Can You Name These Influential Baby Boomers From a Screenshot?

By: Jonnathan Chadwick
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Can You Name These Influential Baby Boomers From a Screenshot?
Image: Dick Thomas Johnson via WikiCommons

About This Quiz

As soon as World War II ended, the United States saw a boom of babies. Babies were being born everywhere at a faster rate than ever before. In 1940, there were about 19 births for every 1,000 Americans. The war ended in 1945, and in 1948, there was an average of 26 births for every 1,000 Americans. By 1950, the population had grown by at least 2.3 million. The term "baby boomer" wasn't publicly printed until 1963 when all those babies starting enrolling in college in massive numbers. The baby boomer population peaked close to 79 million, and today it is the largest generation on the planet. Millennials are set to take the crown in the 2020s, but as of now, baby boomers are king.

So what did all these baby boomers do? Well, for one, their parents were the Greatest Generation, so they came from excellent pedigree. After that, they've had their hands in almost every significant advancement of the past half-century. The World Wide Web? A baby boomer invented it. The iPhone? A baby boomer also invented it. The MLB home run record? A baby boomer holds it. The NFL touchdowns record? It's also held by a baby boomer. The USB port, free shipping, DNA fingerprinting, artificial hearts, Segways and synthetic skin? They were all created by baby boomers. Baby boomers are everywhere. But can you name the most influential baby boomers based on a screenshot? Let's find out.

Ellen DeGeneres
Tulane Public Relations via WikiCommons
Do you know this talk show host who came out on the cover of Time Magazine?
Kathie Lee Gifford
Joan Rivers
Barbara Walters
Ellen DeGeneres
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Only Oprah Winfrey has made more money than Ellen DeGeneres with her talk show duties. Ellen starred in her own sitcom for four years and has been hosting her daytime talk show since 2003. At one time, she also held the record for most re-tweeted Tweet.

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Meryl Streep
www.GlynLowe.com via WikiCommons
What actor has the most Oscar nominations ever?
Julia Roberts
Meryl Streep
Sandra Bullock
Nicole Kidman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Meryl Streep has been nominated for 21 Academy Awards and 30 Golden Globes, both of which are records. She has won three Oscars, eight Golden Globes and the Cecil B. DeMille Award. Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson are tied for second with 12 Oscar nominations.

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Howard Stern
Bill Norton via WikiCommons
Can you name this shock jock?
Jon Stewart
Bill Maher
Howard Stern
Stephen Colbert
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Howard Stern began working in radio while still a student at Boston University. Today he is considered one of the most successful radio show hosts of all time. He has been at the center of controversy for years but has never stopped doing radio.

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Hillary Clinton
Steve Jurvetson via WikiCommons
Do you know this woman who became the first female senator from New York?
Elizabeth Warren
Nancy Pelosi
Hillary Clinton
Sarah Palin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hillary Clinton became the first female senator from New York in 2000. She was re-elected in 2006 and today is one of the most famous politicians in the world. She was also the first woman to win the presidential nomination for a major political party.

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Eddie Murphy
David Shankbone via WikiCommons
Can you recognize this comedian who has starred in dozens of hit movies?
Eddie Murphy
Dave Chappelle
Kevin Hart
Chris Rock
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Eddie Murphy is one of the most famous comedians in the world, and he has been working in Hollywood for decades. His voice is iconic and can be identified almost instantly. He has portrayed a wide variety of comedic roles in his career and is still going strong.

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Cher
Casablanca Records via WikiCommons
Only the most famous people in the world are recognized by one name. Who is this person?
Madonna
Cher
Bjork
Shakira
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cher's career started when she dropped out of high school, moved to Los Angeles and met Sony Bono. She was 16. He was 27. Three years later, they recorded the hit "I Got You Babe," and the rest is history.

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Whoopi Goldberg
Rainforest Action Network / rainforestactionnetwork on flickr.com / http://www.ran.org/ via WikiCommons
Can you name the first woman and first African American to host the Academy Awards?
Mo'Nique
Star Jones
Whoopi Goldberg
Oprah Winfrey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Whoopi Goldberg has hosted the Oscars four times. In 1994, she became the first solo woman and first solo African American to host the ceremony. She most recently hosted in 2002. Only three women and three African Americans have ever hosted the award show by themselves.

