something new in his art. I tried to find “absolute peace” in the paintings.

Composers

Pyotr Tchaikovsky

One of the first Russian professional composers, Tchaikovsky made music a true craft (in the good sense of the word). He was a man who simply could not help but write music.

The extremely diverse themes raised in all possible genres make Pyotr Ilyich a composer capable of reaching the heart of every person. His most famous works are the ballets “The Nutcracker” and “Swan Lake”.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

He believed that the main goal of music is to unite the listener with the true nature of the world, which can only be expressed in a similar, melodic form.

Dmitry Shostakovich

A composer with a difficult fate, who initially worked in the style of modernism and actively experimented in all genres. However, Stalin personally did not like Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, and then brutal repressions followed.

To save himself and his family, Shostakovich had to create in a purely “state” manner. However, his music really proves that even a simple listener can hear the subtext intended by the composer. Everyone then understood the many subtle moods and meanings that he put into symphonies No. 5 and No. 7.

Scientists

Mikhail Lomonosov

The first Russian encyclopedist, “a man of all sciences.” He brought Russian research to the level of Europe. He made many discoveries in almost every modern science.

As an academician and one of the most active personalities of his time, he was an icon for the Russian Enlightenment.

Dmitriy Mendeleev

A Russian chemist who has already become legendary, who managed to create the periodic system of chemical elements, which significantly pushed world science forward.

The existence of such a table clearly proves the harmony of nature and its clear system.

One of the greatest discoveries on which, in fact, all modern natural science rests, belongs to him. He also worked in other sciences, where he also made various discoveries.

Ivan Pavlov

The first Nobel laureate from Russia. Pavlov made a major discovery in biology and physiology - it was he who discovered the presence of reflexes in the body of living beings. And it was this Russian scientist who divided them into conditional and unconditional.

Pavlov devoted his entire life to this discovery, and even when dying, he continued to dictate his feelings to his students - so that science could better understand the state of death.

Athletes

Ivan Poddubny

Legendary Russian wrestler, “hero of the 20th century.” In ten years I haven’t lost even once. He became a wrestling champion five times.

Garry Kasparov

Chess player with many awards, “Chess Oscars” and the title of world champion. He became famous for his extremely successful combination of various tactics and strategies and his ability to emerge victorious from a seemingly completely failed game.

“Kasparov's Openings” is the current name for unexpected and non-standard moves at the beginning of a game.

Lev Yashin

Soviet goalkeeper, famous for his absolute “impenetrability”. Considered the best goalkeeper of the 20th century. Repeatedly recognized as the best goalkeeper of the USSR. Winner of the Golden Ball.

Conclusion

As we see, outstanding personalities in the history of Russia have become extremely significant for all of humanity. Chekhov can easily be called the best playwright in the world, and Mendeleev the greatest chemist. All these people are important not only for Russia, but also for every area in which they became famous.

We can only hope that the outstanding personalities of Russia of the 21st century will, just like their predecessors, mean something for the whole world, and not just for their homeland.

There are people who were able to become famous throughout the world. Their names immediately come to mind when talking about any area of ​​life or art, because it was they who contributed to the development of the economy, creativity, politics and other industries. There are outstanding personalities in every generation, so the list of the most famous people will never become scarce.

Art: Walt Disney

This man was truly great and contributed to the development of children's animation. The younger generation around the world watches his animated films many times. During his life, he drew more than a hundred ribbons with his own hands. More than 500 were filmed under his strict guidance. All Disney cartoons are imbued with light and goodness. Over time, Walt Disney founded his own studio, which is now world famous.

Politics: Adolf Hitler

Undoubtedly, this man is a fanatic, a dictator and even, in the opinion of the majority, a world evil. The youthful fascination with the political movement of nationalists and anti-Semites did not pass without a trace. The belief in the exclusivity of the Aryan nation and that everyone should worship it was firmly ingrained in his head. When Hitler headed the German Empire, he began to preach a policy of conquering Europe, and then world domination, which led to World War II.

Science: Albert Einstein

A true genius who made a huge contribution to the development of scientific activity. His discoveries and achievements were awarded the highest award - the Nobel Prize. To this day, no one has dared to challenge or supplement the toric calculations of the famous theoretical physicist about how the universe works. Based on his theoretical research, major breakthroughs in physics were made.

