1. Alireza Haghighi (1988)

Iranian Footballer

Goalkeeper who joined Rubin Kazan in 2012 and became a member of the Iranian national team in 2010.

2. Antonio Esfandiari (1978)

American Magician And Poker Play

Magician who became the all-time leader in poker winnings with an $18 million victory in 2012.

3. Hana Kamkar (1980)

World Music Singer

One member of the Iranian family of singers and musicians The Kamkars. The band has released over a dozen albums since they began performing in 1965. She has served as...

4. Ehsan Karami (1970)

Movie Actor

Film actor and music performer who is best recognized for his work in The Excellency. His popularity within the industry led to him amassing more than 950,000 followers on his personal...

5. Nazanin Boniadi (1982)

Movie Actress

Iranian-born actress who played supporting roles in such Hollywood films as Charlie Wilson's War, Iron Man, and The Next Three Days. In 2013, she began playing Fara Sherazi on Showtime's Homeland....

6. Mehrzad Marashi (1980)

German Singer

German-Iranian singer who rose to stardom after winning the seventh season of the reality singing show Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar. Following his victory, he released highly-successful singles like "Don't Believe"...

7. Samira Makhmalbaf (1980)

Iranian Film Director

One of the most influential directors of the Iranian New Wave movement whose work included At Five in the Afternoon and Blackboards.

8. Arefeh Mansouri (1980)

American Fashion Designer

International Costume Designer best known for designing contemporary, avant-garde pieces.

9. Hichkas (1985)

Iranian Musician

Iranian rapper known for being one of the prominent faces of Persian Rap who's been credited with helping popularize the art. He released his first solo album, Jangale Asfalt, in...

10. Anahita Afshar (1989)

Movie Actress

Iranian actress who is known for her work both in film and in television. She is recognized for having starred in several such as One Kilo and Twenty One Grams...

11. Zahra Khan (1989)

Instagram Star

Social media star who is widely known for her ZahraKhan89 Instagram account. She has gained widespread popularity there for her makeup and fashion modeling photos, as well as those documenting...

12. Mohsen Afshani (1989)

TV Actor

Iranian film and television star known for his role as Hamed in the 2012 film The Sinners. He has also been seen in the television series' Shoghe parvaz and Sakhtemane 85. 

13. Mahsa Kamyabi (1989)

Movie Actress

Iranian actress who is best known for appearing in the film Scandal. She played the part of Roya in that film. 

14. Nasrin Moghanloo (1968)

Movie Actress

Iranian film and television star best recognized for her roles in films like Without Permission and The Spouse. 

15. Hossein Tohi (1989)

World Music Singer

Iranian rapper who helped pioneer the genre in his country, he's known for his album Tohi, which includes the singles "Tabestoon" and "Dorehami."

16. Hadis Miramini (1989)

Movie Actress

Film actress who is best recognized for her performances in Inadaptable and Raz. She has gone on to amass an impressive 700,000 followers on her personal Instagram account.

17. Tohi (1989)

Rapper

Rapper and hip-hop artist who is recognized for singles such as "Asheghet Manam" and "Ba Man Miraghsi." His music videos have generated more than 11 million global views on his...

18. Mandana Mani (1978)

Fashion Designer

Fashion stylist and owner of the clothing brand Mandana Mani. Her work has shown at Los Angeles Fashion Week. She showcases her clothing on Instagram and has garnered more than...

19. Reza Aslan (1972)

Writer Scholar

This Iranian-born religious scholar and author is most famous for his widely translated works No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam (published in 2005) and Zealot:...

20. Mani Nouri (1970)

TV Actor

Actor who found fame as a child star with his role on the television series Zizigooloo. He has since starred on shows like The Magic Land and in feature films like...

21. Lily Mazahery (1972)

Lawyer

Known for founding both the Legal Rights Institute and the Mazahery Law Firm, this controversial Iranian American former attorney and activist fought for human rights in Iran and North Africa...

22. Siamand Rahman (1988)

Weight Lifter

Powerlifter and paralympic who won gold at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London and the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio. He earned over 100,000 followers on his Instagram account. 

23. Bahram Radan (1979)

Iranian Actor

Award-winning Iranian actor who is best known for his roles in Santouri and Candle in the Wind. He is sometimes called the Iranian Brad Pitt. He received a Ladakh International...

24. Homayoun Shajarian (1975)

Iranian Musician

Known for such recordings as Simorq, Showq Nameh, and Neither Angel nor Devil, this Iranian classical singer also became known for his skill as a Kamancheh (Persian string instrument) and...

25. Leila Hatami (1972)

Actress

Iranian actress who has starred in the films A Separation, Kamalolmolk, The Last Step, Felicity Land, and The Deserted Station.

26. Shahab Hosseini (1974)

Iranian Actor

Iranian actor who played roles in many films, including The Woman Does Not Speak and A Candle in the Wind.