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Madonna
chrisweger via WikiCommons
Who is this musician who sits alongside Elvis and the Beatles as one of the best-selling artists of all time?
Madonna
Cher
Celine Dion
Mariah Carey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Madonna rose to fame in the 1980s with her edgy pop performances and lyrics. She became the Queen of Pop while at the top of her game and claims upwards of 300 million unit sales worldwide. Only a few artists have sold more.

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Stephen King
Sephanie Lawton via WikiCommons
Can you name this author who is a master of horror?
George R.R. Martin
James Paterson
Stephen King
John Grisham
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Stephen King has published more than 60 books and more than 200 short stories since he began writing in the '70s. He's a master of horror and can write ghost stories like "The Shining," or realistic horror stories like "The Shawshank Redemption" equally well.

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Michael Jordan
DOD photo by D. Myles Cullen via WikiCommons
Who is this guy, regularly considered the greatest basketball player of all time?
Michael Jordan
Magic Johnson
LeBron James
Kobe Bryant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Between 1991 and 1996, Michael Jordan didn't lose three games in a row. He three-peated twice in the NBA Finals, was named NBA MVP five times, was selected to the All-Star team 14 times, and won Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. His influence on pop culture is unmatched.

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Katie Couric
The Heart Truth via WikiCommons
The "Big 3" nightly news broadcasts were hosted solely by men until this woman came along. Who is she?
Barbara Walters
Katie Couric
Meredith Viera
Diane Sawyer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Katie Couric co-hosted NBC's "Today" show for nearly 20 years. She became the first solo female news anchor to host a major nightly broadcast when she accepted a role with CBS in 2006. She had been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame two years earlier.

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Oprah Winfrey
Bill Ebbesen via WikiCommons
Can you name the wealthiest American talk show host?
Whoopi Goldberg
Star Jones
Wendy Williams
Oprah Winfrey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oprah Winfrey has made much more money than any other talk show host in American history. She first appeared on the Forbes list of billionaires in 2003 and today is worth more than $2.5 billion. The second wealthiest TV host has made about $450 million.

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Arianna Huffington
Mark Taylor via WikiCommons
Do you know this Greek writer who founded one of the most successful internet publications?
Barbara Walters
Katie Couric
Lesley Stahl
Arianna Huffington
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Arianna Huffington founded the Huffington Post in the early 2000s with the help of some internet experts. The publication sold for more than $300 million just six years after it debuted. Huffington is considered one of the most powerful voices in media.

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Samuel L. Jackson
Elen Nivrae via WikiCommons
No actor has grossed more money than this actor. Who is he?
Will Smith
Denzel Washington
Samuel L. Jackson
Eddie Murphy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With close to 200 acting credits to his name, it seems like Samuel L. Jackson has been in every movie. His movies have made more than $16 billion worldwide and more than $7 billion in the United States.

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Dolly Parton
lacafferata via WikiCommons
Scientists cloned the first mammal in 1996 and named it after this country singer. Do you know her?
Reba McEntire
Faith Hill
Dolly Parton
Shania Twain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The sheep that was cloned in 1996 was named Dolly after Dolly Parton. According the the scientist who named the sheep, Dolly was born from cells found in the mammary gland, and that made him think of Dolly Parton.

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Jerry Seinfeld
slgckgc via WikiCommons
Do you know this comedian who has mastered the art of clean comedy?
Jerry Seinfeld
Jay Leno
Larry David
David Letterman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Very few people in Hollywood can be funny for decade after decade without talking about sex or swearing in their material. In addition to the hit show, "Seinfeld," Jerry Seinfeld is known for his extensive collection of rare cars.

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John Stewart
Peabody Awards via WikiCommons
There was a time when millions of people got their news from this guy's comedy show. Do you know him?
John Stewart
Jay Leno
David Letterman
Conan O'Brien
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

John Stewart hosted Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" for more than 15 years. The show went on to find tremendous success and win dozens of awards under Stewart's leadership. He retired in 2015 to focus on himself and issues close to him.

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Steven Spielberg
Gage Skidmore via WikiCommons
Who directed "Jaws," "Jurassic Park" and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial"?
Martin Scorsese
Steven Spielberg
Quentin Tarantino
James Cameron
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Steven Spielberg has created too many classics to list a best one. Many of his movies go on to shatter box office expectations and gross worldwide record numbers. He's the highest-grossing director in history and is worth more than $3 billion.

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Dale Earnhardt
Camera Operator: TSGT JACK BRADEN, USAF via WikiCommons
Who is this NASCAR legend who died during the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500?
Dale Earnhardt
Jimmy Johnson
Richard Petty
Jeff Gordon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Dale Earnhardt got into a fatal crash at the 2001 Daytona 500. It was the last lap of the race. His son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., finished in second place. Earnhardt Sr. was fighting for third. The crash didn't look graphic, but Earnhardt died instantly due to brain injuries.

