1

Mr. Peanut

Image: Tom Hermans

As familiar as snacking on a handful of peanuts, Mr. Peanut is a beloved symbol for us all. Incredibly, despite being a successful and recognizable character, Mr. Peanut's design only cost $5!

That's right, Planters Company created a contest in 1916 to find the ideal mascot. And guess who won? A 14-year-old boy! Antonio Gentile received $5 in exchange for his cute peanut-bodied mascot, to which the top hat and monocle were later added. Not only is his appearance sophisticated, but his name is, too. Mr. Peanut's full name is Bartholomew Richard Fitzgerald-Smythe. Fancy, right?

2

Tony the Tiger

Image: Sten Ritterfeld

One of the most famous felines, Tony the Tiger , the mascot of Kellogg's Frosted Flakes cereal , first appeared in a TV commercial in 1952, more than 70 years ago!

Despite his age, Tony still embodies the ideas of strength and energy that the brand wants to associate with its delicious cereals.

His distinctive muscular body and unique red scarf around his neck make him one of the most recognizable characters for people of all ages. He is just gr-r-reat!

3

Energizer Bunny

Image: danilo.alvesd

We've all wished we had the incredible energy of the Energizer Bunny , right?

This cute, drum-beating mascot first appeared in a TV commercial in the late 1980s. Its characteristic endless energy symbolizes the power of the brand's batteries, summed up in its classic catchphrase, "It keeps going and going and going..."

Over time, this little pink bunny with sunglasses has gained worldwide fame and has become one of the most recognizable brand mascots.

4

Mr. Clean

Image: JESHOOTS.COM

We've already seen tigers, rabbits, and even peanuts with eyes; now it's the turn of a human-shaped mascot.

Mr. Clean is the legendary mascot of the Procter & Gamble cleaning product line, famous for his look and accessories. With his white eyebrows, classic earring, bald head, and white T-shirt, the beloved Mr. Clean is impossible to miss.

Created in 1958, this mascot has changed very little since his first appearance, making him even more iconic. If you're looking for a Halloween costume, you know who to imitate this year!

5

Ronald McDonald

Image: Brett Jordan

Ronald McDonald , the clown of the most famous fast food chain, has become a global star.

Over the decades, children around the world have excitedly lined up to see him, greet him, and take pictures with Ronald in McDonald's stores.

Created in 1963, Ronald looked a bit different than he does today. Ronald's appearance has evolved, with changes to his costume and makeup, making him more vibrant and approachable. But the magic of this character is still intact.

6

Pillsbury Doughboy

Image: Pablo Lancaster Jones

If we discuss cute mascots, we can't forget the Pillsbury Doughboy . This little man made of dough has been wearing a chef's hat and a scarf since his birth in 1965 when he first appeared in a TV commercial.

While his appearance has remained the same, his name has changed a few times. Originally called "Jonathan Pillsbury," his name was changed to "Poppin' Fresh" in the 1970s, though today we all know him as Pillsbury Doughboy.

His playful personality is captured in his classic catchphrase, "Hoo-hoo!"

7

The M&M’s Spokescandies

Image: Sebastian Gómez

Who can say "no" to a handful of delicious M&M's ? Definitely not us! And as if their great taste weren’t enough, M&M's also has a series of mascots with varied personalities that know how to win us over.

The original characters emerged in the 1950s, and there were only two mascots: the Plain (milk chocolate) and the Peanut characters. This evolved over time, and more characters were added, each with different colors and qualities.

Today, some of the most recognized are Red, Yellow, and Green .

8

Martin the GEICO Gecko

Image: Tate Lohmiller

The GEICO insurance company's Gecko is definitely one of the most famous brand mascots in the country.

Born in 1999, this little Gecko first appeared in a commercial in which he talked to the viewers, trying to convince them to choose GEICO. This appearance was so successful that the friendly and witty Gecko has remained the company's mascot to this day.

One of the peculiarities of this character is his distinctive British accent, which sets him apart from other talking mascots.

9

Kool-Aid Man

Image: Roksolana Zasiadko

If you were one of the many Kool-Aid fans as a child, you probably remember the charming and unique Kool-Aid Man fondly.

With his pitcher-shaped body filled with Kool-Aid, the character first appeared on the product's packaging in 1954. It wasn't until over 20 years later that he made his first TV commercial, always smiling and uttering his traditional catchphrase, "Oh yeah!"

The now classic character became very popular and even had cameos in famous animated TV series!

10

Chester Cheetah

Image: Ryan Quintal

If you love snacks, you've probably smeared your fingers with Cheetos crumbs at some point, right? We get it; these cheesy snacks are simply irresistible.

And if you've ever tasted Cheetos, you're likely familiar with the famous Chester Cheetah . With its cool look and relaxed attitude, Chester Cheetah was created in 1986. This feline appeared in TV commercials and on Cheetos packages, always enjoying the snack and never without his trademark sunglasses.

