In 2016, it seems impossible to remember a world without memes. They dominate the digital landscape, spreading across the world in seconds thanks to the power of the Internet. Hundreds, if not thousands of memes circulate throughout social media everyday, and they can provide a range of entertainment, from pop culture humor to political commentary.
Despite the creation of brand new memes on a daily basis, some images have lasted the test of time longer than others. At this point they are instantly recognizable as Internet icons. But which memes are the most popular, and how did they get so famous in the first place? The good people over at FunnyStatus.com took the liberty of investigating these everlasting memes, and their findings are quite intriguing. Without further ado, take a look at the top 10 most popular memes of all-time:
Head over to FunnyStatus.com to read the full report, but here are some notable tidbits on the top 10 memes:
The Most Interesting Man in the World’s real story: Jonathan Goldsmith started out as a trash collector but soon feigned a talent for horseback riding to secure a part on the TV show “Gunsmoke.” He went on to appear in various movies and television shows, often cast as the villain, before his big break: the Dos Equis commercials.
Bad Luck Brian took advantage of the opportunity: Kyle Craven, now 26, rode the wave of Internet fame. His face has made it on T-shirts and stuffed animals, and the photo has been featured in various ad campaigns. His fame has since faded, and he is rarely recognized since he looks so different. But Craven estimates he’s earned between $15,000 and $20,000 for various deals – not enough to quit his day job as a project manager for his father’s construction business, but as he told the Washington Post, “not bad for doing basically nothing.”
Scumbag Steve’s up and down journey: Though Blake Boston admitted he was initially hurt and angry, he soon embraced his newfound status as a viral Internet sensation. In 2012, The Boston Globe made a documentary about what it was really like being an Internet “scumbag.” He launched a rap career (using his Scumbag Steve persona), happily dons his famous hat to pose for photos with fans, and maintains an active Twitter page – where, touting himself as a “rapper” and “entertainer,” he tweets frequently about memes and politics (he’s a Hillary fan).
What are your favorite memes? Let us know in the comment section below!
