🇬🇷Famous People from Greece

A comprehensive directory of 131 historically significant figures from Greece. Greece has produced influential figures in various fields, including politics, literature, and business. In politics, leaders like Yanis Varoufakis, Alexis Tsipras, and Kyriakos Mitsotakis have played significant roles. The country’s literary heritage features writers such as Nikos Kazantzakis and poets Konstantinos P. Cavafy, Giorgos Seferis, and Nobel Prize winner Odysseas Elytis. In business, Aristotle Onassis is a notable figure, while connections to European nobility are seen through Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. Contemporary figures like footballer Avraam Papadopoulos reflect Greece’s ongoing contributions from the late 19th century to today. Politicians and literary figures highlight Greece's commitment to democratic governance and cultural expression.

Total Figures

131

Notable Figures Overview

Top 6 by historical impact

monarch

Constantine II of Greece

1940–2023

Last King of Greece who reigned from 1964 until the monarchy was abolished in 1973.

diplomat

Eleftherios Venizelos

1864–1936

Greek statesman who led the country through the Balkan Wars and World War I, modernizing the nation and expanding its territory.

composer

Vangelis

1943–2022

Greek electronic composer who created iconic film scores including 'Chariots of Fire' and 'Blade Runner.'

civil engineer

Alexis Tsipras

1974–Present

Greek civil engineer and left-wing politician who served as Prime Minister from 2015-2019, leading the SYRIZA party.

children's writer

Nikos Kazantzakis

1883–1957

Greek author best known for his novels 'Zorba the Greek' and 'The Last Temptation of Christ,' exploring themes of spirituality and human nature.

economist

Yanis Varoufakis

1961–Present

Greek economist who served as Finance Minister during Greece's debt crisis negotiations with the EU in 2015.

Distribution by Historical Era

AncientANC(32)

MedievalMED(6)

Early ModernEAR M.(5)

ModernMOD(67)

ContemporaryCONT.(21)

Figure

Lifespan

Notes

Link

Constantine II of Greece

monarch

1940 – 2023

Last King of Greece who reigned from 1964 until the monarchy was abolished in 1973.

Eleftherios Venizelos

diplomat

1864 – 1936

Greek statesman who led the country through the Balkan Wars and World War I, modernizing the nation and expanding its territory.

Vangelis

composer

1943 – 2022

Greek electronic composer who created iconic film scores including 'Chariots of Fire' and 'Blade Runner.'

Alexis Tsipras

civil engineer

1974 – Present

Greek civil engineer and left-wing politician who served as Prime Minister from 2015-2019, leading the SYRIZA party.

Nikos Kazantzakis

children's writer

1883 – 1957

Greek author best known for his novels 'Zorba the Greek' and 'The Last Temptation of Christ,' exploring themes of spirituality and human nature.

Yanis Varoufakis

economist

1961 – Present

Greek economist who served as Finance Minister during Greece's debt crisis negotiations with the EU in 2015.

Demis Roussos

bassist

1946 – 2015

Greek singer known for his powerful operatic voice who achieved international fame with hits like 'Forever and Ever.'

Giannis Antetokounmpo

basketball player

1994 – Present

Greek-Nigerian basketball player who won NBA MVP awards and led the Milwaukee Bucks to an NBA championship in 2021.

Nana Mouskouri

singer

1934 – Present

Greek singer who achieved international success with multilingual recordings and served as a Member of the European Parliament.

Odysseas Elytis

art critic

1911 – 1996

Greek poet who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1979 for his surrealist poetry celebrating the Greek landscape and spirit.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis

politician

1968 – Present

Greek politician who has served as Prime Minister since 2019, leading the center-right New Democracy party.

Karolos Papoulias

diplomat

1929 – 2021

Greek politician and diplomat who served as the 6th President of Greece from 2005 to 2015.

Aristotle Onassis

businessperson

1906 – 1975

Greek shipping magnate who built one of the world's largest privately-owned fleets and married Jacqueline Kennedy in 1968.

Giorgos Seferis

diplomat

1900 – 1971

Greek poet and diplomat (1900-1971)

Katerina Sakellaropoulou

judge

1956 – Present

Greek jurist who became the first woman President of Greece, serving from 2020 to 2024.

Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark

military officer

1882 – 1944

Greek prince and military officer who was exiled from Greece and became the father of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Epicharmus of Kos

comedy writer

-523 – -447

Late 6th/early 5th century BC Greek dramatist and philosopher

Eupalinos

architect

-600 – -600

Ancient Greek architect

Metrodorus of Chios

mathematician

-500 – -400

4th-century BC Greek philosopher

Democritus

art historian

-460 – -360

Greek philosopher (c. 460–c. 370 BC)

Aratus of Sicyon

historian

-270 – -212

Greek statesman, general and Achaean League strategos (271-213 BC)

Panaetius

philosopher

-184 – -110

2nd-century BC Greek philosopher

Methodius of Thessaloniki

translator

815 – 885

Christian missionary to the Slavs

Pyrrho

painter

-360 – -270

Greek philosopher and founder of Pyrrhonism (c.360-c.270 BC)

Saint Cyril the Philosopher

missionary

827 – 869

Christian missionary to the Slavs (9th c.)

Showing 1-25 of 131 figures

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the most famous Greek politicians?

Greece has produced many prominent politicians, including Alexis Tsipras, who was Prime Minister from 2015 to 2019, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the current Prime Minister, and Yanis Varoufakis, who gained international attention as Finance Minister during Greece's debt crisis.

Which Greek writers won the Nobel Prize in Literature?

Two Greek poets received the Nobel Prize in Literature: Giorgos Seferis in 1963 and Odysseas Elytis in 1979. Other notable Greek writers include Nikos Kazantzakis, author of 'Zorba the Greek,' and Konstantinos P. Cavafy, a key figure in modern Greek poetry.

Who was Aristotle Onassis?

Aristotle Onassis was a Greek shipping magnate who became one of the world's richest men in the 20th century. He was married to Jacqueline Kennedy, the widow of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, and owned the private island of Skorpios.