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There is no objective measure by which to determine how good a motivational speaker is.
You cannot rank motivational speakers by their online popularity. How many Twitter followers, YouTube subscribers or Facebook fans does not tell you how good they are at motivating an audience to act.
Instead, if we use this criteria, celebrity motivational speakers like Oprah Winfrey, speakers like Tony Robbins and best-selling authors such as Jordan Belfort would always be at the top of the list.
And although Oprah has amassed more than 5 million YouTube subscribers, they are not all following her channel to listen to her motivational speeches.
Similarly, Tony Robbins offers a lot more than motivational content.
A master NLP practitioner and a world-class life coach who has worked with some of the world’s top athletes, politicians and business people, Tony has developed his own strategies and techniques for helping people to master their emotions, health, relationships, finances and life and is recognised as the pre-eminent peak-performance specialist in the world.
The number of bookings or enquiries that a motivational speaker receives would be a good measure but this data is impossible to compile because not every potential source (such as speaker bureaus) would freely share such information.
Also, many speakers including Tony Robbins and Jordan Belfort do not use speaker bureaus, instead choosing to handle any bookings in-house and organise their own events.
The true measure of success for any motivational speaker has to be the impact that she or he has had; the number of lives touched and changed.
This is impossible to work out so our list of the best motivational speakers in the world list is subjective.
It is based on the experiences and opinions of agents from the Speakers Associates team and some of our clients who have booked an inspirational speaker from us in the past.
We have also used other published lists and metrics to influence our ranking such as Google’s own listings of motivational speakers and the excellent GlobalGuru’s Top 30 Motivational Speakers for 2021.
Motivational speaker rankings only matter so much. If you are looking for an inspiring individual to follow, any list should only be used as a starting point. Your personal circumstances and what you’re trying to achieve are the true deciding factors. You should select someone who resonates with you and whose material and style suits you and your goals.
On the other hand, if you are planning to book a motivational speaker for an event, the right choice is the one who can directly address the needs of your audience, convey the right message and motivate your people to take action.
So, with all of that said, here is our list of the world’s best motivational speakers.
We hope you like it.
Image Attribution: INTX: The Internet & Television Expo, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
She has been a TV host, actress, producer and philanthropist for over 30 years. Her show The Oprah Winfrey Show was the highest-rated program of its kind in history and she has received more than 50 Emmy Awards.
Oprah inspires people to live their best lives by sharing her personal struggles as well as her successes with others. You can learn from her mistakes and find inspiration in your own life through this woman who has overcome so much adversity to get where she is today.
Image Attribution: Kalei Brooks, Alaska National Guard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Bear Grylls is an adventurer, writer and TV presenter who has been to the North Pole, climbed Mount Everest and crossed the Pacific Ocean in a rowboat. He’s also one of only two people to have ever completed the world’s longest underground river passage, The Great Rift.
His adventures have taken him to some of the most remote corners of the world, where he’s spent weeks at a time living with indigenous tribes or on his own in vast wilderness areas.
If you want your event attendees fired up about your company or product then Bear Grylls is just what you need! As one of the world’s most famous inspirational speakers, he will motivate them with stories from his own life that are sure to inspire everyone in attendance.
Bear is flexible and is available for celebrity speaking engagements as well as motivational keynote speeches for any type of corporate event including conferences, team building events or even fundraisers.
Image Attribution: Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Nick Vujicic is an Australian motivational speaker, author and evangelist. He was born without arms or legs, but that didn’t stop him from living a life full of adventure!
Nick’s story has been featured on Oprah, CNN, The Ellen Show and more. As a motivational keynote speaker, his message is one of hope for all who have disabilities or disadvantages in their lives. He believes that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
Booking Nick for your event will give you the opportunity to hear about his journey firsthand as well as learn some valuable lessons on how to live a fulfilling life despite any setbacks they may face. Your team members will leave feeling inspired and ready to take on their next challenge head-on!
