Welcome to the first annual 500 under 500, a list of 500 people in advertising under 500 years old. They’re storytellers, disrupters, visionaries and dreamers – but most importantly, they have yet to turn 500 – so they’re just getting started.
Eats, drinks, and sleeps advertising in addition to food and liquid.
SUSAN CREDLE Global Chief Creative Officer, FCB
After moving us with her campaigns, she’s moving from Chicago to New York. Lift with the knees.
BRIANNE FARRAR Copywriter, Beuwolf
If you could endorse someone on LinkedIn for being under 500, we’d do that for her.
DAVID DROGA Founder, Droga5
Not a lot of people know this. But he’s actually the Droga in “Droga5.”
KATE MAHERAS Digital Media Manager, SK+G
Our nation’s 37th president.
EMILY WHITE Director of Business Operations, Instagram
Just like a lot of Instagram users, she’s young. Like under 500 young.
JAKE MATTHEWS Senior Copywriter, Pitch
Proficient in word and H.O.R.S.E, Jake never misses a shot at brilliance. Or an episode of the Voice.
PETER “RATTLESNAKE PETE” GRUBER Snake Oil Salesman
Ironically, his mustache looks like plenty of others already on this list.
MARGARET PHOMMACHANH Office Assistant, McCann
She may be following Dan Wieden on this list, but 1856 people follow her on instagram. Your move, Dan.
MOLLY STREULI Production Manager/Copywriter, Leopold Ketel & Partners
At no point in her life has she ever been 500.
SCOTT HIGGINS & CHRIS MCMURTEREY Creative Directors, McCann
We have zero reservations about putting them this high on the list, but Chris likely has reservations at “this trendy new Spanish fusion place that apparently only serves different kinds of onion.”
GERRY GRAF Co-Founder/Chief Creative Officer, Barton F. Graf 9000
Has been endorsed 4 times on LinkedIn for Outdoor Advertising.
STEVE JOBS Founder, Apple
Did incredible things for the industry and world. But somehow, the movie about his life starring Ashton Kutcher, was at best, a lateral move from “Dude Where’s My Car?”
EMILY WINCEL Social Media Strategist, The James Agency
Just like another #23, she’s the best ever at what she does. Unlike him, she was never cut from her high school basketball team.
LAUREN JOHNSON Writer, Adweek
Not the only person with the last name Johnson on this list. Small world!
DAVID OGILVY Co-Founder, Ogilvy & Mather
Won’t follow us back on Twitter for some reason.
RICKY ANOLIK Senior Art Director, McCann
His dog may have just scratched his own cornea, but Ricky’s just scratched the surface of the greatness he’s capable of.
EVAN BARKOFF Junior Copywriter, Droga5
He’s got so much potential at just 46-years-old.
JEFF GOODBY Co-Founder, Goodby Silverstein & Partners
Underrated thumb-wrestler.
ERIK OSTER Writer, AgencySpy
An always entertaining writer whose bio says he pines for a second season of “Freaks and Geeks.” Well, we pine for more writing from him. And hopefully, someday, our father’s approval.
WILLIAM ESPEY Branding Creative Lead, Chipotle
Has had an impressive career of creating consistently great work, but perhaps most impressively – for him, guac isn’t extra.
DAN WIEDEN Co-Founder, Wieden + Kennedy
According to this icon’s Wikipedia page, he created the iconic advertising tagline “Just Do It” and visited a wasabi farm in 2014.
THE GENERAL Spokesman, General Insurance
Does a tremendous job as the spokesman of an iconic brand despite the night terrors and PTSD he still suffers from the Korean war.
ALEX BOGUSKY Co-Founder, Crispin Porter + Bogusky / Fearless
A prolific ad man and creative genius who has made it his mission to create things that make a positive change and actually help the world and are actually worthwhile. Unlike this list.
