This is a list of atheists. Living persons in this list are people whose atheism is relevant to their notable activities or public life, and who have publicly identified themselves as atheists.
Assassins
Gavrilo Princip (1894–1918): Assassin of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the Archduke's wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. Leon Czolgosz (1873–1901): Assassin of American President William McKinley on September 6, 1901.Scott Miller, The President and the Assassin: McKinley, Terror, and Empire at the Dawn of the American Century, p. 77 Lee Harvey Oswald (1939–1963): Assassin of American President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963.The Warren Commission Report, p. 690
Business
John Baskerville (1706–1775): English typesetter, printing innovator and typefounder, designer of the typeface that bears his name.Baskerville left directions that his body be buried "in a Conical Building in my own premises Hearetofore used as a mill which I have lately Raised Higher and painted and in a vault which I have prepared for It. This Doubtless to many may appear a Whim perhaps It is so—But it is a whim for many years Resolve'd upon, as I have a Hearty Contempt for all Superstition the Farce of a Consecrated Ground the Irish Barbarism of Sure and Certain Hopes &c I also consider Revelation as it is call'd Exclusive of the Scraps of Morality casually Intermixt with It to be the most Impudent Abuse of Common Sense which Ever was Invented to Befool Mankind." He also wrote his epitaph: "Stranger—Beneath this Cone in Uncons[e]crated Ground / A Friend to the Liberties of mankind Directed his Body to be Inhum'd / May the Example Contribute to Emancipate thy mind / From the Idle Fears of Superstition / And the wicked arts of priesthood." Both quoted in James Mosley, 'Baskerville, John (1706–1775)' , Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 (accessed May 7, 2008)."Baskerville, designer of the type that bears his name and one of Birmingham's best known citizens, was an atheist and anticleric whose will contained a vitriolic attack on the Church." 'Printer's Reburial Demanded', The Times March 9, 1963; pg. 6; Issue 55645; col A. Richard Branson (1950–): English business magnate, investor and philanthropist.Richard Branson states he believes in evolution Asked about belief in God, Richard Branson says he believes in evolution , by CNN, September 15, 2011. "Morgan: Do you believe more or less in God since the day after your conversation over diner? Branson: Hum... I believe in evolution. (...) I do think that religion has done a lot of harm over the years and just because one's born in one country and not another country, one shouldn't necessarily think 'our god is the right god and somebody else's god is the wrong god', so... I see myself as a humanitarian who loves people. Maybe one day somebody will be able to convince that there is a god and there is a particular god, but... I love people and that's to me the most important thing. (...) Morgan: and despite the fact that you survived that, Richard, with the .1%, you still don't believe! Branson: I would love to believe, and I think it's very comforting to believe (...) If somebody can convince me that there is a god, it would obviously be wonderful (...)"Branson, Richard. Losing My Virginity. Random House, 2011, p. 239. "I do not believe in God, but, as I sat there in the damaged capsule, hopelessly vulnerable to the slightest shift in weather or mechanical fault, I could not believe my eyes." Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919): Scottish-American industrialist, who led the expansion of the steel industry. Later in life, he became one of the highest–profile philanthropists of his era.Carnegie, Andrew. Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie (1920, 2006). (p. 339) Doug Casey (1946–): American libertarian economist, author of 4 books, including Totally Incorrect: Conversations with Doug Casey (2012).July 13, 2013 C-SPAN2 Book TV interview with Doug Casey at Freedomfest 2013, held at Las Vegas. Felix Dennis (1947–2014): British magazine publisher and philanthropist."I don't read novels unless they are 25 years old, but I have a passion for biography, history, philosophy and popular science. The original popular science writer was Charles Darwin in The Voyage of the Beagle. I must have read it 25 times. My favourite modern writer is Loren Eiseley, who wrote very poetically. I get consolation from such books, maybe because I waver between atheism and agnosticism." Felix Dennis interviewed by Jodie Jones, The Daily Telegraph, March 29, 2008, Weekend, Pg. 3. Larry Flynt (1942–2021): American publisher and the head of Larry Flynt Publications.Flynt writes "I have left my religious conversion behind and settled into a comfortable state of atheism" in the epilogue of his autobiography An Unseemly Man: My Life As A Pornographer, Pundit And Social Outcast by Larry Flynt and Kenneth Ross (1996) Scott Galloway (professor), born 1964: American public speaker, author, podcast host, entrepreneur; clinical professor of marketing at the New York University Stern School of Business. Galloway identifies as an atheist. Stephen Girard (1750–1831): French sailor turned American banker and philanthropist. Allan Pinkerton (1819–1884): Scottish-born American detective and spy, best known for creating the Pinkerton Agency, the first detective agency of the United States."Although christened by a Baptist minister in the Gorbals (August 25, 1819), he had a churchless upbringing and was a lifelong atheist." Richard Davenport-Hines, 'Pinkerton, Allan (1819–1884)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 (accessed May 2, 2008). Graeme Samuel (1946–): Australian businessman, former chairman of the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission."Well in my own mind I'm absolutely certain. I'm not agnostic, I'm an atheist, but that's a view that's been formed