I think Chappelle and Schwarzenegger take the top two slots. Denzel, Cosby, Oprah, Tom Brady and the Rock are also up there. It's before my time but I think Sinatra and the Rat Pack and Marlon Brando could also make the list. If you throw reality TV into it Flavor Flav and Ozzy Osbourne might make the cut. Who am I missing or who would you take out? I can see an argument that Chappelle peaked in popularity during the Chappelle Show in his early 30's but his recent standup presence seems to be strong, not completely sure how much the youth (<25) checks for him though.

I got to thinking about this reflecting on my childhood (I'm 44) and how most of the celebrities I liked or looked up to were mostly in their 20's or maybe 30's at the time. Michael Jackson and Madonna still were a part of the zeitgeist at 40+ but their popularity had considerably waned. I think that has shifted a little in the last few decades. Someone like Kanye is still very popular among the youth at 40+, so are the Kardashians and to an extent Jay Z and Eminem. Beyonce will be 40 this year and if not at her peak is still near it.

I guess it's a factor of hip hop being so dominant and now being almost 48 years since Sedgwick Ave and maybe the fact that people in general are living longer but it seems to be a tad cooler to be older than it was back in the day or maybe I just wish that because I'm 40+ now.