- People magazine has awarded 38 men the coveted title of Sexiest Man Alive.
- Mel Gibson was the first to receive the title in 1985. Noah Wyle currently holds the crown.
- Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Johnny Depp, and Richard Gere have each been selected twice.
Noah Wyle has been named the Sexiest Man Alive by People magazine.
The vast majority of the men on this list are white actors; only five men of color have been selected for People’s famous cover. They’re joined by a few musicians, one star athlete, and one Kennedy.
Continue reading for a list of every man who’s received the title, listed in reverse chronological order.
2026: Noah Wyle
Noah Wyle rose to fame as Dr. John Carter in NBC’s medical drama “ER,” alongside former Sexiest Man Alive cover star George Clooney.
Wyle was nominated for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series at the Emmys several times in the 1990s, though he never won.
Two decades later, Wyle returned to the world of medical dramas as Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch in HBO Max’s “The Pitt” — and finally won his first Emmy for outstanding lead actor in 2025. He also won for outstanding drama series as an executive producer.
“You get into this because you are a natural observer. Then that privacy is immediately taken from you if you get any notoriety,” Wyle told People of his acting career. “It could be a hard thing to reconcile. It took me a long time. ‘The Pitt’ gives me the opportunity to do it differently than I did the first time — with a little bit more presence and a little bit more composure.”
2025: Jonathan Bailey
Bailey has since received an Emmy nomination for his role in the Showtime series “Fellow Travelers,” made his big-screen debut in the 2024 musical hit “Wicked,” and landed a leading role in the 2025 summer blockbuster “Jurassic World: Rebirth.”
Bailey received the Sexiest Man Alive title ahead of the premiere of “Wicked: For Good,” in which he reprises his role as Prince Fiyero. He is the first out gay man to grace People’s most famous cover.
“It’s a huge honor. Obviously, I’m incredibly flattered. And it’s completely absurd,” Bailey told People.
“When I was really young, I was very confident about who I was, and maybe I lost that as I grew up,” he continued. “We’re all sort of trying to get back to the origin, aren’t we? But I was swimming in the sea about an hour ago with a good gang, and I felt all right in my skin.”
2024: John Krasinski
Krasinski also made his name as a director with 2018’s “A Quiet Place,” in which he co-starred with his real-life wife, Emily Blunt. The horror movie’s rare box-office success led to a sequel in 2020 and a prequel in 2024 starring Lupita Nyong’o.
“I had to pitch the studio like 54 times before they said yes,” Krasinski told People. “I’m pretty sure someone said, ‘Sorry, is Jim from ‘The Office’ going to direct this?’ And I went, ‘Oh, it’s John, but we’ll get there.'”
2023: Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempsey starred as Derek Shepherd, aka “McDreamy,” for 11 seasons on “Grey’s Anatomy.” The role drew a passionate following, including many supporters of his character’s will-they-won’t-they relationship with Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo.
Although Dempsey had been featured in People’s Sexiest Man Alive issue several times before, he didn’t take the crown until 2023, eight years after he left the hit show.
“I’m glad it’s happening at this point in my life,” he told People of the honor. “It’s nice to have the recognition, and certainly my ego takes a little bump, but it gives me the platform to use it for something positive.”
The actor founded The Dempsey Center to make comprehensive cancer treatment more accessible. He has also starred in beloved movies like “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Enchanted,” and its 2022 sequel “Disenchanted.”
2022: Chris Evans
He has also starred in celebrated films like “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” “Snowpiercer,” and “Knives Out.”
“My mom will be so happy,” he added. “She’s proud of everything I do but this is something she can really brag about.”
2021: Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd’s breakthrough role came in 1995, starring opposite Alicia Silverstone in the popular coming-of-age drama “Clueless.”
He rose through Hollywood primarily as a comedic actor, starring in films like “Wet Hot American Summer,” “Knocked Up,” and “Anchorman.” He also portrayed prominent recurring characters in beloved TV shows “Friends” and “Parks and Recreation.”
