The Most Famous Criminal of All Time, Ranked

Voting rules: Choose the criminal you think is the most famous!

Updated on Apr 20, 2024 08:07

History has often been marked by the stories of notorious figures whose actions have rippled across societies. By ranking the most infamous criminals, we gain a clearer view of how their deeds shaped public perception and justice systems. This understanding assists in dissecting the complexities of law, morality, and societal impact. It also helps in appreciating the nuances of their historical contexts and the narratives built around them. This ranking system is driven by your participation. Each vote cast reshapes the current standings, reflecting a collective interpretation of infamy and notoriety. You contribute to a broader discourse on crime and its implications on culture and history. Engaging with this list isn't just about curiosity; it's a way to engage in a larger conversation about how these figures are remembered and understood in the modern era.

Who Is the Most Famous Criminal of All Time?

1

33
votes
Kentot785 · CC BY-SA 4.0

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler - responsible for the deaths of millions during World War II and the Holocaust.
Adolf Hitler in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous bully
- Position 6 of 10 in Most famous German person
- Position 10 of 10 in Most famous German Chancellor
2

46
votes
Hamid Mir · CC BY-SA 3.0

Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden is founder of al-Qaeda and mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks.
Osama bin Laden in other rankings
- Position 10 of 10 in Most famous bully
3

21
votes
Unknown photographer · Public domain

Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy - notorious American serial killer who confessed to 30 murders.
Ted Bundy was an American serial killer who terrorized the country during the 1970s. He was known for his charm and good looks, which he used to gain the trust of his victims before committing heinous acts of violence. Bundy's crimes were characterized by abduction, rape, and murder of young women. His case captured national attention due to the scale and brutality of his crimes, as well as his ability to evade capture for an extended period of time.

Number of Victims: Confirmed 30+, suspected over 100

Method of Killing: Strangulation, bludgeoning, and blunt force trauma

Victim Profile: Young women, usually college students

Crime Spree Timeline: 1974-1978

Modus Operandi: Attraction and deception to gain trust before abducting victims, often impersonating authority figures
Ted Bundy in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous Death Row inmate
- Position 1 of 10 in Most popular serial killer in America
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous killer in Texas
- Position 1 of 10 in Most intriguing serial killer
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous criminal in America
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous prison escapees
4

19
votes
Colombian National Police · Public domain

Pablo Escobar

Colombian drug lord and leader of the Medellín Cartel.
Pablo Escobar in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous cartel leader
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous Sicario
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous money launderer
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous gangster
- Position 10 of 10 in Most famous Colombian
5

18
votes
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation · Public domain

Charles Manson

Charles Manson is leader of a cult that committed multiple murders in the late 1960s.
Charles Manson in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous person from Cincinnati
- Position 5 of 10 in Most famous criminal in America
- Position 5 of 10 in Most popular serial killer in America
- Position 6 of 10 in Most famous convict
6

19
votes
Chicago Bureau (Federal Bureau of Investigation) - Wide World Photos · Public domain

Al Capone

Al Capone - infamous American gangster who rose to power during the Prohibition era.
Al Capone in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous black gangster
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous Mafia boss
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous money launderer
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous convict
- Position 4 of 10 in Most famous moonshiner
- Position 5 of 10 in Most famous person from Chicago
7

5
votes
Des Plaines Police Department · Public domain

John Wayne Gacy

John Wayne Gacy

American serial killer known as the "Killer Clown" who murdered at least 33 young men and boys.
John Wayne Gacy was an American serial killer who was active between 1972 and 1978. He sexually assaulted, tortured, and murdered at least 33 young boys and young men in Chicago, Illinois. Gacy was able to lure his victims to his home under the pretext of offering them employment or money. He would then capture and restrain them before subjecting them to prolonged periods of sexual abuse and eventually strangling them to death. Gacy's case gained significant media attention due to the high number of victims and the gruesome nature of his crimes. He was convicted in 1980 and sentenced to death. Gacy was executed by lethal injection in 1994.

