Forbes Reveal List of Most Influential Athletes in US

Forbes have worked alongside E-Poll Market Research firm Encino to conduct a poll on the world’s most influential athletes with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson topping the list.

After a prolonged slump, “Nascar has had a bit of resurgence, people are becoming more aware of the drivers this year,” says Gerry Philpott, CEO of Encino. Combined with the retirement of Lance Armstrong, the diminished reputation of Tiger Woods, and the fading of interest in 2010 winter Olympians like Apolo Anton Ohno and Shaun White, the mini-rally has launched three Nascar drivers into the ranks of the most influential athletes.

E-Poll and Nielsen Media Research surveyed over 1,000 adults as to the athletes they considered influential, while also assessing their likeability and awareness levels. Only those known to at least 20 per cent of the respondents were considered. (That eliminated boxer Manny Pacquiao, who scored the highest influence numbers of anyone but who’s familiar to only 12 per cent of the US population.)

1. Jimmie Johnson (NASCAR) – Influential: 25%; Awareness: 20%; Like/Like a lot: 47%; Dislike/Dislike a lot: 6%; N-Score (endorsement potential): 72 (avg. athlete 14)

2. Tom Brady (National Football League) – Influential: 23%; Awareness: 35%; Like/Like a lot: 40%; Dislike/Dislike a lot: 11%; N-Score (endorsement potential): 131 (avg. athlete 14)

3. Dale Earnhardt Jnr. (NASCAR) – Influential: 22%; Awareness: 40%; Like/Like a lot: 45%; Dislike/Dislike a lot: 3%; N-Score (endorsement potential): 217 (avg. athlete 14)

4. Shaquille O’Neal (National Basketball Association) – Influential: 21%; Awareness: 71%; Like/Like a lot: 45%; Dislike/Dislike a lot: 4%; N-Score (endorsement potential): 334 (avg. athlete 14)

5. Michael Phelps (Swimming) – Influential: 21%; Awareness: 49%; Like/Like a lot: 47%; Dislike/Dislike a lot: 4%; N-Score (endorsement potential): 214 (avg. athlete 14)

6. Troy Polamalu (NFL) – Influential: 21%; Awareness: 23%; Like/Like a lot: 64%; Dislike/Dislike a lot: 3%; N-Score (endorsement potential): 165 (avg. athlete 14)

7. Peyton Manning (NFL) – Influential: 20%; Awareness: 49%; Like/Like a lot: 54%; Dislike/Dislike a lot: 5%; N-Score (endorsement potential): 262 (avg. athlete 14)

8. Jeff Gordon (NASCAR) – Influential: 20%; Awareness: 39%; Like/Like a lot: 35%; Dislike/Dislike a lot: 7%; N-Score (endorsement potential): 144 (avg. athlete 14)

9. LeBron James (NBA) – Influential: 20%; Awareness: 42%; Like/Like a lot: 33%; Dislike/Dislike a lot: 15%; N-Score (endorsement potential): 131 (avg. athlete 14)

10. Tim Tebow (NFL) – Influential: 20%; Awareness: 19%; Like/Like a lot: 44%; Dislike/Dislike a lot: 13%; N-Score (endorsement potential): 41 (avg. athlete 14)