Perhaps the ultimate measure of fame is being known by a single name, and so Beyoncé has to be considered one of the most famous women in the world. Her marriage to Jay-Z made her half of one of the biggest power couples in entertainment - some conspiracy theorists even believe they might be part of the secretive Illuminati society. Even if that isn't true, she's still the most celebrated daughter of Houston, Texas.
We suppose that given the stratospheric rise she's enjoyed, you might say that Knowles was 'destiny's child' from the day she was born. Her girl band sold millions of records, and then she sold millions more on her way to becoming a style icon, pop legend, and general icon of pop culture. She's the only performer in history to score Billboard number one chart positions with her first six albums.