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With the 91st Academy Awards airing this Sunday, February 24 at 8 p.m., there's still time to write down your predictions. While you finish up watching the last of the nominated films, we're sure you may start to wonder who has taken home the most Oscars since its start in 1929. Though we love to cheer for our favorite actors, there are other individuals who've also been celebrated and gone home with an astonishing number of trophies.
1
Walt Disney
The American animation icon won a total of 26 Oscars throughout his career (four were honorary). Disney was nominated an impressive 59 times and holds the record for winning the most Academy Awards by one person. Of course, he dominated the Best Animated Short Film category.
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2
Cedric Gibbons
Born in 1890 in Dublin, Cedric helped shape Hollywood with his art direction and production designs. He was one of the original founding members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences formed in 1927. A year later, Cedric designed the famous Oscars statuette and would win the trophy 11 times.
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3
Alfred Newman
Considered one of the godfathers of film music, Alfred was nominated a whooping 43 times and won nine Oscars. During his 40 years of career, he composed scores for more than 200 movies including Wuthering Heights and The Diary of Anne Frank. He's best known for creating the grand music that introduces 20th Century Fox productions.
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4
Dennis Muren
The 72-year-old special effects artist, who holds nine Oscars, began his successful career working for George Lucas' cult-classic Star Wars. Dennis would go on to advocate for CGI technology, later used in Terminator 2 and Jurassic Park. He's also credited for making us fall in love with E.T. and Indiana Jones.
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5
Edith Head
Winner of eight Academy Awards for costume design, Edith became a household name thanks to her elaborate designs for Hollywood's finest. The legend didn't actually have any relevant experience when she began at Paramount, but quickly gained recognition working closely with Grace Kelly, Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor, and others. Edith was known for her signature glasses and candid personality.
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6
Alan Menken
The American composer and pianist has won eight Oscars in the Best Score and Best Song categories. Without knowing it, many of us can name Alan's famous scores heard in: The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Tangled. His work has also been presented on Broadway and it's no surprise that he's won 11 Grammy Awards, too.
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7
Rick Baker
Holder of seven Academy Awards for makeup, Rick elevated American movies with his special effects art. He is behind the famous faces in Star Wars, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Planet of the Apes. Although he's retired, he still enjoys sharing his work on Instagram.
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8
Katharine Hepburn
With a career spanning more than six decades, it's no surprise this leading lady won four Academy Awards for her acting. Despite this recognition, Katharine never attended the Oscars to accept her awards. "As for me, prizes are nothing,” she said. “My prize is my work.”
Actresses Ingrid Bergman and Meryl Streep follow Katharine, each with three Oscars, respectively.
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9
John Ford
The U.S. Navy veteran won a total of four Oscars in the Best Director category — two while he was serving as a commander in World War II. John directed more than 140 films, most notably Westerns, and three of them also won Oscars.
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10
Leon Shamroy
The New Yorker was nominated 18 times and holds four Oscars for cinematography. He earned a reputation for understanding lighting techniques and landed a job at 20th Century Fox where he stayed for 30 years. In 1946, he took actress Marilyn Monroe's first screen shot and instantly knew she was going to be big in Hollywood.
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11
Joseph Ruttenberg
The Russian-native (pictured in the middle) began as a photojournalist in the early 1900s and eventually decided to train as a cinematographer — a decision that would lead him to a part of Fox, Paramount, and MGM. Winner of four Oscars, Joseph is known for helping develop sound and color for films.
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Selena Barrientos
Entertainment & News Editor
Selena is the entertainment and news editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers the latest on TV, movies and celebrities. In addition to writing and editing entertainment news, she also spotlights the Hispanic and Latinx community through her work. She is a graduate of CUNY Hunter College with a B.A. in journalism and creative writing.