Image Attribution: Randy Stewart, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tony Robbins is a world famous motivational speaker, author and entrepreneur. He has been an advisor to presidents, CEOs and Olympic athletes.
His seminars are known for their energy, humor and interactive nature. They have helped people from all walks of life break through their fears, improve their relationships, achieve success in business and become more confident in themselves. His books are bestsellers that have been translated into over 20 languages around the world.
In his latest book “Unshakeable”, he reveals how you can take control of your financial destiny with just one decision – by investing in yourself! You’ll learn about the new science behind why some people thrive under pressure while others crumble; how to develop a clear mind for making better decisions; and what it takes to build true security during volatile times. This book will teach you everything you need to know about building wealth without fear of volatility or recession so that money never stands between you and your goals again!
Image Attribution: Daniel Benavides from Austin, TX, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Magic Johnson is a retired professional basketball player, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1979 to 1991.
As an athlete, he won five NBA championships with the Lakers and three NCAA Championships while at Michigan State University. His career achievements include three MVP awards, 12 All-Star games, ten All-NBA First Team designations, eight NBA Finals appearances as well as being voted one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
If you want your employees to be more productive or just have some fun at your next corporate event, then Magic Johnson is one of the celebrity public speakers who should be on your shortlist! His speeches are full of energy and laughter that will make everyone feel like they can do anything when it comes to their career goals. Plus, his personal life story about overcoming obstacles will inspire anyone who needs help getting back on track after experiencing setbacks in life.
Image Attribution: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Robert Kiyosaki is the author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad”, one of the most influential books on building personal wealth in recent history.
He has been a successful entrepreneur and investor for over 40 years. His insights on money management have helped millions of people around the world achieve financial freedom.
Robert is an entertaining speaker who’s talks are always filled with humor and fun stories from his own life experiences. It’s not just about learning what it takes financially; it’s also about having fun while doing so!
Image Attribution: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Deepak Chopra is a world-renowned speaker and bestselling author. He has been named one of the most influential thinkers in the world by Time Magazine and he’s also a pioneer in bridging Eastern wisdom with Western science.
Deepak Chopra is an internationally respected leader and visionary thinker who brings clarity to our complex times. His insights on how we can live more fulfilling lives are inspiring, empowering and transformational for all those who hear him speak or read his books.
This powerful motivational speaker will teach you how to take control of your mind so you can achieve anything you want out of life with ease. You’ll be able to find happiness no matter what happens because it’s all about attitude!
Image Attribution: Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Dave Ramsey is a personal finance expert, radio show host and best-selling author. He’s also the founder of Ramsey Solutions, which offers financial education to help people get out of debt and save more money.
His advice has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek and Time Magazine. He’s written six books that have sold over 10 million copies worldwide. And he speaks at conferences all around the world on topics like “How to Get Out of Debt” or “The 7 Baby Steps.”
If you’re looking for an entertaining speaker who can provide some great tips on how to make your finances work better for you then Dave is your guy! You’ll walk away with practical information about budgeting, saving money and getting out of debt – not just ‘feel-good’ inspiration but real life strategies that will help you succeed financially. Plus his humor makes him a fun person to listen to!
Image Attribution: Sharma Leadership International, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Robin Sharma is a professional motivational speaker and the author of “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”.
He has spoken to over one million people in 50 countries, including Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, and Tony Blair. He’s been featured on CNN, Fox News Channel and ABC News. As one of the world’s leading business public speakers, he’s helped more than 100 Fortune 500 companies become high performance organizations with his keynote presentations.
If you want your team to be inspired by someone who has achieved what they are striving for, then booking Robin Sharma as your keynote speaker will do just that! He knows firsthand what it takes to succeed because he did it himself – and now he wants to help others achieve their goals too!
Image Attribution: Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Simon Sinek is a world-renowned author, speaker and consultant. He has been named one of the most influential leaders in the world by Fortune Magazine and his TED talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” has over 31 million views.
His books include “Start With Why”, “Leaders Eat Last”, and “Together Is Better”. He also founded The Sinek Company to help organizations find their voice so they can inspire action.
