Last Updated on April 17, 2025 by Colby Droscher
History is brimming with remarkable individuals. Devastatingly enough, some of these very individuals were never even able to realize their full potential due to untimely deaths, tragic circumstances, or missed opportunities. We rounded up 15 specific historical figures that some folks would suggest are some of the greatest to ever live. Of course, everyone has their own opinions in this department as well.
1. Alexander the Great
Alexander the Great died at just 32 years old after he had built one of the largest empires throughout the entirety of history. Had he lived longer, he could’ve shaped the entire ancient world that much more dramatically.
2. Princess Diana
Princess Diana was both a beloved humanitarian and a global icon. Her life ended up being tragically cut short at 36. Numerous folks believed that she was just beginning her most impactful work.
3. John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy is a name that you’ll hear thrown around plenty of times. He was the youngest person to be elected U.S. president. He had ambitious plans for both civil rights and space exploration before his assassination at the age of 46.
4. Emily Brontë
She was the author of a book that you have likely heard of, called Wuthering Heights. Naturally, the world was devastated when she died at 30. She had only one novel, yet showed potential with it to become one of the unrivaled literary greats.
5. Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur was more than a mere rapper. He was a legendary poet, activist, and cultural force to be reckoned with. His death at the age of 25 left the world humbled in reflection over what he could’ve been.
6. Anne Frank
Anne Frank’s diary remains as one of the most powerful voices throughout history. Had Anne Frank survived, she would’ve become one of the most influential writers and peace advocates of her time.
7. Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin was and still is hailed as the original “Crocodile Hunter.” He truly redefined wildlife education before his unexpected death at 44 years old.
8. Sharon Tate
Sharon Tate was a tremendously talented actress, and her absolutely brutal murder at the age of 26 left the world without words.
9. Mozart
Mozart was an uncontested musical genius whose death at the age of 35 would leave many compositions sadly unfinished. Who can even begin to think about what kinds of masterpieces would’ve been created otherwise?
10. Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a truly dynamic performer and the voice of Queen. His early death from AIDS at the age of 45 cut short an iconic career that still had so much to give.
11. James Dean
James Dean stood as an unwavering symbol of rebellious youth until he died in a car crash at the age of 24. His potential as an actor and also a cultural icon was larger than life.
12. Hypatia of Alexandria
Hypatia of Alexandria was a genius philosopher and mathematician in Ancient Egypt. Her brutal death did indeed mark a brutal death, a tragic end, to an otherwise unstoppable rising intellectual force.
13. Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat was a revolutionary artist who ended up dying at the age of 27. He regularly challenged social norms through his raw and vivid work.
14. Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger was a legendary artist and an all-around remarkable human being. His performance as the Joker will echo throughout eternity. He died at the age of 28 and left behind a legacy that hinted at so many even more iconic roles that could’ve followed.
15. Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath’s writing was both emotionally rich and soul-piercing. She died at 30 and also left behind work that did indeed hint at her even deeper literary greatness.