Sports: Michael Jordan

This athlete is a baseball player and is not tall or particularly talented. But he has plenty of ambition and perseverance. It was thanks to them that Jordan was able to achieve considerable success and become a famous player in the NBA team. His sports career was followed by millions, for whom the hardworking athlete became an idol and role model.

Painting: Pablo Picasso

During his career, Picasso became the founder of cubism in the field of fine art. Experts say that the works of this artist are the most expensive in the world and arouse genuine interest among visitors to museums and art galleries.

The number of outstanding people is not limited to this list. If you wish, you can find out even more details about their life and professional activities. You will see that success was not accidental for them. They had to fight for their fame, which inspires each of us to new achievements.

Who are the most famous people in Russia today? Who are the younger generation and adults targeting? Who is known more today - heroes of the past or contemporaries? Let's try to figure it out.

Famous people

The list of “Famous People of Russia” includes a variety of characters. These are politicians, writers, artists and musicians. Recently, a rating of the most popular Russian personalities was compiled based on search queries on the Internet.

Rating leader

It will not be a surprise to most readers that the most famous person in Russia is the current President, Vladimir Putin.

Born in St. Petersburg. During the Soviet Union, he served in the State Security Committee, in particular he worked in the GDR.

The names of famous people in Russia are well known to everyone. In the case of Putin, this is confirmed by the presidential elections. He has already won this race three times, receiving the support of at least 60 percent of voters who came to the polls.

Before becoming head of state, Putin served as head of the Federal Security Service, and then served as prime minister of the country for six months. Before the New Year 2000, Putin replaced the retired Boris Yeltsin. Before the elections, he served as acting president of the Russian Federation.

Putin is now in his third term in power. Little is known about his personal life. He divorced his wife. He has two daughters, whose identities and whereabouts are not disclosed.

As Prime Minister

The second most popular person was the current Prime Minister, ex-President of Russia Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev. He was also rightfully included in the list of “Famous People of the Country of Russia”.

In the early 2000s, he headed the board of directors of one of the largest Russian companies, Gazprom. In 2008 he won the Russian presidential elections.

Most of his activities are remembered for intensifying the fight against corruption, softer policies in the international arena, and the passion of the head of state for modern technologies. It was during his era that the words “innovation” and “gadgets” came into use among Russians.

In 2012, he was replaced in this post by Vladimir Putin, and Medvedev became prime minister and headed the United Russia political party. He remains in these positions to this day. In particular, he oversees the implementation of the largest national projects in the country.

Despite his more restrained foreign policy, it was during his presidency that an armed conflict occurred in Abkhazia between the Russian and Georgian armies. Many dubbed it the Five Day War.

Russian epic novel

Not only our contemporaries were included in the list of “Famous People of Russia”. The dead are also present in it. For example, the writer Leo Tolstoy. This is one of the largest and most popular prose writers and thinkers of the 19th century. And not only in Russia, but throughout the world. His novels are read in different parts of the world.

His uniqueness lies in the fact that during his lifetime he was recognized as the greatest of Russian writers. Tolstoy rightfully bears the title of “famous man of Russia.” Almost all of his novels are still being republished in English.

He is considered one of the founders of a new stage in world realism. He had a strong influence on humanists around the world, as well as on the development of the realist tradition.

His novels and stories have been filmed many times by the most famous directors. For example, just recently another mini-series based on his epic “War and Peace” was released in the United States.

First President of Russia

The list of “Famous People of Russia” always includes the first president, Boris Yeltsin. He came to power in 1991 as a result of the collapse of the Soviet Union.

A native of the Sverdlovsk region, during perestroika he was the personification of the democratic trends that were so popular in the country at that time. In 1991, he was elected the first and only president of the RSFSR.

It is with his name that the changes that have occurred in the country are associated. First of all, this is glasnost, the transition from a planned to a market economy.

Many people have a lot of complaints about his policies. He is blamed for the collapse of the USSR, the war in Chechnya, the unstable economic situation in the country, and rampant banditry and crime. At the same time, experts note that only under Yeltsin did independent media work, the concept of “private property” and the opportunity to conduct business appeared.

Diva

People of creative professions are as popular as politicians. Therefore, it is not surprising that the singer Alla Pugacheva was included in the list of “Famous People of Russia of the 21st Century”. Even though her career began long before the new millennium.

At one time, she was the most popular performer on the national stage. Pugacheva’s repertoire includes half a thousand songs. Moreover, they have been translated into dozens of world languages, they are sung by pop singers in different countries of the world.

