Dutch King & Queen, Obamas most admired people in Netherlands

King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Barack and Michelle Obama are the most admired people in the Netherlands, according to a poll by YouGov among 45 thousand people in 42 countries. The Obamas came out as the most admired people in the world, ANP reports.

In the Netherlands, Barack Obama is the most admired man, followed by King Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, formula 1 racer Max Verstappen, and the Dalai Lama.

Queen Maxima is the most admired woman in the Netherlands, followed by Michelle Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Oprah Winfrey, and Princess Beatrix. 

Globally, the former U.S. president leads the list of admired men, followed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Gates topped the list for years. YouGov thinks his lower position this year may have to do with conspiracy theories about him being in some way involved in Covid-19.

After Michelle Obama, the most admired women are actress Angelina Jolie and British Queen Elizabeth.

Barack Obama scored better than current U.S. president Donald Trump virtually everywhere in the world. Trump, who came in second place in the U.S., only got a higher position than his predecessor in Russia.