• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
LeadershipGallup

President Obama Crushes Trump In This Annual Poll

Barb Darrow
By
Barb Darrow
Barb Darrow
Down Arrow Button Icon
Barb Darrow
By
Barb Darrow
Barb Darrow
Down Arrow Button Icon
December 28, 2016, 4:08 PM ET
Photograph by Getty Images

Democrats must take their wins where they can in this otherwise bleak election year, and this is one of those rare victories: Outgoing President Barack Obama was voted this year’s most admired man, according to an annual Gallup Poll.

Obama received 22% of the votes, while his successor, Donald Trump, took 15%. Pope Francis came in third with 4%.

This is Obama’s ninth consecutive win, but his narrowest margin during that winning streak. Last year, he bested Trump by 17% to 5%.

In terms of the most admired woman, Trump nemesis Hillary Clinton took the top spot with 12%, followed by Michelle Obama with 8%. German Chancellor Angela Merkel tied with Oprah Winfrey for third place with 3%.

This is the 15th year in a row that Clinton won the most admired woman title, and the 21st year overall.

The tech world also got some respect. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft(MSFT)and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, showed up in an interesting four-way tie for sixth place for most admired man with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Dalai Lama, and former President Bill Clinton. Elon Musk, chief executive of SpaceX and Tesla (TSLA), and Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive of Facebook (FB) also made the top 25.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

For more about President Obama, watch:

In creating its poll, Gallup talked to 1,028 adults in 50 states and the District of Columbia by phone from Dec. 7 to Dec. 11. They asked adult respondents for their first and second choices for the men and women they admired the most.

 

About the Author
Barb Darrow
By Barb Darrow
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Leadership

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Leadership

Macquarie bets impact investing can fill an Asian financial access gap for the ‘missing middle’
AsiaAustralia
Macquarie bets impact investing can fill an Asian financial access gap for the ‘missing middle’
By Nicholas GordonApril 1, 2026
2 hours ago
jamie dimon
Workplace Culturereturn to office
Jamie Dimon, office-work champion, vows his anti-remote culture ‘would crush you.’ The economy’s top talent in begs to differ
By Jake AngeloApril 1, 2026
5 hours ago
Ayesha and Stephen Curry
C-Suitephilanthropy
Warren Buffett revives his legendary charity lunch auction—this time with Stephen Curry. His last one raised $19 million
By Jacqueline MunisApril 1, 2026
6 hours ago
How AI will make your Shake Shack order even faster
NewslettersCIO Intelligence
How AI will make your Shake Shack order even faster
By John KellApril 1, 2026
7 hours ago
Chief human resource officer salaries have surged 30% at S&P 500 companies. Here’s why boards are opening the checkbook
C-SuiteHuman resources
Chief human resource officer salaries have surged 30% at S&P 500 companies. Here’s why boards are opening the checkbook
By Courtney Vinopal and HR BrewApril 1, 2026
7 hours ago
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang
SuccessJobs
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang’s advice to workers scared of AI: You’re just confusing your job with the tools you use to do it
By Emma BurleighApril 1, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

Jerome Powell says the $39 trillion national debt is ‘not unsustainable,’ but warns the trajectory ‘will not end well’
Economy
Jerome Powell says the $39 trillion national debt is ‘not unsustainable,’ but warns the trajectory ‘will not end well’
By Fortune EditorsMarch 30, 2026
2 days ago
Two-thirds of parents say their adult Gen Z kids still rely on them financially  for support—even though it's putting them under strain
Success
Two-thirds of parents say their adult Gen Z kids still rely on them financially  for support—even though it's putting them under strain
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
1 day ago
Kevin O'Leary says if you earn $68,000 a year and follow this rule, you'll retire a millionaire
Personal Finance
Kevin O'Leary says if you earn $68,000 a year and follow this rule, you'll retire a millionaire
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
1 day ago
A man used AI to call 3,000 Irish bartenders to track the cost of Guinness. Now pubs are lowering their prices to compete
AI
A man used AI to call 3,000 Irish bartenders to track the cost of Guinness. Now pubs are lowering their prices to compete
By Fortune EditorsMarch 30, 2026
2 days ago
Hiring just hit a level not seen since the economy was ‘closed down literally’ during COVID, top economist says
Economy
Hiring just hit a level not seen since the economy was ‘closed down literally’ during COVID, top economist says
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
1 day ago
Markets cheer as Trump threatens to abandon Iran war, but Jamie Dimon sides with allies: ‘Win this thing and clean up the straits’
Energy
Markets cheer as Trump threatens to abandon Iran war, but Jamie Dimon sides with allies: ‘Win this thing and clean up the straits’
By Fortune EditorsMarch 31, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.