History of Personal Branding: From Ancient Times to Today

By Irma Hot / 16 June 2025

Before Social Media, There Was Still Personal Branding. Today, we associate personal branding with Instagram bios and LinkedIn headlines. But self-branding didn’t begin with hashtags or profile pictures—it began thousands of years ago.

From emperors to artists, some of the most iconic personal brands in history were carefully constructed long before digital tools existed.

This post explores how people have been branding themselves across different eras—and what we can learn from them today.

Egyptian Pharaohs

Pharaohs branded themselves as living gods.

They used symbols like the ankh, elaborate tombs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions to communicate power and immortality.

Every monument, statue, and temple reinforced a visual identity of divine leadership.

Roman Emperors

Coins were engraved with their faces to solidify their authority across the empire.

Julius Caesar and Augustus used inscriptions and imagery to craft public personas as benevolent rulers and military geniuses.

Their speeches, statues, and public works all functioned like “ancient media.”

Lesson: Visual consistency and symbolism have always been tools of influence.

Leonardo da Vinci

The ultimate multi-hyphenate: artist, engineer, anatomist.

His personal notebooks and unique painting style (think The Last Supper, Mona Lisa) helped shape a timeless brand of genius and curiosity.

William Shakespeare

Though little is known about his life, Shakespeare's name became synonymous with storytelling, wit, and drama.

His body of work created an enduring brand around intellect, emotional insight, and language mastery.

Lesson: A clear signature style and legacy-building work are timeless brand assets.

P.T. Barnum

“There’s no such thing as bad publicity.”

Barnum created a brand around spectacle, curiosity, and entertainment.

He understood the power of narrative manipulation and self-promotion.

Thomas Edison vs. Nikola Tesla

Edison was a branding master: he took credit, patented relentlessly, and built media buzz.

Tesla was more of a recluse, and though more innovative in many ways, was less remembered until recent cultural revivals.

Lesson: Media control and personality can be more powerful than the product itself.

Marilyn Monroe

Carefully curated image of sensuality and vulnerability reinforced her brand through poses, fashion, and media interviews.

Her name still sells perfume and fashion decades after her death

Muhammad Ali

“I am the greatest!” was more than a catchphrase—it was a personal brand.

Ali’s identity fused athleticism, activism, and confidence.

He used language as a branding tool: rhyme, rhythm, and power.

David Bowie

A master of personal reinvention:

Ziggy Stardust, The Thin White Duke—he created personas as marketing and artistic strategy.

His brand was the change itself.

Lesson: Consistency builds awareness; controlled reinvention builds a legacy.

The internet democratized branding. It's no longer reserved for rulers or celebrities and anyone can now build a personal brand:

YouTube stars (like MrBeast or Marques Brownlee)

Twitter/X thought leaders

TikTok micro-influencers

Coaches, freelancers, creators, and solopreneurs

We’ve gone from “Who do I want to be?” to “How do I want to be perceived by the algorithm and audience?”

To conclude, branding is ancient—but still evolving.

From pharaohs carving their legacy in stone to digital nomads branding themselves with emojis and Canva templates, the core of personal branding hasn’t changed:

It’s about shaping the perception, building emotional resonance, and leaving a lasting impression.

The tools have changed. The goal—being seen, remembered, and valued—remains the same.