Norwegian soccer legend Erling Haaland has been the favorite to be the #1 searched person on Google this year for the last month, though one or two challengers are emerging.
Haaland had a stellar World Cup, leading his country to a first quarterfinal and massively upping his IG following in the process.
Viral social media posts during the World Cup helped Haaland receive millions of extra Google hits, leading some to suggest he could be our most searched star this year. And traders agree, pricing in the summer phenomenon as they try to predict the most Googled person of 2026.
However, Manchester City's 115 alleged financial breaches, and Haaland's transfer to the club in all of that, are creating Google clicks for a different reason.
We're tracking the prediction markets to check whether Haaland looks set to maintain his lead over the chasing pack. The question is... can Super Bowl halftime star Bad Bunny catch him?
Key Takeaways:
- Erling Haaland’s World Cup surge: The Norwegian striker made an unprecedented leap into first place after leading Norway on a historic World Cup run, shattering social media records in the process. His transfer to Manchester City is now under the spotlight, too.
- Bad Bunny loses the lead: The Puerto Rican superstar was top of the Kalshi board for months before losing momentum. He is now the value play at 13¢.
- Donald Trump remains great value: POTUS has topped the end-of-year chart for the past three years, making his current low price look tempting.
- Savannah Guthrie eases back: After a massive initial spike following developments in her mother's high-profile abduction case, search traffic has cooled.
Most-Googled Person of 2026: Latest Odds
This market is moving fast, and no one quite knows what’s around the corner. But that’s never put us off before. Let’s take a look at the current players as we attempt to predict what’s next.
Don't forget, the most googled person of 2026 market resolves based on the official People section of Google's annual report (not to be confused with the trending chart!).
For more help understanding Kalshi probabilities, see our odds calculator.
Breakdown: Who Will be the Most Searched Person in 2026?
| Candidate |  |
Buy 'Yes' | Buy 'No' |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erling Haaland | 19% | 18¢ | 83¢ |
| Bad Bunny | 13% | 13¢ | 88¢ |
| Donald Trump | 8% | 7¢ | 94¢ |
| Elon Musk | 5% | 5¢ | 97¢ |
| Savannah Guthrie | 3% | 3¢ | 97¢ |
| Taylor Swift | 3% | 3¢ | 97¢ |
| Luigi Mangione | 2% | 2¢ | 99¢ |
| Zohran Mamdani | 2% | 2¢ | 99¢ |
| Lionel Messi | 1% | 1¢ | 99¢ |
| Timothee Chalamet | 1% | 1¢ | 99¢ |
| Billie Eilish | <1% | 1¢ | -- |
| Joe Biden | <1% | 1¢ | -- |
| Kamala Harris | <1% | 1¢ | -- |
| Sam Altman | <1% | 1¢ | -- |
| Vladimir Putin | <1% | 1¢ | -- |
| Volodymyr Zelenskyy | <1% | 1¢ | -- |
⚽Erling Haaland | 'Yes' 18¢ | Chance 19%
The biggest story on the board right now is Norwegian soccer star Erling Haaland. He was nowhere to be seen on this market earlier this year, but in July he became the new 28% favorite. He has since vied for top spot with Bad Bunny.
It was all down to Haaland's World Cup performance, of course, as well as several viral memes and a phenomenon we’re now calling 'Haaland Mania'.
The striker gained over 32 million new Instagram followers during the World Cup. Plus, Haaland became a Google "Easter egg": search Haaland and you'd be presented with an animated Viking row on your screen, a nod to the Norway team's celebration with fans.
Haaland was fully on board with this, telling his social media followers to search his name to check out the Google tribute.
But there's another reason to fancy Haaland in this market. His transfer to EPL team Manchester City in 2022 is under the spotlight as part of the league's investigations into the club's financial affairs. Haaland is also the subject of speculation over his future at the club if they are found to have broken league rules over transfers.
Whether any wrongdoing is proven (as of yet, there is no official confirmation from the EPL that City broke the rules), it's creating Google buzz aplenty.
🎤Bad Bunny | 'Yes' 13¢ | Chance 13%
As a global music icon and star of this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, Bad Bunny is a great pick for this year’s Google #1 title.
Recent tour announcements and fresh new music have kept us searching his name, and that’s why he’s one of those most likely to end Trump’s multi-year streak, according to Kalshi traders.
The rapper was leading this market for most of the summer. However, his price has dripped as memories of the Super Bowl continue to drift. There is still value to be had here.