Conviction: 1980

Sentence: Death

Target Victims: Young boys and young men

Notoriety: High media attention

Active Years: 1972 - 1978
John Wayne Gacy in other rankings
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular Killer Clown
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous Death Row inmate
- Position 3 of 10 in Most popular serial killer in America
- Position 3 of 10 in Most intriguing serial killer
- Position 6 of 10 in Most famous killer in Indiana
- Position 6 of 10 in Most famous killer in Nevada
8

8
votes
Revere Senior High School · Public domain

Jeffrey Dahmer

Jeffrey Dahmer

American serial killer and cannibal who murdered and dismembered 17 men and boys.
Jeffrey Dahmer, also known as the Milwaukee Cannibal or the Milwaukee Monster, was an American serial killer and sex offender. He primarily targeted young men and boys, whom he would lure to his apartment with the promise of money or alcohol before sexually assaulting, killing, and dismembering them. Dahmer operated between 1978 and 1991, during which he committed 17 known murders. His infamous crimes included acts of necrophilia, cannibalism, and preservation of body parts as trophies.

Nationality: American

Alias: Milwaukee Cannibal, Milwaukee Monster

Operating Period: 1978-1991

Number of Known Victims: 17

Preferred Targets: Young men and boys
Jeffrey Dahmer in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous cannibal
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous killer in Michigan
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous killer in Ohio
- Position 2 of 10 in Most intriguing serial killer
- Position 2 of 10 in Most famous serial killer in Wisconsin
- Position 2 of 10 in Most popular serial killer in America
9

14
votes
Iraqi News Agency · Public domain

Saddam Hussein

Saddam Hussein - former President of Iraq who was responsible for numerous human rights violations and the deaths of thousands of people.
Saddam Hussein in other rankings
- Position 1 of 10 in Most famous person in Iraq
- Position 3 of 10 in Most famous bully
10

14
votes
Jack the Ripper

Jack the Ripper - unidentified serial killer who terrorized the streets of London in the late 1800s.
Jack the Ripper is one of the most notorious and mysterious unsolved cases in criminal history. It refers to a series of gruesome murders that occurred in the Whitechapel district of London from August to November 1888. The killer, known as Jack the Ripper, targeted female prostitutes and brutally mutilated their bodies, leaving the police and public in a state of fear and perplexity.

Modus Operandi: Jack the Ripper targeted vulnerable female street prostitutes.

Number of Victims: Generally accepted as 5, but possibly more.

Murder Locations: All murders occurred in the Whitechapel district of London.

Method of Killing: Throat slashing followed by abdominal mutilation.

Motive: The true motive behind the killings has never been conclusively determined.
Jack the Ripper in other rankings
- Position 4 of 10 in Most popular cold case

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Ranking factors for famous criminal

Infamy

how well-known the criminal is among the general public 2. Number of victims: the quantity of victims impacted by the criminal's actions 3. Notoriety: the level of shock, cruelty or depravity associated with the crimes committed by the criminal 4. Historical significance: the impact the criminal had on society or on the history of crime and punishment 5. Cultural impact: the extent to which the criminal has entered into popular culture, through books, movies, or other forms of media.

About this ranking

This is a community-based ranking of the most famous criminal of all time. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or Criminal is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!

Statistics

2868 views
175 votes
10 ranked items

Voting Rules

A participant may cast an up or down vote for each Criminal once every 24 hours. The rank of each Criminal is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.

More information on most famous criminal of all time

Crime has been a part of human history since the beginning of time. Over the centuries, there have been countless cases of criminal activity that have captivated the public's attention. From notorious villains like Jack the Ripper to infamous serial killers like Ted Bundy, the world has seen its fair share of criminals. However, when it comes to the title of the most famous criminal of all time, there are a few names that immediately come to mind. Whether it's their heinous crimes or their larger-than-life personalities, these individuals have become iconic figures in the world of crime. In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the most famous criminals in history and explore what makes them stand out from the rest.