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Tom Hanks
Dick Thomas Johnson via WikiCommons
Can you name this actor who taught the world that "life is like a box of chocolates"?
Leonardo DiCaprio
Robert De Niro
Tom Hanks
Tom Cruise
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tom Hanks is one of the most beloved celebrities in America. He won back-to-back Oscars for his roles in "Philadelphia" and "Forrest Gump." In 2019, he took on the role of possibly the only other celebrity more beloved than him, Mister Rogers.

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Condoleezza Rice
TechCrunch via WikiCommons
Do you know the first female national security advisor in American history?
Susan Rice
Sarah Palin
Condoleezza Rice
Nikki Haley
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Condoleezza Rice was the National Security Advisor under George W. Bush and during the 9/11 attacks. She was also the first female, first African American and youngest provost of Stanford University when she accepted the position in 1993.

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Sarah Palin
David Shankbone via WikiCommons
Do you know this politician who almost shocked the world and became the first female U.S. vice president?
Geraldine Ferraro
Sarah Palin
Elizabeth Warren
Hillary Clinton
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sarah Palin went from governor of the country's third least-populous state to one of the most famous politicians in the world overnight. She shot to fame after John McCain selected her as his running mate in the 2008 election.

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Meredith Vieira
Jakeprzespo via WikiCommons
Can you name this broadcast journalist known for co-hosting "Today"?
Barbara Walters
Katie Couric
Lesley Stahl
Meredith Vieira
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Meredith Vieira is widely known for taking over Katie Couric's role when Couric left the "Today" show in 2006. Before that, Vieira, along with Barbara Walters and Star Jones, started "The View" on ABC. The show has been airing ever since.

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Billy Joel
Rob Mieremet / Anefo via WikiCommons
Do you now this "piano man"?
Elton John
David Bowie
Bruce Springsteen
Billy Joel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Billy Joel began performing in the mid 60's. He released his album, "Piano Man," in 1973 and has been defined by the album's title song ever since. He has sold more than 150 million units worldwide and is one of the best-selling American solo artists of all time.

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Sonia Sotomayor
Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States, Steve Petteway via WikiCommons
Can you name the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice?
Elena Kagan
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Sonia Sotomayor
Sandra Day O'Connor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sonia Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Princeton and Yale University. Before becoming a Supreme Court justice, she helped litigate against counterfeiters in New York City. She even joined the police on a couple of raids.

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Bruce Springsteen
Takahiro Kyono via WikiCommons
Do you know this musician simply known as "The Boss"?
Bruce Springsteen
Bob Dylan
Elton John
David Bowie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bruce Springsteen achieved success with his first album in 1975, but his 1984 album, "Born in the U.S.A," shot him to international superstardom. It also cemented his legacy. He was born and raised in New Jersey and still lives there today.

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Marcia Clark
Larry D. Moore via WikiCommons
Do you know the lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial?
Marcia Clark
Jeanine Pirro
Gloria Allred
Janet Reno
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Marcia Clark rose to fame appearing on television sets across the country during the O.J. Simpson murder trial. She ultimately lost, and the star lawyer on the defense team, Johnny Cochran, became more famous.

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Tom Cruise
https://www.flickr.com/photos/humanstatuebodyart via WikiCommons
Can you name this action star known for successfully completing impossible missions?
Brad Pitt
Tom Cruise
Dwayne Johnson
Tom Hanks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tom Cruise is one of the biggest stars in Hollywood to have never won an Oscar. He has starred in dozens of blockbuster hits and even turned down the role of "Iron Man," which has gone on to gross billions worldwide.

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Steve Jobs
Matthew Yohe via WikiCommons
Do you know this guy who invented a phone 10 years ahead of its time?
Steve Wozniak
Bill Gates
Steve Jobs
Jeff Bezos
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Steve Jobs was no Steve Wozniak, but he was just as vital to Apple's success. Jobs dedicated much of his time and energy into creating the iPhone. It's considered by many to be his brainchild. It debuted in 2007, and no tech debut has influenced the world as much ever since.