His fame grew to the point that in the '90s, Chester starred in a couple of video games!

1

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

A 2003 global bestseller later turned into a movie starring Tom Hanks, The Da Vinci Code, the second in Brown’s Robert Langdon series, thrilled millions with its fast-paced plot and conspiracy-laden narrative. Readers devoured its mix of history, religion, and puzzles.

Critics, however, slammed the novel’s writing as clunky and the characters as wooden . Many reviews mocked Brown’s prose and accused the book of historical inaccuracies and sensationalism.

2

Valley of the Dolls - Jacqueline Susann

Published in 1966, Valley of the Dolls became a sales phenomenon, later inspiring a camp classic film. Its scandalous look at fame, drug addiction, and the lives of glamorous young women captivated readers.

Critics were merciless, branding it vulgar, trashy, and poorly written . Literary elites dismissed it as pulp, with some refusing to review it at all.

3

Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

Published in 1957, Atlas Shrugged developed a cult following and continues to sell decades after publication. Rand's philosophical vision of objectivism inspired fierce devotion among fans.

The literary world, however, tore it apart. Critics found the dialogue stilted and the message overly didactic . Many viewed it as a bloated, moralizing tome with little literary merit.

4

Fifty Shades of Grey - E.L. James

This erotic romance, published in 2011, became a pop culture sensation, spawning multiple sequels and movies. Millions were drawn to its taboo themes, sparking debates and fan fervor worldwide.

Critics eviscerated the book for its repetitive prose and one-dimensional characters . It was widely mocked for poor grammar, simplistic plotting, and glorifying unhealthy relationships.

5

The Bridges of Madison County - Robert James Waller

This romantic novel, published in 1992, was a runaway hit, touching readers with its brief tale of a passionate affair between a photographer and a housewife, inspiring a film starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood.

Critics, though, rolled their eyes. The book was labeled melodramatic, emotionally manipulative, and stylistically flat , with more schmaltz than substance.

6

The Celestine Prophecy - James Redfield

This spiritual adventure novel, released in 1993, gained traction through word-of-mouth, eventually becoming a mega-bestseller. Its mystical insights resonated with readers interested in all things New Age.

Critics were unimpressed, calling it preachy and amateurish . Many dismissed it as pseudo-philosophy dressed up in a thin narrative , lacking depth or literary quality.

7

Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Richard Bach

Bach's fable about a seagull chasing transcendence captured the imagination of millions in the 1970s. Its short format and uplifting message struck a chord.

Yet reviewers derided it as shallow and overly sentimental . Critics said its philosophical posturing felt empty and simplistic.

8

The Shack - William P. Young

In 2007, The Shack found immense success, especially among religious readers. Its emotional story and portrayal of God in unconventional forms drew deep emotional reactions.

Theologians and critics, however, lambasted its theology and weak storytelling .

9

Twilight - Stephenie Meyer

This vampire romance became a cultural juggernaut when it was published in 2005. Teens and adults alike were swept into Bella and Edward’s forbidden love story, fueled even further by three more books and the movies.

Critics were less kind. The writing was often mocked as juvenile, with characters deemed flat and the relationship dynamics problematic .

10

The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho

Though first published in Brazil, The Alchemist found enormous success in the U.S. in 1988. Readers praised it for its inspirational message and simple allegory.

Critics weren’t convinced. Many called it trite, vague, and overly didactic .

11

The Secret - Rhonda Byrne

This 2006 self-help bestseller promised readers they could manifest anything they desired. Its message of positive thinking struck a chord worldwide.

But critics lambasted it as pseudoscience . Detractors called it naïve and irresponsible , arguing it oversimplified real-world problems and encouraged magical thinking over action.

12

A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

This memoir of addiction recovery became an Oprah Book Club pick and soared in sales. Readers found its raw honesty and chaos compelling.

But then, much of the book was revealed to be fabricated . Critics turned on it, calling the prose self-indulgent and the deception unforgivable in a marketed memoir.

1

Richard Rodgers

Image: Dayne Topkin

Legendary composer Richard Rodgers was the first artist to achieve the EGOT. Over the course of his career, he composed 43 Broadway musicals and more than 900 songs. In addition to winning all four of the entertainment industry's top awards, Rodgers received a Pulitzer Prize, making him the first person to be awarded all five prizes.

In 1945, he won the Oscar for his song in the musical State Fair . Five years later, he received the first of his six Tonys for South Pacific (he would also win for The King and I and Pipe Dream , among others). In 1960 The Sound of Music gave Rodgers his first Grammy. Finally, in 1962, he completed the EGOT thanks to his composition for The Valiant Years , a documentary series about Winston Churchill.

2

Helen Hayes

Image: Alfred Cheney Johnston, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In 1977, Helen Hayes became the first woman to earn the title of EGOT artist after winning a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Recording for Great American Documents . The famous actress, also known as "First Lady of American Theatre", received her first Academy Award in 1931 for The Sin of Madelon Claudet —in 1970, she would receive another for _Airport_—.

