See Our Readers' Favorite PEOPLE Covers from the Past 50 Years

The votes are in! See which iconic PEOPLE covers won our readers' choice poll below and read the digital version of our 50th-anniversary issue here.

Winner: Favorite 1970s Cover

Robert Redford channeled his inner cowboy (and showed off some chest hair) when he graced the cover of PEOPLE in 1975. His profile centered around his role in Three Days of Condor, which also starred Faye Dunaway.

Winner: Favorite 1980s Cover

Madonna was the woman of the moment when she appeared on the cover of PEOPLE in 1985. Even though she already had a couple of hits under her belt, she had just embarked on her first North American tour and was appearing in films like Desperately Seeking Susan, which was released that year.

Winner: Favorite 1990s Cover

Michael J. Fox publicly revealed for the first time that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease when he appeared on the cover of PEOPLE in 1998. Fox initially started displaying symptoms of early-onset Parkinson's disease in 1991 and was diagnosed soon afterward. However, he did not publicly reveal his diagnosis until he appeared on the cover of PEOPLE.

Winner: Favorite 2000s Cover

Prince William was 21 when he topped PEOPLE's list of the hottest bachelors in 2003. It also just happened to be the same year he began dating his now-wife, Kate Middleton.

Winner: Favorite 2010s Cover

Michelle Obama opened up about her private life when she appeared on the cover of PEOPLE in 2018, a little less than two years after she left the White House.

Winner: Favorite 2020s Cover (So Far)

Matthew Perry's untimely death in October was the subject of a PEOPLE 2023 cover a few days after he passed.

Winner: Favorite Royals Cover

Princess Diana's shocking death in 1997 saddened people around the world. PEOPLE paid tribute that same year with a special cover.

Winner: Favorite Sexiest Man Alive

George Clooney's Sexiest Man Alive cover from 2006 was understandably our readers' favorite. Interestingly enough, that year's cover also featured this year's current Sexiest Man Alive, Patrick Dempsey.

Winner: Favorite Beautiful Issue

Helen Mirren made history when she landed on the cover of our Beautiful Issue in 2022 at the age of 76.