More recently, Rudd is widely known for his role as Ant-Man in the MCU, as well as the critically acclaimed Netflix original series “Living With Yourself.”
The 52-year-old actor said his wife was “stupefied” when he received People’s coveted crown.
“I’m hoping now that I’ll finally be invited to some of those sexy dinners with Clooney and Pitt and B Jordan,” he told the magazine. “And I figure I’ll be on a lot more yachts. I’m excited to expand my yachting life.”
He continued: “And I’ll probably try to get better at brooding in really soft light. I like to ponder. I think this is going to help me become more inward and mysterious. And I’m looking forward to that.”
2020: Michael B. Jordan
Michael B. Jordan is the fifth man of color to receive People’s honor.
He first rose to fame playing quarterback Vince Howard on NBC’s “Friday Night Lights,” but his Hollywood breakthrough came in 2013, when he starred in Ryan Coogler’s directorial debut, “Fruitvale Station.”
That same year, at the age of 26, he was featured in People’s first annual Ones to Watch portfolio.
At 33, he described his Sexiest Man Alive title as “a cool feeling.”
“When my grandmother was alive, it was something that she collected, and then my mom naturally reads it a lot and my aunts as well,” he told People. “This is one that they’re definitely going to have a special place for.”
2019: John Legend
John Legend is only the fourth man of color to be chosen and the third-ever musician — all three of whom have starred as coaches on NBC’s “The Voice.”
At the time of his crowning, the “All Of Me” singer had released five critically acclaimed R&B albums, two of which had been certified platinum. His Sexiest Man Alive title came shortly after the release of “A Legendary Christmas Deluxe,” the deluxe edition of his sixth studio album and first Christmas album.
“She’s proud of me,” Legend told his fellow coaches on “The Voice.” “You know, she makes fun of me almost all the time, but she hasn’t even been snarky about this. She’s like legit proud of me. I finally impressed my wife!”
2018: Idris Elba
Idris Elba became the third man of color to be given the honor. He rose to fame for his role as Baltimore drug kingpin Stringer Bell on HBO’s “The Wire” in the early 2000s.
“I was like, ‘Come on, no way. Really?'” Elba told People about being named Sexiest Man Alive. “Looked in the mirror, I checked myself out. I was like, ‘Yeah, you are kind of sexy today.’ But to be honest, it was just a nice feeling. It was a nice surprise — an ego boost for sure.”
2017: Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton is the second musician ever to be given People’s highest honor.
One person quipped: “I don’t think he’s even the sexiest man named Blake Shelton.”
2016: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Former professional wrestler and current actor Dwayne Johnson became the second man of color to be named Sexiest Man Alive after his celebrated voiceover role in Disney’s “Moana.”
When he heard of his Sexiest Man title, he told People, “I said, ‘That’s awesome.’ And then what went through my mind was just how cool and exciting it is. And then I thought, ‘Wow, we’ve pretty much reached the pinnacle.’ I’m not quite too sure where we go from here. I’ve done it all, this is it.”
2015: David Beckham
Despite being the first and only athlete to be honored with the annual cover, David Beckham told People, “I never feel that I’m an attractive, sexy person.”
In 2019, the couple’s son, Brooklyn Beckham, was also featured in People’s Sexiest Man Alive issue.
2014: Chris Hemsworth
Chris Hemsworth has stolen hearts as Thor throughout Marvel’s “The Avengers” franchise, which made him a natural pick for 2014’s Sexiest Man Alive after “Thor: The Dark World” hit theaters the year before.
2013: Adam Levine
Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine became the first musician and second non-actor — out of only five total — to grace People’s Sexiest Man Alive cover.
Levine made headlines in 2022 after Instagram model Sumner Stroh came forward and said that she’d had an affair with the singer. Stroh said that Levine, in fact, had asked her if he could name his next child with wife Behati Prinsloo “Sumner.”
Levine denied having an affair with Stroh but admitted that he had “crossed the line.”