Simon’s talks are motivational but also educational. He will teach your team how to make better decisions that result in more success for your company while inspiring them to do what they love every day!
Image Attribution: Valder Beebe Show, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Cesar Millan has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, National Geographic Channel, Animal Planet and more. He is a world-renowned dog behaviourist and best-selling author. He has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, National Geographic Channel, Animal Planet and more.
Cesar Millan has helped transform countless dogs’ lives for over 20 years through his no-nonsense approach to animal psychology. His techniques are based on common sense and respect for animals as pack animals with their own social hierarchy.
Cesar Millan offers keynote speeches that are engaging, motivational and entertaining for all audiences. He will provide your audience with practical tips on how they can improve their relationships with their pets as well as offer some insight into his life story in order to help them find inspiration in their own lives.
Image Attribution: Daniel Wikberg, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Brian Tracy has been helping people achieve their goals for over 40 years. He is a world-renowned speaker and author of over 80 books on success. He has been helping people achieve their goals for over 40 years.
His goal is to help you succeed in life by teaching you how to take control of your thoughts and actions so that you can live up to your potential. He doesn’t just teach theories, he teaches practical skills that will make an immediate impact on your life today!
Whether you are looking for more confidence or better relationships, Brian Tracy can show you how to get there with his proven strategies and techniques. It’s never too late or too early for someone who wants more out of life than what they have right now! Through his motivational speaking company, he offers self-development courses so can expand his speaking services to more personal offerings.
Paula has been called the most powerful woman in America by Forbes Magazine and she’s one of the world’s leading voices on faith, love, and success. Her message is timeless because it’s based on Biblical truths that are relevant for all people at any time in history.
Paula will provide you with a fresh perspective on life through her own personal story of triumph over adversity. Her message is both inspirational and practical – helping you find hope when times get tough while also providing insight into how to live out your dreams every day. With this event as a catalyst for change, you’ll be able to create new habits that will last long after the event ends!
Image Attribution: Kyle Hoobin (twitter.com/kylehoobin), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Eckhart’s been called “the most important spiritual thinker alive today” by Oprah Winfrey, and he has an international following.
As one of the top motivational speakers in the world, his talks are designed to help people live in the present moment as they explore their own minds and hearts.
He can speak on topics such as spirituality, personal transformation or leadership. He has spoken at events all over the world – from small gatherings to large conferences with tens of thousands of people present – and he always delivers an unforgettable message that leaves attendees feeling refreshed and inspired.
Image Attribution: Karl Phillips, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Eric Thomas has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN and more. His message is simple but powerful: we all have within us the power to change our lives for the better – if only we can find it.
Eric Thomas wants you to know that you are not your past; you are what you make yourself today. You can choose how your life will turn out by choosing who you want to be right now! That’s why he speaks at events across the country inspiring people with his words of wisdom.
Iyanla’s been on Oprah, Dr. Phil, The Today Show and more! She will help you find your inner peace and happiness with her motivational speaking engagements. Her talks are uplifting and encouraging to help you feel better about yourself.
As a motivational speaker, Iyanla Vanzant will help you find the courage to change your circumstances or make changes in yourself that can lead to better outcomes in all areas of life. She offers practical tools for living so that people can live their best lives now!
Jordan Belfort has been called “The King of Sales” by Fortune Magazine and was one of the most successful stockbrokers on Wall Street in history. He’s also an international bestselling author who has written two books about his life as a top salesman for some of the world’s largest corporations. Jordan’s first book, “The Wolf Of Wall Street” was made into an Academy Award winning film starring Leonardo DiCaprio that grossed over $400 million worldwide at the box office.
As a motivational speaker, Jordan shares his story with audiences around the world to inspire them to take control over their lives and live it on their own terms. He speaks about how he went from being broke and living in Queens to becoming one of America’s most notorious criminals – all before turning 30 years old! He talks about what it takes to be successful in business today and how anyone can achieve anything they set out to do if they’re willing to work hard enough for it.
