In Australia, 8 out of the 10 most Googled people are US-based. They range from politicians to musicians, to athletes. Here are the 10 people that piqued our interest the most this year.
The number one most Googled person this year is an Eras-performing, guitar-strumming, tortured poet-singing billionaire by the name of Taylor Swift. Her Superbowl-winning guy-on-the-Chiefs made the Top 10 too.
1. Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift sold more than 600,000 tickets to her seven Australian stadium shows. Research from RMIT University values the national economic impact of the Eras tour at more than half a billion dollars. The tour has since moved on to sold out shows in Asia and Europe and comes to a close in Vancouver, Canada this week.
The artist herself crossed the billionaire threshold in April and is now worth AUD$2.4 billion according to Forbes data.
2. Donald Trump
President-elect Trump returns to the White House in January 2025, after a historic landslide election in November. The Republican party nominee received resounding support from Americans and will now lead his party to control both the House of Representatives and the Senate during his second and final term as President.
3. Kate Middleton
Born Catherine Middleton, Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales is the mother of Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, and the future King of England Prince George. Middleton and her husband William, the Prince of Wales were married at Westminster Abbey in 2011.
Middleton was diagnosed with cancer in March this year. She went through treatment and is now considered to be cancer-free according to reports.
4. Kamala Harris
US Vice President Kamala Harris was defeated in the Presidential election by Donald Trump in November. Harris became the nominee after US President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
5. Imane Khelif
The fifth most-Googled person this year is Algerian professional boxer Imane Khelif, gold medal winner in the Paris Olympics 66kg Women’s Boxing competition.
Khelif’s Olympic win is controversial. Since Paris, the 25-year-old has been asked to answer questions about her gender and eligibility to compete in the women’s competition. The Russian-led International Boxing Association (IBA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) are supposedly at odds over whether Khelif is eligible to compete in the boxing competition.
6. Travis Kelce
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has back-to-back Superbowl Championships under his belt, most recently leading the team to victory against the San Francisco 49ers. Kelce was drafted to the Chiefs in 2013 and is now playing his 12th season with the team.
Kelce began dating popstar Taylor Swift in 2023 and has visited her frequently on her Eras tour, including her shows in Sydney in February this year.
7. Joe Biden
Current US President Joe Biden stepped down from his reelection campaign in July 2024, just four months before the historic election in which President Trump was victorious. Biden was replaced by Vice President Harris as the Democratic candidate.
The 82-year-old will conclude his tenure as US President in January 2025. Prior to his Presidential term, Biden was Vice President in President Barack Obama’s administration.
8. Travis Scott
From a political podium to an arena stage. Recording artist and musician Travis Scott was the 8th most googled person by Australians this year.
Scott played five shows on the Australian leg of his Circus Maximus world tour.
9. Simone Biles
Texas-based Biles is the most decorated gymnast in history. Now 27, Biles won her first two gold medals in 2013. She is known for her signature move ‘the Biles’ a ‘double layout with a half twist.’
Her first Olympic Games were in 2016. Biles was a part of Team USA in Paris this year and brought her career medal tally to Seven Gold, Two Silver, and 2 Bronze.
10. P Diddy
The tenth most googled person is notorious for all the wrong reasons. US rapper P Diddy was arrested in New York and charged with sex trafficking and racketeering. Diddy is also facing more than two dozen civil suits alleging they were drugged and suffered violence and sexual assault.
Look back on the week that was with hand-picked articles from Australia and around the world. Sign up to the Forbes Australia newsletter here or become a member here.
