Decade-Defining Pop Culture Icons of the Last 50 Years

For this list, instead of ranking a top 50, we're taking a look at 5 pop culture icons from each decade. We're doing the last 50 years, from 1970 to 2020.

Why? Because a top 50 doesn't adhere to chronology, and when looking at pop culture, chronology is important. A narrative is formed which helps us understand and analyse how culture shifts, decade to decade.

5 is enough to tell the story of the decade, 10 is just over-kill.

Like all the other lists on this site, this is opinion, based from looking at facts.

The results here are based on each individuals resume, most notably career highlights within a given decade. While later career achievements play a role, the predominant reason for selection is the impact in the decade given.

This list is NOT a ranking, the 5 who make up each decade are not being judged on who impacted more, etc. It's just 5 notable people who played a role in how that decade's culture unfolded.

1970s

John Travolta

It's hard to grasp how gigantic a movie star John Travolta was in the 1970s. He is the only actor of the decade to have 2 of the top 10 highest grossing films: With Saturday Night Fever and Grease, respectively. Soundtracks for both of these films are among the top 15 highest-selling albums of the decade. He launched the disco craze in America, and his other film Urban Cowboy sparked a nationwide country music craze.

Muhammad Ali

1974's The Rumble in the Jungle has been dubbed 'arguably the greatest sporting event of the 20th century' and it's no wonder. After years banned from the sport due to his controversial opposition to the Vietnam War. Ali was the first athlete to become a political figure, influential in the civil rights movement, and was the first considered 'more than athlete'. He is regarded as the greatest boxer of all time.

Bruce Lee

His Jeet Kun Do paved the way for modern Mixed Martial Arts as we know it. His films generated a huge western interest in Chinese marital arts. He was a philosopher, actor, director and teacher. One of the most recognizable people in pop culture history

He was named on the most influential people of the 20th century by Time magazine.

Diane Keaton

With roles in The Godfather series and Annie Hall, Diane Keaton established herself as the biggest female movie star of the decade. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for the latter.

She was also a fashion icon, mainly due to her wardrobe in the film, most of which her own clothing.

John Lennon

Lennon was at the height of fame and notoriety this decade. With he and then partner Yoko Ono in a high-profile public relationship that saw the end of the Beatles, a public feud with Richard Nixon, numerous political stunts and the release of all-time classics like Imagine, and the Christmas song Happy X-Mas (War is Over). All culminating with Lennon's murder in 1980.

1980s

Michael Jackson

Coined 'The King of Pop', Michael Jackson defined the 80s, perhaps more than anyone defined any decade on this list. He helped popularize MTV with music videos for his Thriller album. An album which, by the way, is the best selling album of all time. And who can forget the famous moonwalk performance in 1983.

Michael Jackson's 1983 'Billie Jean' moonwalk performance. (Skip to 3:28 into the video for the moonwalk).

Madonna

Only right now we move to 'The Queen of Pop'. Since her self-titled album in 1983, Madonna has sold over 300 million records worldwide. She notched 17 top-ten hits in the US during the 80s, 7 of which were Number 1. She is the highest selling female artist of all time, and a staple of 80s pop culture.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie exploded onto the scene as a cast member on Saturday Night Live. From there, he released two of the highest-selling comedy specials of all time, and launched a movie career with 48 Hrs. in 1983. Other movies starring Murphy in the 80s: Trading Places, Coming to America and Beverly Hills Cop (which was the highest grossing movie of 1984).

Mike Tyson

Tyson became the youngest Heavyweight Champion of all time in 1986. Known for his strength, speed and ferocious knockouts, 'Iron Mike' was one of the most devastating power punchers in the sport. This, combined with his confrontational behaviour and controversy outside the ring, made Tyson one of the most famous figures in sports throughout the 80s. He lost the title in 1990.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

After Mr. Olympia and Mr. Universe wins in the 70s, Arnie became a house-hold name with the release of the documentary Pumping Iron in 1977. He used this fame to start his movie career, with Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator in 1982 and 1984, respectively. His fame saw a dramatic increase in the number of gyms in America and a nationwide craze in bodybuilding.

1990s

Trailer for 2020's 'The Last Dance'

Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan changed sports marketing forever. His Jordan shoes are best sellers every year, to this day. With 6 Championships in the 1990s, Jordan is deemed solely responsible for the NBAs growth into an international commodity. He is considered, almost unanimously, as the greatest basketball player of all time.