In addition to the USSR and Russia, Pugacheva’s records and albums were also published in Germany, Poland, Bulgaria and even Japan and South Korea. The total circulation of all discs exceeded a quarter of a billion units.

The name of Alla Pugacheva is well known not only in Russia, but also in the countries of Eastern and Northern Europe. In our country, she was consistently recognized as the most popular singer from the mid-70s to the 90s. And now he does not lose his fame. Even regardless of age. She is already 67 years old.

Pugacheva officially stopped touring in 2010, when she turned 60 years old. At the same time, she continues to appear in public and conduct creative activities. Pugacheva regularly participates in various talk shows as a guest star, expert or jury member.

She is married to the famous master of parody Maxim Galkin. She has two daughters, a son and already three grandchildren.

Voice of the era

The list of "Famous People of Russia" would be incomplete without Vladimir Vysotsky. This famous poet and musician died almost 40 years ago, but his songs are still listened to by both those who found him alive and went to his concerts, and those who were born years after his death.

Vysotsky is a unique poet who managed to write lyrics for all walks of life without exception. He sang about criminals, and about front-line soldiers, and about scientists, and about peasants. Everyone felt that the author knew the most important things about his life and profession. Many were deeply convinced that without being a front-line soldier or a criminal, one could not write such texts. But Vysotsky was not only a poet, but also a wonderful actor, who played in such famous films as “Vertical”, “Dangerous Tours”, “The Meeting Place Cannot Be Changed”.

He performed his songs on stage with an ordinary seven-string guitar. He was also one of the key actors of the Taganka Theater. He played in more than 20 performances, including appearing in the role of Shakespeare's Hamlet.

According to the results of a survey by VTsIOM, he was second only to one person in the list of idols of the last century.

First man in space

The Russians called Yuri Gagarin the idol of the 20th century. The first inhabitant of planet Earth to go into space. Gagarin, who was born shortly before the Great Patriotic War in a small village in the Smolensk region, dreamed of the sky since childhood. He dreamed of becoming a pilot, so he went to study in Saratov.

Soon after this, he entered an experimental program to prepare for the first manned space flight. Of course, several people were preparing; which of them would fly was not known until the very last moment. The lucky ticket fell to Yuri Gagarin.

It launched on a Vostok rocket on April 12, 1961, ushering in the space age for humanity. His flight lasted 108 minutes. After that, he successfully landed near the town of Engels in the Saratov region.

Gagarin instantly became a world celebrity. He was invited abroad, he visited at least 30 countries, and dined with the Queen of Great Britain.

True, he was never destined to fly into space again. But he remained in aviation, testing new aircraft. Tragically died in 1968 while performing training flights on a MiG aircraft. His death became a national mourning throughout the country.

The sun of Russian poetry

When talking about the most famous Russian people, we cannot forget about the 19th century poet Alexander Sergeevich Pushkin. There is not a person in Russia who does not know at least a few of his poems. Pushkin's poetry is taught at school and university, but we can say with confidence that it has not been possible to study him thoroughly until now. There are so many hidden meanings and signs in his poems.

Pushkin is the founder of the Russian literary language. Brought up on French literature and the fairy tales of his nanny Arina Rodionovna, he managed to create the best poetic works, which the Russian language is still proud of.

The names of some people - representatives of a wide variety of professions and activities - are associated in our minds with incredible fame and success. We call them first if we are asked to answer the question of who is the most famous, influential person in economics, art, politics, etc. The most famous people in the world - this list is not subject to final compilation, because each of us has our own priorities and views on life. However, you can't argue with some people's fame.

The most famous people in art

Chaplin

At the dawn of cinema, Charlie Chaplin became its superstar. The comedian's career spanned a total of 80 years.

Chaplin was the founder of his own film studio, a theater and silent film star, one of the creative pillars of silent cinema, the developer of most of the stunts and comic filming techniques, and a witness to the change from the silent era to the sound era. Chaplin twice received an out-of-competition Oscar, and in 1973 the Film Academy posthumously awarded him another statuette with the wording “For making cinema an art.”

Everyone knows the image of Chaplin - a clumsy eccentric in a bowler hat and with a painted mustache. It’s hard to believe that he was completely different without makeup.

Disney

Walt Disney is a cult figure like Chaplin, only in animation. As an animation director, Disney directed 111 films with his own hands and produced more than 500 more. It is impossible to imagine childhood without “Snow White”, “Bambi”, “Sleeping Beauty”, these films are so bright, so light and kind they are.

