As we all know, Rolex has been one of the most famous brands–if not the most famous–of luxury watches that have been ever made in the past century. Although Rolex as a brand is a bit expensive compared to its other counterparts, the brand cemented its place as one of the most-sought wristwatches by dedicated collectors. Even people who want to own a high-end brand choose Rolex because of its top-tier quality and design. Because of this, there is no wonder why famous and influential people in their respective careers prefer to wear this brand. Legendary people like the ones below prefer a legendary watch that will genuinely stand with time. Who are they? Here are 8 of the most famous people who wore a Rolex.
Martin Luther King Jr., the civil rights leader
Martin Luther King, or MLK, is one of the most influential American civil rights movement figures in the 1960s. Inspired by none other than the great Mahatma Gandhi, MLK led numerous actions. He also gave hundreds and thousands of American speeches to advance the African American people’s fundamental rights and equality. He was assassinated in 1964, much to the grief of African American people. King also has lots of photos where we see him wearing a Rolex watch. Even though none of us knows the story behind MLK’s choice of watches, a good wristwatch, just like Rolex, is an exceptional choice for a people’s king.
Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister
This man is one of the individuals who had created a big impact not only in his own country but in the whole world. Winston Churchill, the prime minister of Great Britain who supervised and eventually witnessed the victory of the allied forces in the Second World War, is also one of the well-known personalities who wear a Rolex. In 1947, Hans Wilsdorf (founder of Rolex) selected Churchill as the owner of the 100,000th timepiece made by the company.
Wilsdorf was gifted an 18-carat gold Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust, with a fluted bezel, a white dial, and a Jubilee bracelet which Churchill unquestionably received without thinking twice.
Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll
The man himself, Elvis Presley, owned a lot of luxury watches in his closet. The famous king of Rock’N’Roll and unarguably one of the most influential musicians of the last century loved to display his good fortune by wearing legendary watches. Though he wore several Rolex watches, one of the coolest was the Rolex King Midas.
Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond
For sure, you have already watched at least one of the well-known James Bond movies that the master creator, Ian Fleming, has written. As you know, in the novel and the movie, James Bond is a secret agent who wears a tuxedo, paired with his elegant watch. Though there is a debate on whether James Bond is purely a Rolex man, one thing is for sure–the author, Fleming, owns a Rolex Oyster Perpetual reference 1016.
Ellen DeGeneres, a Favorite TV Host
DeGeneres is one of the most prominent American TV hosts, actors, and producers in the US. He also hosts different shows and events such as the Academy Awards, Grammy Awards, and even the Primetime Emmys.
He is also an eminent vintage and modern luxury watch collector, as seen in his shows every day. One of the stylish watches he owns is a Rolex Daytona 6421 “John Player Special,” nicknamed after the racing team in the 1970s. He also owns a Rolex Explorer II Reference 1655 that was released in 1971.
Barack Obama, Mr President, and the people’s man
One of the most influential African Americans on earth and the former 44th president of the United States of America is also a Rolex fan. He owns a Rolex Cellini reference 50509. This is one of the most expensive watches that Obama has been spotted wearing after his presidential term in the White House. This is because he wanted the public to see him as the man of the people. He always wears a simple and less expensive wristwatch. Although a Rolex Cellini is a Luxury watch, compared to other watches, it is still less costly. However, it still gives an elegant style fit for an exceptional political legend.
Michael Jordan, His Airness
Undoubtedly, his Airness, Michael Jordan, is the most famous sports icon in the US and even in the whole world. Everyone knows that he is one of the greatest players we have seen playing on the basketball court since the professional league started.
After winning several championship rings in the NBA, he did not stop his career. After he retired, he became a successful businessman and an owner of one of the NBA teams in the league.
We can see his success in life by the watch he uses. As an avid luxury watch collector, too, he has tons of wristwatches in his collection. One of them is the Rolex Daytona platinum. This piece is one of the most sought Rolex watches that have an average price of USD 75,000. He also has a Rolex Sky-dweller and a Rolex GMT-Master II 116758-SANR.
Sylvia Earle, our marine biologist
Earle is an internationally renowned marine biologist. She has been a pioneer of ocean explorations for several decades. She has also been an ambassador of Rolex since 1982. Her latest ambitious project, Mission Blue, is backed by the watchmaker company. This project aims to protect our oceans from the harmful effects caused by us humans. It also tries to find ways to address the earth’s environmental challenges.
Be a legend, yourself.
Here are some of the best of the best people when it comes to their different career paths. Without a doubt, Rolex has been present with man’s successful moments. If you have been considering buying a Rolex watch, this might be the sign for you!