🦅Donald Trump | 'Yes' 7¢ | Chance 8%
President Trump is, of course, never far from the headlines. Earlier this year, the 13¢ price showed that traders were still confident in Trump's ability to dominate the news cycle, because let’s face it, he’s been doing it all year (and for several years before that).
Trump’s World Cup appearance generated yet more interest in the President, and the way things are going with Iran and the midterms, we can’t see searches for him dropping anytime soon. At the current price, Trump is great value.
#1 Searched Person on Google: Value Plays
📺Savannah Guthrie | 'Yes' 3¢ | Chance 3%
NBC's Today show co-anchor leapt onto the board at a massive 33% probability following news surrounding the kidnapping of her mother, Nancy Guthrie.
This is a case that’s attracted worldwide attention, and it’s still unsolved. So, with media outlets still releasing the details of ransom notes and new investigation updates coming all the time, search traffic has remained high.
Guthrie’s price has now fallen to 3¢, but any further breakthroughs on the case could still spark another surge in interest.
♫ Taylor Swift | 'Yes' 3¢ | Chance 3%
If there’s one artist who can break the internet at a moment's notice, it’s Taylor Swift.
Priced at just 4¢, interest remains steady following that Madison Square Garden wedding to Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Search traffic also jumped following the release of Swift’s original song I Knew It, I Knew You for what could be one of the year’s highest grossing movies: Toy Story 5.
OK, so Swift may be out of the headlines (for now), but that's why the 5% represents such good value.
🚘Elon Musk | 'Yes' 5¢ | Chance 5%
Another character who appears in the headlines almost every day is of course Elon Musk. We saw massive interest in the tech mogul earlier this year when he became the world’s first trillionaire, but his price has now fallen to 5¢.
That’s lower than earlier in the year, but Musk’s volatility is his greatest asset. Any major product announcement, X controversy, or high-profile legal battle has the potential to send his search traffic skyrocketing.
🎬Timothée Chalamet | 'Yes' 2¢ | Chance 1%
Timothée Chalamet was one of the most talked about stars in the world during the 2026 awards season, and he continued to dominate headlines even after missing out on the Oscar, following some controversial takes on opera and ballet.
We’ve also seen plenty of coverage surrounding Chalamet’s relationship with Kylie Jenner. If there’s news of an engagement or a secret wedding we can certainly expect an uptick in traffic for the actor. He’s a steady contender, but it’ll take some big news stories for Chalamet to top the chart.
💛💙Volodymyr Zelenskyy | 'Yes' 1¢ | Chance <1%
Zelenskyy remains at the forefront of international news due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, but search volume has dropped as other conflicts have begun to dominate the news cycle. His search volume is highly reactive to geopolitical developments, keeping him in the conversation for the most searched individuals globally.
🎤Billie Eilish | 'Yes' 1¢ | Chance <1%
Eilish’s search traffic follows a cyclical pattern, with spikes appearing whenever the possible Coachella 2027 headliner releases new music or appears on the red carpet. At 1¢, she is a longshot candidate whose chances depend on a viral moment that gets the whole world talking. Highly unlikely, but not impossible.
🤖Sam Altman | 'Yes' 1¢ | Chance <1%
As the face of the AI revolution, Altman’s relevance has been growing as public interest in OpenAI increases. But even though Altman has found fame in recent years, search traffic about the man himself remains slow when compared to pop stars and major politicians. We’d need to see a major AI breakthrough or a serious controversy to see his ranking climb.
🪆Vladimir Putin | 'Yes' 1¢ | Chance <1%
As a figure of intense global scrutiny, Putin’s search volume is tied to major international events. His low price reflects the market's view that while he is highly searched, he may not surpass the raw volume of domestic celebrities or political figures.
What Can We Learn from the Most Searched People of 2025?
Last year, the top spot of course went to none other than President Donald Trump, closely followed by Elon Musk. The only other celebrity that featured in last year's top 10 and is also on this year's board is Taylor Swift.
Google also reveals its top trending figures every year, and these two give us a glimpse into the topics and people users are most interested in.
Trending people are those who saw the most significant surge in interest relative to 2024. In 2025, the list included d4vd, Kendrick Lamar, Jimmy Kimmel, Tyler Robinson and Pope Leo XIV.