over I guess, 45 years of thinking and of analysing and just – and I have no embarrassment about it, no shame about it, nor any pride. It's my way of life, my way of thinking. I'm an atheist. And I have to say to you that although there are still many who strongly adhere to religions of one form or another, I find many others that when you actually out yourself as an atheist, say, 'Yes, well so am I'." Terry Lane interviews Graeme Samuel , BigIdeas, ABC Radio National, May 28, 2006 (Accessed July 2, 2007) Clive Sinclair (1940–2021): British entrepreneur and inventor of the world's first 'slim-line' electronic pocket calculator and early personal computers."Oh God no," says Sir Clive Sinclair. "I was once asked [to be a godparent] and I said I can't, I'm an atheist. Actually I think I did have a couple, once, but I can't say I looked after them. Sort of lost them, or forgot about them." Rosie Millard, 'Godparenthood that rests on fame, not faith', The Independent (London), February 28, 1998, Page 15. Christer Sturmark (1964–): Swedish IT entrepreneur and chairman of The Swedish Humanist Organisation. Translation: I am also an atheist. I find that just about everybody are atheists. The religions of the world has created many gods. Hinduism has millions. Most of the people I meet that call themselves Christians are atheists when it comes to all gods, except for one. Jag är en sökare! Alan Sugar (1947–): English entrepreneur, businessman, and television personality." He also says he is dead proud of his Jewishness. "Not in a religious way – I don't believe in God and all that. But I am Jewish, and very proud to be so, very proud of the culture." " Sam Wollaston interviewing Sugar, 'Sir Alan will see you now ', The Guardian (London), March 25, 2009, Features pages, Pg. 8 (online version. Retrieved March 25, 2009). Jimmy Wales (1966–): American internet entrepreneur and co-founder and promoter of Wikipedia and Wikia. Will Wyatt (1942–): British media consultant and company director, formerly a journalist, television producer and senior executive at the BBC."Mr Wyatt, an atheist, said that he had no axe to grind, and was struck by how much more different – "and accurate" – the BBC's description of Christianity was, where the birth of Jesus was mentioned as being "believed by Christians" and that Jesus "claimed" that he spoke with the authority of God." Hugh Davies, 'BBC site guilty of 'cringeing' ', The Daily Telegraph, February 8, 2006, Pg. 7.
Comedians
Dave Allen (1936–2005): Irish comedian, popular on United Kingdom and Australian television in the 1960s, 1970s and also in the 1990s."Allen had little time for those who unquestioningly accept the tenets of any creed or system of thought. He applied this stricture equally to himself, and used humour to undermine even his own scepticism ("I'm an atheist, thank God"). [...] "His baffled humanity," wrote Charles Spencer, the theatre critic of The Daily Telegraph, in 1993, "his perplexity in the face of life's mysteries and irritations, are the qualities that make him such a fine and sometimes moving comedian. He's a blaspheming atheist on the side of the angels." " Obituary of Dave Allen, The Daily Telegraph, March 12, 2005, Pg. 029. Russell Peters (1970–): Canadian comedian. Keith Allen (1953–): British comedian, actor, singer and writer, father of Lily Allen."One of the many reasons Allen made the documentary was to explore his own atheism. Unlike most non-believers, he claims, in all seriousness, to have once seen God. It was at Glastonbury during the 1980s, and (as is the case with most of the splendid anecdotes that litter his conversation), it involved enough mind-altering substances to stun a baby elephant. [...] Like any considered atheist, particularly one who will burn in Hell, he lives according to a moral code that refuses to romanticise things like love, or devotion." Guy Adams, , The Independent June 21, 2007 (accessed April 25, 2008). Wil Anderson (1974–): Australian television, radio and stand-up comedian, former host of ABC's The Glass House.'Of course, Anderson has never avoided controversy, but this show promises to be his most contentious yet. As an out-and-proud atheist, he's asking, "If the world truly does have an intelligent design, why is everything so f—ed?"'—Lallo, Michael (April 5, 2007), Wil to Succeed , The Age, Fairfax Media. Retrieved November 15, 2007. Chico Anysio (1931–2012): Brazilian comedian.Chico Anysio fica revoltado com morte do filho de Cissa Guimarães: "que Deus é este?" Matt Besser (1967–): American comedian.""My name is Matt Besser, and I'm an Arkansas Razorback. My father is a Jew from Little Rock, Ark., my mother was a Christian from Harrison, Ark., and somehow I'm an atheist now living in L.A. I am a Razorback living in the Razorback diaspora." Thus begins Woo Pig Sooie, Matt Besser's one-man comedic rant that fearlessly confronts all the folly and confusion of what it means to be religious in America."'Razor Sharp ', Nashville Scene, June 1, 2006 (accessed August 20, 2008). Abie Philbin Bowman (19??–): Irish comedian and columnist, writer/director/performer of Jesus: The Guantanamo Years."Don't expect Jerry Springer-style controversy, however. Bowman, an atheist, has found that "most Christians are so disgusted by Guantanamo that I don't get many people saying it's offensive". And playing Jesus has even infiltrated his own personality: "I feel myself being more humble and trying to understand people with compassion rather than getting angry." " Emma John, 'A funny thing happened on the way to redemption', The Guardian, August 14, 2006, G2, Pg. 22. Marcus Brigstocke (1973–): English comedian, satirist and presenter of The Late Edition.During an episode of The Late Edition filmed in October 2007, Brigstocke was presented with an Out Campaign t-shirt by his guest and out-spoken Atheist Richard Dawkins to which Brigstocke replied: "Look at that. Outed, outed as an Atheist and proud to be so"