“Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow.” Those were the last words of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, a simple phrase that left the world pondering the profound experiences and insights that come with the end of a remarkable life. History is filled with equally stirring, witty, and sometimes haunting final words from iconic figures. Here are 13 memorable last words and the people who spoke them.
Steve Jobs: “OH WOW. OH WOW. OH WOW.”
Apple’s visionary founder spoke these three repeated phrases as his final words in October 2011. Jobs had spent years battling pancreatic cancer, and his sister Mona Simpson revealed that he appeared to be looking beyond everyone present in the room.
The tech mogul who revolutionized multiple industries, personal computing, animated movies, music, phones, and tablets, seemed genuinely surprised by whatever he encountered in his final moments. His death marked the end of an era that had generated over $ 350 billion in Apple’s market value during his tenure.
Albert Einstein: Unknown German Phrase
The great physicist left this world uttering a final farewell in German to a night-shift nurse at Princeton Hospital in 1955. The nurse spoke only English, so Einstein’s last words, his final thoughts, are forever lost to history.
Even until his last days, Einstein had been trying to perfect his unified field theory, scribbling equations on his deathbed until a few hours before he died. His brain weighed an unremarkable 1,230 grams, just above average, but it contained neural pathways that unlocked the mysteries of the universe.
Marie Curie: “Leave Me Alone … I Want to Be Left In Peace’’
The second time Marie Curie spoke these words was during her last days in 1934, when she was ill with aplastic anemia, a condition brought upon by prolonged exposure to radiation. For decades, Curie had handled radioactive materials with her bare hands, completely unaware of the long-term health effects.
Her lab notebooks from the 1890s are still radioactive and will remain so for 1,500 years. She was the first person ever to be awarded two Nobel Prizes and is one of only two individuals to have won a Nobel Prize in two different fields.
Winston Churchill: “I’m Bored With It All’’
Britain’s wartime prime minister’s last annoyance was life itself, in January 1965. Churchill had been left fatally weakened by a series of strokes, and he was to spend his final days largely confined to bed, a shadow of the man whose combative speeches had inspired a nation to prevail over Hitler in the Second World War.
His state funeral drew representatives from 112 countries, the most significant number of assembled world leaders in history at the time. The man who had written more than 40 books and painted more than 500 works of art wanted the battle to be over.
Frank Sinatra: “I’m Losing”
Ol’ Blue Eyes uttered these two words to his wife Barbara in May 1998 when he was fighting heart and kidney ailments. Throughout a life cataloged on more than 59 studio albums and hundreds of singles released worldwide, as well as performances for presidents, he had one piercing mission for his final words: to reveal a rare vulnerability.
The entertainer who spent decades owning Gotham’s stages and Hollywood’s screens had finally thrown in the towel on his failing health. He was eulogized in Beverly Hills by thousands of mourners, including other survivors of the Rat Pack and Hollywood royalty, who had witnessed his 60 years in the industry.
Walt Disney: “Kurt Russell”
The last uttered words of the animation pioneer were the name of a young aspirant actor that he had written on paper before slipping into a coma in December 1966. Disney was handling various projects, including Walt Disney World in Florida. At the time, Russell was only 15 years old, and she had just signed a contract with Disney studios, where she then starred in multiple Disney movies throughout the ’70s.
Seven decades after Disney created the company, that testament to the power of his creative vision grossed $67.4 billion in 2022, evidence that he continues to captivate global audiences.
Marilyn Monroe: “Say Goodbye to Pat, Say Goodbye to Jack, and say Goodbye to Yourself’’
Monroe uttered the line in a phone call placed August 4, 1962, to actor Peter Lawford. The Hollywood swashbuckler had been self-medicating with depression treatment. When she was found dead amidst mysterious circumstances at age 36, it shocked the world.
Monroe had 30 movies under her belt and was the highest-grossing actress of her time, earning $ 200 million. More than 50 years after her untimely death, her image continues to generate millions through licensing royalties, testifying to her lasting impact on culture.
