The 20 most iconic company mascots of all time

Ronald McDonald is a little freaky to some, but he’s still an icon. He’s been hyping up McDonald’s for decades, and he’s so iconic that he’s got his own troupe of accompanying mascots. Grimace and The Hamburglar have become legends in their own right. 

Progressive didn’t set out to have an unending series of advertisements featuring Flo, but the public responded so positively to the first few that the company kept things going. She’s one of the most iconic inadvertent company mascots of all time. 

Mr. Clean is such an icon that he’s become synonymous with bald men everywhere. A man can look nothing like Mr. Clean aside from the absence of hair and still get the nickname. 

The Michelin Man might look like a lumpy ghost, but he’s actually a humanoid made from a stack of white tires. (The more you know!) No matter his true makeup, he’s a one-of-a-kind mascot who knows road safety and good food. 

The Energizer Bunny is definitely one of the coolest mascots on the market. He’s always buzzing around with sunglasses and a drum like the boss he is. He’s also become a euphemism for anyone who has a lot of energy, and that is a true signal of cultural relevance. 

Who could’ve ever predicted that there would be two major battery brands that use bunnies as their mascots? The Duracell Bunnies are similar to the Energizer Bunny, but there are distinctions. For example, Duracell created its mascot first, and there are multiple Duracell Bunnies rather than just one Energizer Bunny. 

The woman whose face was used as the Gerber Baby went on to teach English and write mystery novels, but before that, she had the world’s coolest fun fact whenever she was asked to provide one. 

The Geico Gecko has a surprising amount of lore. His accent is reptilian, he doesn’t wear pants because there aren’t any made in his size, he drives a red convertible, and he agrees that toilet paper should be hung over rather than under. He’s a complex creature. 

Is there any character in history who has the recognition of Mickey Mouse? Even his ears are iconic. Mickey has become a metonym for Disney, and in 2028, he’ll celebrate his 100th birthday, hitting home both his impact and longevity. 

Mr. Monopoly, otherwise known as Rich Uncle Pennybags, is so iconic that Forbes has estimated his net worth. Some rich people who actually exist can’t get that sort of publicity. In case you were wondering, Mr. Monopoly is, indeed, a billionaire. 

Some people become icons without asking for it. The Brawny Man was created when the artist tasked with updating the company’s packaging used his son as inspiration. The artist aged his son, who was a kid at the time, into an adult, and the Brawny Man was born. 

Mario is a company mascot, but he’s also a video game character and now a movie star, both of which have greatly helped his cause. He has his own world, lots of unique friends, and multiple racetracks — not bad for a humble plumber. 

Captain Morgan is such an icon that if someone is dressed as a pirate during Halloween, it’s assumed they’re dressed as Captain Morgan. No other mascot has almost completely overtaken a classic costume type that significantly. 

The Aflac Duck hasn’t been around quite as long as it seems. He’s been the company’s official mascot in the United States since 1999 and Japan since 2003. But he’s been impactful in that time. Not only has he garnered brand recognition, he’s also helped raise money for children in need. 

If there’s anything better than one iconic mascot, it’s a family of iconic mascots. Just ask Charmin. People love the Charmin Bears. They’re cute and funny and get their point across. But they are divisive. Not everyone is so taken with them and their dirty bums. 

Perhaps the best thing about Colonel Sanders is that he was a real man. His legendary look was meant to become an enduring mascot, and he will remain immortalized in fast food chicken. 

One could argue that Wendy, Wendy’s mascot, is single-handedly responsible for popularizing pigtail braids. It might not be the best argument, but one could make it. 

Even if you recognize a mascot, there’s still a lot you don’t know about it. For example, Chuck E. Cheese’s formal name is Charles Entertainment Cheese. The knowledge may be trivial, but it’s fun to bank. 

The only other person associated with The General Insurance who’s more famous than the company’s mascot is Shaquille O’Neal. He’s not an official mascot, but he’s close enough. 

The Morton Salt Girl is over 100 years old, and she first came about as most logos do - Morton hired an ad agency to create a campaign for the company’s first national run, and one of the treatments included the little girl holding an umbrella. She’s been part of the company ever since, though she has been updated several times.