2012: Channing Tatum
Channing Tatum nabbed the cover after his star-making turns in “Magic Mike,” “The Vow,” and “21 Jump Street.”
2011: Bradley Cooper
“I think it’s really cool that a guy who doesn’t look like a model can have this,” Bradley Cooper told People after being named Sexiest Man Alive.
“I think I’m a decent-looking guy. Sometimes I can look great, and other times I look horrifying,” the “Hangover” star said.
2010: Ryan Reynolds
“The most difficult part is going to be organically working this title into a conversation with random strangers,” he told the magazine.
2009: Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp landed on his second cover on the heels of his role in “Alice in Wonderland.”
2008: Hugh Jackman
2007: Matt Damon
Matt Damon was given the title after his third “Bourne” movie rocked the box office.
2006: George Clooney
George Clooney became the third man, after Brad Pitt and Richard Gere, to win People’s honor twice.
2005: Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey scored the cover for People’s 20th anniversary of Sexiest Man Alive after he became known for starring in popular romantic comedies, like “The Wedding Planner” and “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.”
2004: Jude Law
Jude Law scored People’s most famous cover in the early 2000s.
“He’s the most beautiful man who ever walked the earth — an absolutely perfect oil painting,” Naomi Watts told People in 2004.
2003: Johnny Depp
In 2003, Depp had charmed the world as Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.”
2002: Ben Affleck
“Chicks gravitate to him,” Affleck’s friend Kevin Smith, a director, told People at the time. “The word on the street is that he’s the ideal man, chatty, gorgeous, generous, and intelligent.”
2001: Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan was known as James Bond when he landed on People’s coveted cover.
2000: Brad Pitt
In 2000, Brad Pitt was already a movie star — but coming off his wedding to Jennifer Aniston and his iconic role in “Fight Club,” People decided to bestow Pitt with his second Sexiest Man Alive title.
1999: Richard Gere
When Richard Gere was named the Sexiest Man Alive in 1999, his ex-girlfriend Diane Von Furstenberg spoke glowingly of the decision.
“He walked like a biker, and that attracted me,” she told People. “I knew I was going to get my hands on him.”
1998: Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford’s 1998 cover recognized his role as a blockbuster heartthrob thanks to “Star Wars” and “Indiana Jones.”
1997: George Clooney
Clooney secured his first Sexiest Man title while portraying the brooding Dr. Doug Ross on “ER.”
1996: Denzel Washington
1995: Brad Pitt
A long-haired Pitt made the 1995 People cover after his much-celebrated starring roles in “Legends of the Fall” and “Interview With the Vampire.”
Keanu Reeves was retroactively named 1994’s Sexiest Man Alive.
1993: Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford
In 1993, People forwent the Sexiest Man Alive cover in favor of naming a Sexiest Couple Alive. The magazine chose the newly married couple Cindy Crawford and Richard Gere, who split one year later.
1992: Nick Nolte
In 1992, People explained Nick Nolte’s appeal as his being a “big-lug Adonis with the heart of gold.”
1991: Patrick Swayze
In 1991, Patrick Swayze had become one of Hollywood’s most popular leading men, thanks to “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost.” The actor died in 2009.
1990: Tom Cruise
1989: Sean Connery
Sean Connery was 59 when he scored the coveted cover, making him the oldest Sexiest Man Alive to date.
1988: John F. Kennedy Jr.
John F. Kennedy Jr. — known in 1988 as political royalty, but something of a rebel — is one of only two winners to have died in the years since his cover. Kennedy was killed in a plane crash in 1999 with his wife, Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and his sister-in-law, Lauren Bessette.
1987: Harry Hamlin
Harry Hamlin made the cover during his five-year stint on the NBC legal drama “L.A. Law” as attorney Michael Kuzak.
The “Clash of the Titans” actor is now married to “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Lisa Rinna.
1986: Mark Harmon
Mark Harmon received the second annual honor — largely thanks to his starring roles on two hit shows, “St. Elsewhere” and “Moonlighting.”
1985: Mel Gibson
Read the original article on Business Insider
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