WRITER
Erich von Däniken
1935 - Today

Erich von Däniken
Erich Anton Paul von Däniken (; German: [ˈeːrɪç fɔn ˈdɛːnɪkən]; born 14 April 1935) is a Swiss author of several pseudoscientific books which make claims about extraterrestrial influences on early human culture, including the best-selling Chariots of the Gods?, published in 1968. Däniken is one of the main figures responsible for popularizing the "paleo-contact" and ancient astronauts hypotheses. The ideas put forth in his books are rejected by virtually all scientists and academics, who categorize his work as pseudohistory, pseudoarchaeology, and pseudoscience. Early in his career, he was convicted and served time for several counts of fraud or embezzlement, and wrote one of his books in prison. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Erich von Däniken is the 470th most popular writer (down from 396th in 2019), the 44th most popular biography from Switzerland (down from 29th in 2019) and the 4th most popular Swiss Writer.
Erich von Däniken is most famous for his theory that ancient cultures were visited by aliens.
Memorability Metrics
Page views of Erich von Däniken by language
Among WRITERS
Among writers, Erich von Däniken ranks 470 out of 7,302. Before him are Alejandro Jodorowsky, Harper Lee, Mahmoud Darwish, Eugene O'Neill, Alessandro Manzoni, and Charles, Duke of Orléans. After him are Tulsidas, Mo Yan, Françoise Sagan, Lactantius, André Maurois, and Karl Barth.
Most Popular Writers in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsAlejandro Jodorowsky
1929 - Present
HPI: 73.28
Rank: 464
Harper Lee
1926 - 2016
HPI: 73.28
Rank: 465
Mahmoud Darwish
1941 - 2008
HPI: 73.27
Rank: 466
Eugene O'Neill
1888 - 1953
HPI: 73.26
Rank: 467
Alessandro Manzoni
1785 - 1873
HPI: 73.23
Rank: 468
Charles, Duke of Orléans
1394 - 1465
HPI: 73.21
Rank: 469
Erich von Däniken
1935 - Present
HPI: 73.20
Rank: 470
Tulsidas
1532 - 1623
HPI: 73.16
Rank: 471
Mo Yan
1955 - Present
HPI: 73.16
Rank: 472
Françoise Sagan
1935 - 2004
HPI: 73.15
Rank: 473
Lactantius
250 - 325
HPI: 73.15
Rank: 474
André Maurois
1885 - 1967
HPI: 73.14
Rank: 475
Karl Barth
1886 - 1968
HPI: 73.13
Rank: 476
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1935, Erich von Däniken ranks 24. Before him are Julie Andrews, Michel Aoun, Theo Angelopoulos, David Prowse, John Saxon, and Ágota Kristóf. After him are David Harvey, Françoise Sagan, Omar Sívori, Edward Said, Fairuz, and John Cazale.
Others Born in 1935
Go to all RankingsJulie Andrews
ACTOR
1935 - Present
HPI: 74.56
Rank: 18
Michel Aoun
POLITICIAN
1935 - Present
HPI: 74.23
Rank: 19
Theo Angelopoulos
FILM DIRECTOR
1935 - 2012
HPI: 74.06
Rank: 20
David Prowse
ACTOR
1935 - 2020
HPI: 74.00
Rank: 21
John Saxon
ACTOR
1935 - 2020
HPI: 73.93
Rank: 22
Ágota Kristóf
WRITER
1935 - 2011
HPI: 73.56
Rank: 23
Erich von Däniken
WRITER
1935 - Present
HPI: 73.20
Rank: 24
David Harvey
GEOGRAPHER
1935 - Present
HPI: 73.17
Rank: 25
Françoise Sagan
WRITER
1935 - 2004
HPI: 73.15
Rank: 26
Omar Sívori
SOCCER PLAYER
1935 - 2005
HPI: 73.09
Rank: 27
Edward Said
WRITER
1935 - 2003
HPI: 73.06
Rank: 28
Fairuz
SINGER
1935 - Present
HPI: 72.84
Rank: 29
John Cazale
ACTOR
1935 - 1978
HPI: 71.73
Rank: 30
In Switzerland
Among people born in Switzerland, Erich von Däniken ranks 44 out of 1,015. Before him are Johann Jakob Balmer (1825), Paul Hermann Müller (1899), Jacques Necker (1732), Carl Spitteler (1845), Aga Khan IV (1936), and Benjamin Constant (1767). After him are Karl Barth (1886), Albert II, Duke of Austria (1298), Adelaide of Italy (931), Eugen Bleuler (1857), Lys Assia (1924), and Daniel Bovet (1907).
Others born in Switzerland
Go to all RankingsJohann Jakob Balmer
PHYSICIST
1825 - 1898
HPI: 73.48
Rank: 38
Paul Hermann Müller
CHEMIST
1899 - 1965
HPI: 73.40
Rank: 39
Jacques Necker
POLITICIAN
1732 - 1804
HPI: 73.38
Rank: 40
Carl Spitteler
WRITER
1845 - 1924
HPI: 73.32
Rank: 41
Aga Khan IV
BUSINESSPERSON
1936 - 2025
HPI: 73.31
Rank: 42
Benjamin Constant
PHILOSOPHER
1767 - 1830
HPI: 73.28
Rank: 43
Erich von Däniken
WRITER
1935 - Present
HPI: 73.20
Rank: 44
Karl Barth
WRITER
1886 - 1968
HPI: 73.13
Rank: 45
Albert II, Duke of Austria
POLITICIAN
1298 - 1358
HPI: 72.95
Rank: 46
Adelaide of Italy
COMPANION
931 - 999
HPI: 72.89
Rank: 47
Eugen Bleuler
PHYSICIAN
1857 - 1939
HPI: 72.70
Rank: 48
Lys Assia
SINGER
1924 - 2018
HPI: 72.67
Rank: 49
Daniel Bovet
BIOLOGIST
1907 - 1992
HPI: 72.63
Rank: 50
Among WRITERS In Switzerland
Among writers born in Switzerland, Erich von Däniken ranks 4. Before him are Johanna Spyri (1827), Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1921), and Carl Spitteler (1845). After him are Karl Barth (1886), Robert Walser (1878), Max Frisch (1911), Alejo Carpentier (1904), Johann Ludwig Burckhardt (1784), Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741), Gottfried Keller (1819), and Annemarie Schwarzenbach (1908).
Johanna Spyri
1827 - 1901
HPI: 76.73
Rank: 1
Friedrich Dürrenmatt
1921 - 1990
HPI: 75.09
Rank: 2
Carl Spitteler
1845 - 1924
HPI: 73.32
Rank: 3
Erich von Däniken
1935 - Present
HPI: 73.20
Rank: 4
Karl Barth
1886 - 1968
HPI: 73.13
Rank: 5
Robert Walser
1878 - 1956
HPI: 72.59
Rank: 6
Max Frisch
1911 - 1991
HPI: 70.83
Rank: 7
Alejo Carpentier
1904 - 1980
HPI: 70.51
Rank: 8
Johann Ludwig Burckhardt
1784 - 1817
HPI: 68.82
Rank: 9
Johann Kaspar Lavater
1741 - 1801
HPI: 68.56
Rank: 10
Gottfried Keller
1819 - 1890
HPI: 67.18
Rank: 11
Annemarie Schwarzenbach
1908 - 1942
HPI: 67.02
Rank: 12