35 Years, 31 Guys: Sexiest Man Alive by the Numbers

All the facts, figures and 411 you need to know about the Sexiest Men Alive of years past

By Diana Pearl
Updated November 18, 2020 10:03 AM

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Credit: Ron Galella/WireImage

The first Sexiest Man Alive was Mel Gibson. He was given the honor in 1985.

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The youngest ever Sexiest Man Alive was John F. Kennedy Jr., who was 27 years old when he earned the title in 1988.

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The oldest was Sean Connery, who nabbed the title in 1989 at age 59.

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Four men have received the honor twice: Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, George Clooney and Richard Gere.

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Only five people who aren't actors have ever won the title: Kennedy, Adam Levine, David Beckham, Blake Shelton and 2019's winner, John Legend.

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In 1993, the honor went to two people as the "Sexiest Couple Alive": Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford.

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Since 1997 — when George Clooney was dubbed the Sexiest Man Alive — the issue has been released in November, with exceptions in 2002 and 2003, when it was released in the first week of December.

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Three Sexiest Men Alive have died since receiving the honor: John F. Kennedy Jr., Patrick Swayze and Sean Connery.

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1994 is the only year since its founding that a Sexiest Man Alive wasn't awarded. In 2015, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the franchise, PEOPLE editors selected Keanu Reeves as the 1994 winner.

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A total of 31 men have scored the Sexiest Man Alive title.

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Credit: David Burton

The franchise has been around for 35 years.

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Only one man — John Legend — has earned two covers.

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