And he still has a hold on popular culture, in 2020, a docuseries on Jordan's 1997/98 season with the Chicago Bulls The Last Dance, has garnered millions of viewers, and is one of the high cultural talking points during the coronavirus pandemic.

O.J. Simpson

The O.J. Simpson murder case was watched or listened to by 100 million people. It is the most famous trial in history, and it changed media coverage forever.

O.J. and the case has been the subject of Oscar-winning documentaries and Emmy-winning Television dramatizations.

Will Smith

Will Smith rose to fame as the first rapper to win a Grammy award in 1989. He would win 3 more throughout the 90s

But that pales in comparison to his star-making turn in the hit TV Show The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Which launched his film career as one of the most bankable stars of the 1990s. He starred in the hit films Bad Boys, Independence Day, Men in Black and Enemy of the State.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston was the biggest star on television in the 90s, and her character in Friends, Rachel Greene has been recognized as 'one of the great characters of American television'.

Combine this, with $1 million per episode she received (as the highest paid television actress of all-time) and a highly publicized relationship with Brad Pitt, and you've got an icon of the 1990s.

Britney Spears

At the end of the 90s, Britney Spears released her first two albums, which made her the highest selling teenage artist of all time. She was dubbed 'The Princess of Pop'

'... Baby One More Time' was number one in the world, is regarded as one of the best pop songs of all time, and Spears is credited with launching teen pop in the late 90s.

2000s

Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods won 13 of his 15 majors in the 2000s. To put that into perspective, Walter Hagen is third all-time with 11 total majors. Woods' dominance of the sport of golf paralleled athletes like Michael Jordan and Muhammed Ali. His extramarital affairs caused a scandal in 2009.

Beyonce

Do I even need to explain this?

Started solo career in 2004, has won 24 Grammys since then. 12 top 10 hits in the 2000s, 5 of which went to number 1. Also three consecutive number 1 albums in that time. Starred in the films Dreamgirls, Cadillac Records and an Austin Powers sequel.

Kanye West

Kanye West arrived on the scene in the 2004 and his debut album The College Dropout reached number 2 in the US. His following 3 albums of the decade all reached number 1. He became the first solo artist to have his first 3 albums nominated for Album of the Year. He has won 21 Grammys.

Eminem

Eminem's debut album The Slim Shady LP reached number 2 in the US, his following 5 albums of the decade all reached number one, two of which were the top selling albums of the year. He brought hip hop music to middle america.

He also starred in the film 8 Mile in 2002, based on his life, and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Lose Yourself.

Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt won 3 gold medals and set 3 world records at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He restored credibility to a sport that was under heavy scandal due to doping allegations, and is considered the greatest sprinter of all time.

... And the craziest part is, he slowed down before the finish line.

2010s

Kim Kardashian

Like her, love her or hate her, you can't deny Kim Kardashian for better or worse, earns her spot on this list. Her marriage to previously mentioned Kanye West, her family has amassed a billion-dollar empire and is one of the most famous, influential and recognizable people in the world.

Conor McGregor

In 2016, Conor McGregor became the first fighter in UFC history to hold two titles in two weight divisions simultaneously. His charisma and wild antics have made him the most bankable star in sports. A massive cross-sport boxing match with Floyd Mayweather in 2017 broke pay-per-view records. He has headlined 5 of the top 6 pay-per-view MMA events in history.

Cristiano Ronaldo

In the 2010s, Ronaldo won 4 Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, and 2 La Ligas. He also won 4 Ballon d'Ors, became the highest European International goal scorer of all time and captained Portugal to their first ever European Championship in 2016. He is the most followed user on instagram with 218 million followers and is the second-highest paid athlete in the world.

Justin Bieber

Bieber's 2010 single Baby broke the record for most views on YouTube. He has the most songs out of the top 100 downloads on Spotify with 8.

He released 21 top-ten hits in the decade and is one of the highest-selling artists of all time.

Adele

In 2011, Adele's second album 21, won a record-tying 6 Grammys. In 2012, she won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for Skyfall. She was the first female solo artist to have three songs in the top 10 at the same time. Her third album, 25, was the best selling album of the year and won her a further 5 grammys.

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