27. Mansour Jafari (1971)

World Music Singer

Iranian singer who became an icon of Persian pop music with releases like 1997's Daricheh and 2002's Divooneh. He is also an actor who has given acclaimed performances in films...

28. Arash Labaf (1977)

Writer

Famous for his Swedish certified Gold hits "Boro Boro" and "She Makes Me Go," Labaf is also known for writing the track "Always," which was performed at the semifinals of...

29. Mojgan Shajarian (1970)

Painter

Painter and world music singer who had her work featured at the Art Walk 14 and San Diego Art Festival 2017.

30. Neda Kalantar (1991)

Reality Star

Contestant on season 2 of Big Brother Canada who finished in third place thanks to a strategic game plan.

31. Nader Khalili (1936)

Architect

Pioneered the Earthbag Construction technique called Superadobe and his innovations with the Ceramic Houses system. His Superadobe system was a response to a 1984 NASA challenge for designs that could...

32. Siamak Ansari (1969)

TV Actor

Iranian actor and television director who is known for his appearance on several television series' including Pavarchin, Noghtechin, and Jayezeye Bozorg. He is also known for having worked as an...

33. Nikahang Kowsar (1970)

Journalist

Iranian-Canadian journalist who first earned recognition as a cartoonist for the political satire magazine Gol-Agha. He went on to work for many well-known newspapers including Hamshahri, Zan and Aftab-e Emrooz.

34. Tamara Stronach (1972)

Choreographer

Dancer and choreographer recognized as a member of the Israeli dance troupe Neta Dance Company. She also owns and operates her own self-titled dance company.

35. Majid Samii (1937)

Iranian Neurosurgeon

Iranian neurosurgeon and medical scientist who has won multiple awards for his work, including being Honorary President of The World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies in 2001 and the Friendship Award...

36. Shermine Shahrivar (1982)

Pageant Contestant

Beauty pageant title holder who was named Miss Europe 2005 after winning the crown of Miss Germany in 2004. She became the face American Apparel in 2008.

37. Farah Pahlavi (1938)

Emperess Of Iran

Queen Consort of Iran from 1959 until 1967 and Empress Consort from 1967 until she was exiled in 1979. She was the only Empress to be named in post-Islamic Iran. 

38. Dariush Mehrjui (1939)

Film Director

Founding member of the Iranian New Wave movement of the 1970s and director of 1969's Gaav and 1978's The Cycle.

39. Abbas Kiarostami (1940)

Film Director Photographer And P

Critically acclaimed director of 1997's Taste of Cherry and 2010's Certified Copy.

40. Barbet Schroeder (1941)

Film Director Actor

Film director whose work included the movies Barfly, Single White Female, and Reversal of Fortune.

41. Babak Amini (1970)

Composer

Iranian musician, composer, and guitarist who is known for his own instrumental albums and for his collaborations with a variety of Canadian and Iranian musicians. He is also known for...

42. Jalal Talebi (1942)

Iranian Footballer

Midfielder who made 15 appearances for the Iranian national team from 1964 to 1971. He became a manager after retirement, leading such teams as Al-Khaleej, the Syrian national team and...

43. Habib Rezaei (1970)

Actor

Iranian actor and casting director known for his work on different films and television series. He is most recognized for his role in the 2009 film Twenty where he played...

44. Pantea Bahram (1970)

Iranian Actress

Iranian actress who is best recognized for her recurring television roles and appearances. She is best recognized for having played  Afsaneh Meshkat on the 2018 series Deldadegan as well as for...

45. Shadmehr Aghili (1973)

Musician Singer Composer

Irani music producer who gained popularity with his albums Fasl e Ashenayi, Mosafer and Khiali Nist. His realshadmehr Instagram has amassed more than 7 million followers.

46. Iron Sheik (1943)

Wrestler

Born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, he is an Iranian-American former professional wrestler and occasional actor remembered for his legendary WWF career. He was also known by the names Ali Vasari,...

47. Hossein Soleimani (1970)

Movie Actor

Well-known Iranian actor who initially tasted fame when he landed roles in the movies The Unfinished Song and The Lizard. After slowing down his schedule in his mid 20s, his career...

48. Sivas Torbati (1984)

Rapper

Danish rapper whose debut studio album Familie før para peaked at #5 on the Danish charts in 2016. The Sony Music star has also become known for the popular singles...

49. Hamid Sefat (1993)

Rapper

Rapper and hip-hop songwriter who is best known for the singles "Divoonas," "Hayhat," and "Bakhshesh." His popularity led to him garnering over 3.3 million followers on his hamidsefat Instagram account.

50. Mehrab Khani (1971)

Screenwriter

Iranian screenwriter who is best known for penning Pejman in 2013. He has been writing Iranian films for over twenty years.