A few years later, she won two Tony Awards for Happy Birthday and Time Remembered , and an Emmy for the Schlitz Playhouse of Stars series. But that's not all. Hayes was such a significant artist for American culture that, in 1986, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Arts in 1988.

3

Marvin Hamlisch

Image: Lucas Alexander

Composer Marvin Hamlisch, who gained fame and critical acclaim for a prolific career working on the soundtracks of dozens of films and plays, finally achieved his fourth distinct award in 1995. It was due to an Emmy for the music and lyrics for Barbra: The Concert.

By the mid-1970s, he had already won three Academy Awards for The Way We Were and The Sting , four Grammys, and a Tony for A Chorus Line . Did we mention that he also received a Pulitzer Prize? Certainly, Hamlisch was one of the most accomplished artists of the 20th century.

4

Mel Brooks

Image: Felipe Vieira

With a career spanning over seven decades , director, comedian, and screenwriter Mel Brooks has won multiple prizes and distinctions, including all four of the entertainment industry's top awards, a Kennedy Center Honor, a Hollywood Walk of Fame star, and a National Medal of Arts, among many others.

Brooks finally became an EGOT artist in 2001. The artist won four Emmys for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Variety and as a guest actor on the sitcom Mad About You ; three Grammys as a composer and comedian; an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay; and three Tony Awards for the theatrical version of The Producers , the most awarded musical in the history of Broadway.

5

Whoopi Goldberg

Image: Library of Congress Life, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The star of The Color Purple , the beloved Whoopi Goldberg, is the first African-American to achieve EGOT status. In 1986, she received her first award, a Grammy for Best Comedy Album. In 1990, she added another accolade to her list with an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Ghost .

In addition, in 2002, Goldberg won both the Tony Award as a producer of the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie and her first Daytime Emmy for Beyond Tara: The Extraordinary Life of Hattie McDaniel —in 2009, she would win another for The View .

6

Mike Nichols

Image: cottonbro studio

American film and theater director Mike Nichols, known for masterpieces such as Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? , Silkwood , and Working Girl, fell short of the EGOT in the 1960s. However, he finally earned the coveted title in 2001, when he received two Emmy Awards for his TV movie Wit .

In 1962, he was awarded a Grammy for his comedy show with Elaine May. Two years later, he won the first of his nine Tonys for the theatrical version of Barefoot in the Park . In 1967, Nichols received an Oscar for directing the mythical The Graduate . The Emmy had to wait 34 more years, but fortunately, it ended up arriving four years before he died in 2014.

7

Jennifer Hudson

Image: Kazuo ota

Did you know that Jennifer Hudson is the youngest woman to become EGOT? She earned the title in 2022, when she won a Tony for producing the Broadway show A Strange Loop .

Hudson already had an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Dreamgirls , a Grammy for her 2009 debut studio album, and a Daytime Emmy for her role as executive producer on Baby Yaga .

From rising to fame for her appearance on the third season of the reality series American Idol to being inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the 42-year-old actress and singer is one of the most promising artists of the 21st century.

8

John Legend

Image: Lijo Joseph

In 2018, singer, songwriter, and producer John Legend made history by becoming the first African American man to achieve EGOT status. In addition, Legend is the first person to receive the four awards in four consecutive years.

The artist can proudly boast 18 Grammys, including Best New Artist and Best R&B Album. In 2014, he received an Academy Award as composer of the song "Glory" for the movie Selma , while three years later, he won a Tony Award as co-producer of the revival of the classic Jitney . Lastly, in 2017, Legend gained EGOT status by winning an Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special as producer of Jesus Christ Superstar . The musical was a television special in which he also appeared as the lead actor.

9

Viola Davis

Image: Mirko Fabian

It's no secret that American actress Viola Davis is one of the most outstanding artists of her generation. Fortunately, her hard work was finally recognized when, in 2023, she received the last award she needed to join the distinguished EGOT group: the recording of her memoir Finding Me got a Grammy for Best Audio Book.

Previously, Davis had won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Fences , an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as criminal defense attorney Annalise Keating in How to Get Away with Murder , and the Tony for her performance in King Hedley II .

10

Robert Lopez

Image: Marius Masalar

"Let it Go", the popular theme song from Disney's animated movie Frozen, has been playing since 2013 and remains a commercial success to this day. That may explain why composer Robert Lopez has become the youngest person to enter the EGOT hall of fame. Moreover, he is the only one to have two of each of these awards.

In 2004, the American songwriter won a Tony Award for Avenue Q . The streak continued with two Emmys for his work in the animated musical series Wonder Pets! The Broadway show The Book of Mormon gave him his first Grammy and two new Tonys. Lopez completed the medal count in 2014 with an Academy Award for Frozen, and in 2018, he was recognized for "Remember Me" from Coco .