Today, The Walt Disney Company's earnings exceed $30 billion a year, but before founding the studio, Disney received more than 300 refusals, because animation was considered a hopeless area of ​​investment.

Wald Disney and the brainchildren of his employees - Mickey, Donald and Goofy

Monroe

Marilyn Monroe is an actress, a sex symbol of the era, a woman whose name everyone puts in their personal list of the most interesting, beautiful and mysterious women.

Having entered the film studio as an extra, Monroe made a dizzying career and became the highest paid actress from 1950 until the end of the century. Her films had grossed $200 million by the time she died suddenly in 1962. The legendary blonde acquired condescension towards her own fame and contempt for money, repeating that kisses in Hollywood cost millions, but a soul costs 50 cents.

Most Famous Artist

Vincent Van Gogh is an artist whose influence on the entire world culture was appreciated only after his death. During his lifetime, Van Gogh sold only one painting, and the room where he painted was so cold that he was sometimes forced to light the stove with his paintings.

Van Gogh's 800 paintings, which were ahead of their time in terms of art development, became examples of post-impressionism. The artist spent his whole life trying to copy the child’s style of drawing, and eventually created sincere, spontaneous paintings, the most expensive of which today costs almost $150 million.

Self-portrait of Van Gogh

Politician

Unconditionally, the palm in politics should be awarded to the most famous dictator, Adolf Hitler, whose name is involuntarily associated with world evil.

A very talented artist and a good musician could have lived a life completely far from politics, but in his youth he became interested in the political views of nationalists and anti-Semites.

Based on his belief in the special mission of the German nation, Hitler built his own empire and became its head in 1934. Hitler began to take over all of Europe and launched the largest and bloodiest war in human history - World War II. Hitler's main political postulates are reflected in the book Mein Kampf, which became the program document of the Nationalist Party.

The most famous athlete

Michael Jordan is an American basketball player, NBA player, who instilled a love of basketball in most modern athletes. Jordan is not the tallest or the most gifted, but he is the most ambitious and persistent athlete. Expelled from the school basketball league, the young athlete was able to achieve the status of a basketball superstar and, through many years of training, developed a unique style of play.

He is known for ending his sports career and returning three times: the first time at the end of the 1992 Olympics due to moral and physical exhaustion (returned to the NBA in 1995); the second break was in 1999-2001; Jordan returned to professional sports for the third time in September 2001, wanting to transfer all the fees he received to a fund to help victims of the terrorist attack in the United States.

Jordan's accomplishments barely fit on the marble plaque at the United Center.

At times, Jordan played with his tongue involuntarily sticking out, saying that this habit was “in the family”, from his father and older brother, and was an expression of complete passion and concentration on the game.

Literary creativity

They say that a writer must be hungry in order not to relax and create. Perhaps, in this regard, in the “literature” section it is appropriate to mention the name of the writer JK Rowling as a woman recognized as a genius and the highest paid children’s writer. It's hard to believe that the most popular hero, Harry Potter, could not be seen by either readers or audiences in cinemas.

The first book about Harry Potter was rejected by more than 10 publishers, but today the image of the young wizard has turned into a brand, and its creator has become the world's first billionaire writer.

The science

A prominent figure in science, whose scientific research turned the world upside down, is Albert Einstein. The achievements of the theoretical physicist were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921, and to this day Einstein’s theories about the structure of the universe have not been challenged or supplemented.

Einstein foresaw several major breakthroughs in physics, including the still unrealized possibility of quantum teleportation.

Media

The most famous media person can be considered the American TV presenter and journalist Oprah Winfrey. The personification of a modern talk show and synonymous with a show journalist, the most influential woman for American women, the first black female billionaire, a media mogul with her own studio, publication, and broadcast - this is Winfrey.

She went through a difficult journey from a teenage girl who gave birth at age 13, to the youngest, 17-year-old television reporter and the first black reporter in the state of Nashville, to her own show, which brought her worldwide fame.

The most famous people in the world - they all went through a difficult path, full of failures and hard work, proving by personal example that luck alone is not enough to win and you need to move forward, despite the lack of money, strength, support, even the very desire to live. Their examples inspire or, on the contrary, serve as a counter-example, but the names of famous artists, writers, and leaders will be a symbol of the era for a long time.