Top 10 Trending People (2025 Global Year in Search)
This list reflects the spikes, so it’s the people who saw the most significant surge in interest compared to 2024.
| Rank | Person | Category | Reason for Spike |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | d4vd | Musician | Viral TikTok hits and a high-profile news investigation. |
| 2 | Kendrick Lamar | Musician | Global "Pop Out" show and Super Bowl halftime news. |
| 3 | Jimmy Kimmel | TV Host | Fourth Academy Awards hosting and late-night virality. |
| 4 | Tyler Robinson | Public Figure | Accused in a major high-profile assassination event. |
| 5 | Pope Leo XIV | Religious Leader | Election of the first American-born Pope in history. |
| 6 | Vaibhav Suryavanshi | Athlete | Youngest-ever centurion in men's T20 cricket (IPL). |
| 7 | Shedeur Sanders | Athlete | NFL Draft experience and joining the Cleveland Browns. |
| 8 | Bianca Censori | Architect | Continued viral fashion and lifestyle scrutiny. |
| 9 | Zohran Mamdani | Politician | Historic upset victory as New York City Mayor. |
| 10 | Greta Thunberg | Activist | Renewed global protests and "The Greta Effect." |
More 2026 Google Search Prediction Markets
The beauty of the Kalshi markets is that you aren't restricted to trading just the #1 searched person.
Kalshi offers boards on the #2 Most Searched Person of the Year or the top 5 finishers. These boards offer lower prices than the main market. However, they also offer a cushion if you want to hedge your bets.
How to Use Prediction Markets
Prediction markets work very differently to sportsbooks. With a prediction market, you’re trading the probability of a specific outcome, and you’re trading against other people rather than the house. Here’s a brief introduction to prediction markets and how they work for markets like this one.
1. Choosing a Position and Understanding the Contract
On platforms like Kalshi, every market is binary, meaning it has a 'Yes' side and a 'No' side. Every contract is worth exactly $1.00 if the outcome occurs and $0.00 if it does not.
The price of a contract (e.g. 23¢) represents the market's belief in the likelihood of that event. A price of 23¢ means the market currently assigns a 23% chance to that person being the most searched.
2. The Two Ways to Profit
There are two primary strategies for making money in these markets. Firstly, you don't have to wait for the final results in December.
If you buy a ‘Yes’ for Elon Musk at 8¢ and a week later he makes a major acquisition, the price might jump to 20¢. You then have the option to sell your shares to another trader and take the profit immediately without waiting for the result.
If you are confident in your research and think you’ve backed the winner, you can hold until the very end.
For example, if you buy a ‘Yes’ for Donald Trump at 23¢ and he is confirmed as the most searched person, your shares convert to $1.00 each. That means a profit of 77¢ per share for you.
3. Analyzing the Order Book
Before placing a trade, look at the bid (what buyers are willing to pay) and the ask (what sellers are willing to accept).
Market orders execute instantly at the best available current price. You can use this if you need to enter a position quickly before news spreads.
There are also limit orders. With these, you set a specific price you are willing to pay (e.g., "I will only buy Taylor Swift 'Yes' if the price drops to 5¢"). This allows for more precision but leaves you open to the possibility of missing out entirely if the price moves in the other direction.
4. Managing Risk with 'No' Contracts
One of the most powerful tools in #1 searched person on Google prediction markets is the ability to trade the 'No' side.
If you are certain a specific celebrity will not be the most searched, you can buy 'No' shares instead. While 'No' shares for a person like Sam Altman might be expensive (99¢), they represent a very high-probability trade.
As an advanced trader, you can buy 'Yes' on two or three likely candidates while buying 'No' on several long shots. That allows you to balance your portfolio and protect yourself against unexpected market swings.
5. Research and Information Lag
The key to success on prediction markets is identifyin
Most Googled Person Prediction Market FAQs
Most markets have specific dead heat rules or use specific data providers (like Google Trends) to determine a winner down to the decimal point.
Because only one person can be the most searched, it is statistically much more likely that any given individual will not win, which is why there are much higher prices for 'No' contracts.
Yes. Prediction markets allow you to sell your 'Yes' or 'No' shares at the current market price before the final result is determined. Sometimes it’s possible to make a profit by doing so before the winner is revealed.
This market does not resolve based on daily Google Trends charts or third-party news reports. It officially resolves using the “People” section of the Google Year in Search 2026 Global list. This report is typically released by Google in early to mid-December.
If a person who isn't currently listed on the board (e.g., a new breakout star or a sudden news figure) takes the #1 spot, the market typically resolves to "Other." If you believe the current frontrunners will all be eclipsed by an unknown event, buying "Other" (if available) or the ‘No’ side of the favorites is the strategic play.
