People (magazine)

People is a famous magazine. It tells stories about stars. It tells news about famous people. You can read it on paper. You can also read it on a phone. The magazine started in 1974. At first, it cost only 35 cents. It has many special lists. One list names the sexiest man alive. People also names the cutest baby. It is a very big magazine.

People is a famous American magazine. It tells stories about stars and famous people. It started on February 25, 1974. The first issue cost only 35 cents. At that time, the magazine was printed in black-and-white.

Many people work hard to make the magazine. In the early days, staff members even slept on office floors. They wanted to get the news out every week. Today, you can read it on paper or on a phone. The website gets many visits every month.

People is known for its special lists. One famous list names the "Sexiest Man Alive." This list began after a talk about Mel Gibson. The magazine also names the "Cutest Baby Alive." In 2014, it named Kate Upton as the "Sexiest Woman Alive." The magazine has many offices. Its main home is in New York City. It also has offices in Los Angeles and London. People also has a Spanish version called People en Español. It started in 1996.

People is a famous American weekly magazine. It shares news about celebrities and human-interest stories. The magazine is owned by People Inc. This company is a part of a larger group called IAC. In 2009, it had 46.6 million adult readers. This was the largest audience for any American magazine at that time. By 2018, the audience fell to 35.9 million people.

Making the magazine is a big job. In the beginning, the staff worked very hard. They often slept on office floors two or three nights every week. They did this to make sure the news came out on time. The magazine started on February 25, 1974. The first issue cost only 35 cents. Most of that first magazine was printed in black-and-white.

Many leaders helped start the magazine. Andrew Heiskell had the original idea for the publication. Richard Stolley was the first managing editor. He wanted to focus on people rather than just big issues. Richard J. "Dick" Durrell served as the first publisher. The magazine grew very fast in its early years. It took only 18 months to break even.

People has many different ways to reach readers. It has a website called People.com. By 2025, this site had about 187 million monthly visits. There is also a Spanish version called People en Español. This started in 1996 after a special issue about Selena sold out. The magazine also has a special mobile app for young people. It has offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and London.

Readers often look for the magazine's special lists. One famous list is called "Sexiest Man Alive." This idea started during a talk about Mel Gibson. Mel Gibson was the very first winner in 1985. The magazine also names a "Sexiest Woman Alive." Kate Upton was the only person to win this in 2014. Other lists include "Cutest Baby Alive" and "Most Intriguing People of the Year."

People is a prominent American weekly magazine. It focuses on celebrity news and human-interest stories. The publication is managed by People Inc., which is a subsidiary of IAC. For many years, it has been a major force in the media industry. In 2009, it reached a massive audience of 46.6 million adults. This was the largest readership of any magazine in the United States at that time. However, readership declined to 35.9 million by 2018. By 2025, the magazine maintained a strong presence with approximately 2.2 million paid subscribers across print and digital formats.

The magazine's success is driven by its focus on individuals. Richard Stolley, the founding managing editor, believed in focusing on people rather than just major issues. He wanted to highlight those causing the news or those caught up in it. This philosophy helped the magazine grow very quickly. In 1974, Time Inc. invested about $40 million into the new venture. Despite this large cost, the magazine broke even only 18 months after its debut on February 25, 1974. The early staff worked with intense dedication to meet weekly deadlines. They often slept on office floors two or three nights every week to finish their work.

The history of the magazine is tied to the legacy of Life magazine. Many founding staff members, including editors and photographers, came from Life. This included managing editor Richard Stolley and senior editors like Hal Wingo and Robert Emmett Ginna Jr. Even the design artist, Bernard Waber, was part of this original group. The very first issue, released the week ending March 4, 1974, featured actress Mia Farrow on the cover. That premiere edition cost 35 cents and was mostly printed in black-and-white. It featured stories ranging from Gloria Vanderbilt to the wives of missing U.S. Vietnam veterans.

People has expanded its reach through various specialized brands and languages. In 1996, the company launched People en Español. This decision followed a 1995 event where two different covers were distributed. One cover featured the hit show Friends, while the other featured the singer Selena. The Selena cover sold out, which helped drive the new Spanish-language publication. While it initially planned to translate English articles, People en Español eventually created its own original content. In 2002, the magazine also introduced People Stylewatch to cover fashion and beauty. This brand later became a digital-only publication called PeopleStyle in 2017.

Today, the People brand exists across many digital platforms. The website, People.com, provides celebrity news, fashion advice, and royal updates. By 2025, the site attracted roughly 187 million monthly visits from desktop and mobile users. The company also launched PeopleTV, a video network for pop culture and lifestyle content. In April 2025, a new standalone mobile application was released. This app uses a vertical, scrollable feed designed specifically to engage younger audiences. The publisher changed its name to People Inc. in 2025 to reflect this digital focus.

One of the most recognizable aspects of the magazine is its annual special issues. These include lists like "World's Most Beautiful" and "Best & Worst Dressed." A very famous tradition is the "Sexiest Man Alive" feature. This title began from a casual discussion regarding actor Mel Gibson. Mel Gibson was the first winner in 1985 at age 29. The magazine also named Kate Upton as the "Sexiest Woman Alive" in 2014. Other annual honors include "Cutest Baby Alive" and "Most Intriguing People of the Year." These features serve as major benchmarks in popular culture.

Maintaining its status requires significant financial resources and competition. In 2011, People earned $997 million in advertising revenue. This was the highest amount for any American magazine that year. The magazine also competes fiercely for exclusive content. For example, it reportedly paid $4.1 million for photos of newborn Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt. Such high-profile news can drive massive digital traffic. In one instance, these photos helped the website set a single-day record of 26.5 million page views. Through these stories and numbers, People remains a central part of the American media landscape.