Image Attribution: Derek Smith, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jack Canfield’s work has been translated into 38 languages and he’s the founder of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of inspirational books. He is an internationally recognized expert in human potential who speaks to audiences around the world on how to achieve success by unlocking their true potential. With his trademark message “You’re only limited by your own beliefs”, he will show you how to unleash your full power with humor, heart and soul so you can live life to its fullest!
Jack’s keynote presentations are always fresh, funny, interactive and inspiring – guaranteed not be boring or repetitive! Plus he offers a variety of topics from self-esteem building workshops for teens (and adults) through motivational speeches on overcoming obstacles as well as speaking engagements geared towards team building events where attendees learn how they can become better leaders within their company or organization by tapping into their personal strengths.
Image Attribution: John Hatcher, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Grant Cardone has been featured on ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s Today Show, FOX News Channel’s The O’Reilly Factor and CNN. His book “The 10X Rule” was the #1 Wall Street Journal bestseller for over six months in 2009-2010. It also became an international bestseller with translations into more than 25 languages worldwide. He is one of the most sought after speakers today because he knows how to motivate people to take action!
If you want your employees or team members to be inspired by someone who has done it all then hire Grant Cardone as your next keynote speaker! He’ll teach you all about his 10x rule that will help you take any goal – no matter how big or small – from idea to reality.
Les Brown is also the best-selling author of “Live Your Dreams”, “The Power of Being Purpose” and “You’ve Got To Be HUNGRY”.
His speeches are filled with humour, inspiration and practical advice for living life to its fullest potential. He’s been called “the most powerful man in America” by Oprah Winfrey and “America’s #1 Black Motivational Speaker” by Ebony Magazine.
Booking Les Brown as a keynote speaker will not only make an impact on those listening but also on the company itself by increasing employee morale with his message of positivity. This is one investment that can have lasting effects on both employees and customers alike.
Mel Robbins is the best-selling author of “The 5 Second Rule”, which was named one of the top ten self-help books by USA Today. Her TED talk on how to live with intention has been viewed over 12 million times.
And she’s been featured in Oprah Magazine, Forbes, Fast Company and more.
When you book her as your keynote speaker for an upcoming event or conference, you’ll get access to all of her wisdom through her powerful presentations and workshops.
David has completed more than 100 ultra-endurance races, including a 50-mile run with only four hours of sleep over two days. His accomplishments include a 2nd place finish at the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon and an 8th place finish at the Western States Endurance Run. In 2010 he set his sights on running seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, which he accomplished successfully.
If you’re looking for someone who will motivate your employees or speak about overcoming adversity then David is a fantastic choice! His message can help anyone find success in their own lives through hard work and dedication. He’ll inspire them to do more than they ever thought possible!
Ryan Serhant has been featured on the cover of Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and People Magazine. His motivational talks are perfect for any company looking to motivate their employees or clients with his story of success. He will inspire you to take risks in your life and business!
You’ll learn how he went from being a waiter at Red Lobster to becoming one of the most sought-after agents in Manhattan. Hear about his journey from working as an intern at Douglas Elliman Real Estate to buying his first home when he was just 23 years old. Learn how he became a top producer by taking calculated risks that led him down new paths – all while staying true to himself along the way!
Kevin co-founded SoftKey Software Products Inc., which later became The Learning Company and served as its CEO until 1994. He is now an investor on ABC’s Shark Tank where he can be seen sparring with the entrepreneurs who come to him for funding in exchange for equity. His blunt honesty has made him one of the most popular TV personalities in America today.
As one of North America’s most successful entrepreneurs and investors, he knows what it takes to be successful in business today. If you’re looking for motivation or inspiration from someone who has done it before Kevin O’Leary is the right choice.
As a motivational speaker, Daymond will motivate your employees to work hard and be creative in order to achieve success. His speeches are filled with stories about his successes as well as failures that he has learned throughout his career. He also shares personal anecdotes about how he turned his life around after being incarcerated at the age of 16 for selling drugs.