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Vanna White
Cpl. Tom Sloan via WikiCommons
Can you name this TV hostess who holds a world record for "most frequent clapper" in TV history?
Katie Couric
Vanna White
Lara Spencer
Barbara Walters
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Vanna White was so popular in the 1980s that "Vannamania" was a thing. She has one of the most significant jobs in Hollywood as the hostess of "Wheel of Fortune" and is under contract until 2022. The Guinness Book of World Records estimated she has clapped on TV more than 3 million times.

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Princess Diana
John Mathew Smith via WikiCommons
More than 2.5 billion people tuned in to watch this woman's funeral. Who is she?
Mother Theresa
Queen Elizabeth
Princess Diana
Marilyn Monroe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Princess Diana was just 36 years old when she died in a car crash. Her driver was attempting to flee the paparazzi when he lost control of the vehicle. Princess Diana's friend, Dodi Fayed, and her driver, Henri Paul, died in the crash. Her bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, survived the crash.

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Wayne Gretzky
Kris Krüg via WikiCommons
Who is this hockey player simply known as "The Great One"?
Wayne Gretzky
Mark Messier
Bobby Orr
Mario Lemieux
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wayne Gretzky is widely considered the greatest hockey player of all time. His No. 99 is the only number retired across the entire NHL. His last game was at Madison Square Garden in 1999 where the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner were changed to "the land of Wayne Gretzky" instead of "the land of the free."

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Jeff Bezos
Steve Jurvetson via WikiCommons
Amazon went from selling books to selling everything. Do you know the company's founder?
Larry Page
Sergey Brin
Mark Zuckerberg
Jeff Bezos
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Amazon revolutionized shipping and introduced the world to free shipping. Bezos founded the company as an online book store in 1994. The online retailer quickly expanded to sell just about everything, and Bezos is today one of the richest people in the world.

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Barry Bonds
Jim Accordino at https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmyack205/ via WikiCommons
Sports stars are some of America's most popular. Who has the MLB record for most home runs?
Ken Griffey Jr.
Barry Bonds
Hank Aaron
Derek Jeter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barry Bonds controversially broke the MLB home run record in 2007 when he hit his 756th home run. He finished his career with 762 home runs but is most remembered for being the poster boy of MLB's steroid era.

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Tim Berners-Lee
Paul Clarke via WikiCommons
Who is this guy who invented the World Wide Web?
Tim Berners-Lee
Mark Zuckerberg
Bill Gates
Al Gore
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tim Berners-Lee didn't create the internet, but he created the World Wide Web, which is the information system that allows regular people to enjoy everything that is on the internet. Berners-Lee created the World Wide Web in 1989 and coded his first web browser in 1990.

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Bill Gates
World Economic Forum via WikiCommons
Do you know this guy who founded Microsoft in 1975?
Jeff Bezos
Warren Buffett
Bill Gates
Mark Zuckerberg
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bill Gates famously dropped out of Harvard University to create Microsoft with his friend Paul Allen. Gates has been listed as one of the richest people in the world for decades. He stepped down from his CEO position in 2000.

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Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Ash Carter via WikiCommons
Do you know this woman dubbed the "Greatest Female Athlete of the 20th Century"?
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Serena Williams
Wilma Rudolph
Lisa Leslie
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jackie Joyner-Kersee was named the century's greatest female athlete by "Sports Illustrated." She won 15 major medals in total, including three Olympic golds and gold in every World Championship she entered.

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Matt Groening
Gage Skidmore via WikiCommons
Who is this guy who created "The Simpsons"?
Chuck Lorre
Matt Groening
Dick Wolf
Sam Simon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Simpsons" debuted in 1989 and has since become the longest-running sitcom in American television history. Homer Simpson's iconic exclamation, "D'oh," was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2001. The Simpsons live in the fictional town of Springfield.

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Jerry Rice
Anthony Quintano via WikiCommons
What wide receiver has scored the most touchdowns in NFL history?
Terrell Owens
Randy Moss
Larry Fitzgerald
Jerry Rice
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Jerry Rice holds more than 100 NFL records and has won three Super Bowls. He has the record for most touchdowns, most receptions and most receiving yards in history. No other player comes close to holding as many records as him.

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Chris Evert
unknown, Florida Memory via WikiCommons
Can you name this former No.1 tennis player who has 18 grand slam victories?
Chris Evert
Steffi Graf
Martina Navratilova
Billie Jean King
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

No tennis player has made more finals appearances than Chris Evert with 34. She won 18 grand slams between 1974 and 1986 and has won each grand slam multiple times. She also won seven French Open tournaments.

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You Got:
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Dick Thomas Johnson via WikiCommons