Daymond is a highly sought-after speaker who has spoken at events such as TEDx, Harvard Business School, Google Zeitgeist Conference and more. His speeches are motivational in nature with a focus on how to succeed in business by following your passion.
Lisa Nichols has been featured in major media outlets such as Forbes, The Huffington Post and Oprah. Her story of overcoming adversity to become a self-made millionaire will inspire you to take action on your goals. You’ll learn how she was able to build her own multi-million dollar company from scratch with no outside investment or loans. She also shares the secrets of her success that helped her overcome obstacles like bankruptcy and divorce.
If you want to be inspired by someone who has faced challenges head on then book Lisa for your next event! Her message will motivate you and leave you feeling empowered after hearing about all the things she’s accomplished in life despite being told that she couldn’t do it because of where she came from.
Suze Orman is the best-selling author of nine books on personal finance including “The Money Book for the Young”, “Fabulous & Broke” and “Women & Money”. She has been called “the most powerful woman in America” by Forbes magazine. Her advice has helped millions of people get out of debt and achieve their goals with money.
Suze’s message will motivate you and leave you feeling empowered after hearing about all the things she’s accomplished in life despite being told that she couldn’t do it because of where she came from.
Barbara is the founder of The Corcoran Group, one of New York City’s most prestigious real estate firms. She is also an entrepreneur with a long history of success in both small and large companies. She started out as a secretary at age 18, then went on to found two multimillion-dollar companies before she was 40 years old. Her first company was called “The Corcoran Report” which became the largest independent newsletter in Manhattan for residential real estate listings.
Her second company was called The Corcoran Gallery which became the world’s leading art dealer for contemporary American artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein.
In addition to being an accomplished businesswoman, Barbara is also an award-winning television personality who has been featured on ABC’s Shark Tank since 2008 where she invests her own money into entrepreneurs’ ideas that catch her eye–and often makes them millionaires!
As if that weren’t enough, she’s also written three books about how to succeed in business and life including “If You Don’t Have Big Breasts Wear Something Else,” “Shark Tales,” and “Make Your Own Rules”.
She speaks all over the country about entrepreneurship, leadership skills, marketing strategies–all while sharing personal anecdotes from her own career successes (and failures).
Darren is also the founder of Success Magazine. He has helped countless people find success through his books and speeches. His latest book “The Compound Effect” shares how small daily habits can lead to extraordinary results over time.
Darren is an expert at helping people find their passion, overcome adversity, and live with intentionality. His message inspires audiences to take charge of their lives by identifying what they want most out of life and then taking action to achieve it.
Eker has been featured on CNN, Fox News, ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, The Oprah Winfrey Show and many more media outlets around the world. He is an internationally recognized expert in business success who shares his insights into how to become wealthy through his books and seminars. His message has helped people from all walks of life achieve their goals by changing their mindset about money and wealth creation.
Harv will encourage your employees to be inspired about their work again and to start thinking outside of traditional boundaries. He’ll teach them that they can have anything they want out of life just by changing their beliefs about themselves and what’s possible for them. He’ll show everyone that it’s never too late to turn your life around no matter how bad things seem right now.
The past is full of influential motivational speakers who have helped shape our world. We could not leave this article without mentioning some of the greats from the past who were the pioneers of motivational speaking today. These influential speakers and authors still have a huge impact and following today.
As we mentioned above, this is very difficult to answer as it is subjective and depends on what area of the speaker’s life you look at. The following are often listed in the number 1 spot:
Oprah Winfrey
Bear Grylls
Tony Robbins
Nick Vujicic
There are many wonderful female motivational speakers! Consider the following for your event:
Mel Robbins
Iyanla Vanzant
Debra Searle
Cathy O’Dowd
There are so many! Take a look at our Popular Motivational Speeches above for just a tiny selection of what you might find.
Here’s a great selection to get you started:
Les Brown
Chris Gardner
David Goggins
Iyanla Vanzant
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