Elvis Presley: “I’m Going to the Bathroom to Read“
Those were the humdrum words that the King of Rock and Roll had uttered to his girlfriend, Ginger Alden, before he headed and slumped into the bathroom of his Graceland mansion on August 16th, 1977, due to a drug overdose. It was estimated that Presley had sold more than 600 million records worldwide.
His death at 42 was a seismic event in the music world, with radio stations playing his music for days after the news was received. Today, Graceland draws more than 650,000 visitors a year, the second most-visited house in America after the White House.
Princess Diana: “My God, What’s happened?”
“My God, what’s happened?” These were the infamous words released by Diana after the car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris on August 31, 1997. The People’s Princess had been driving in high-speed pursuit of the paparazzi when the photographers were chasing her car in the French capital. Her death ended an outpouring of grief unprecedented in the modern era; an estimated 2.5 billion people watched her funeral.
Diana was patron of more than 100 charities around the world. Focusing her energy on others after her split from Charles, she became known for her tireless charity work, using her prowess to shed light on some of the most pressing humanitarian issues of her generation.
Bob Marley: “Money Can’t Buy Life”
The reggae legend made the philosophical statement to his son Ziggy on his deathbed, falling victim to cancer in May 1981. Marley is reported to have rejected the amputation of his cancerous toe due to his Rastafarian religious beliefs, and the cancer spread to his brain, lungs, and liver.
In 1994, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and, in 2001, he was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His songs are sung by social justice movements worldwide. The Bob Marley Foundation raises millions of dollars each year for educational and cultural programs throughout Jamaica and Africa.
Leonardo da Vinci: “I have Offended God and Mankind’’
The Renaissance master lamented his artistic efforts, despite creating works of art that still astonish audiences 500 years later. Da Vinci died in 1519 at Château du Clos Lucé in France, surrounded by sketches and unfinished projects. Interestingly, his painting “Salvator Mundi” sold for $450.3 million, the highest price ever paid at auction for a work of art.
Modern scholars have discovered more than 13,000 pages of his notes and drawings, revealing a brain that stored information as lists of tasks to accomplish and items to purchase, as well as designs for wings and shoes.
Oscar Wilde: “My Wallpaper and I Are Fighting a Duel to The Death’’
The witty playwright said this characteristic quip about the wallpaper in his budget Paris hotel room, in November 1900. Wilde was impoverished after being jailed for “gross indecency” and then forced into exile from the UK. His plays, such as “The Importance of Being Earnest,” are still performed and generate millions in royalties for his estate.
Wilde became a cult figure among those seeking meretricious pathos through association with an alleged “prison martyr,” and his grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery became a place of pilgrimage by admirers, who used to kiss the stone until protective glass was added to prevent it in 2011.
Robin Williams: His Last Message on Social Media Was to His Daughter Zelda
For her 25th birthday, weeks before his death in August 2014, Williams shared an old photo with his daughter on Instagram. The popular comedian had been suffering from severe depression and Lewy body dementia, the latter of which was not discovered until his autopsy.
Williams had acted in movies and TV series and won an Academy Award for “Good Will Hunting.” His Mork & Mindy character became the basis of an estimated $100 million worth of Mork merchandise sold during the show’s heyday.
Key Takeaways
These final words reveal the diverse ways in which the most iconic figures faced their own mortality, evoking wonder and regret, humor and resignation. Harvard Medical School research reveals that people often experience moments of perfect clarity before they die, which accounts for why many of history’s famous last words are so meaningful.
The desire of human beings to hear these last words on the part of the extraordinary is born out of their desire to know how the extraordinary think about leaving this world. They resonate because they are unvarnished, free of public facade, exposing the real human reach. Together, the stories of these 13 men serve as evidence that strong last words can resonate through the ages and illuminate not only these extraordinary men, but also something of our collective humanity.
Disclaimer – This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information. It is not intended to be professional advice.
16 Grocery Staples to Stock Up On Before Prices Spike Again
16 Grocery Staples to Stock Up On Before Prices Spike Again
I was in the grocery store the other day, and it hit me—I’m buying the exact same things I always do, but my bill just keeps getting higher. Like, I swear I just blinked, and suddenly eggs are a luxury item. What’s going on?
Inflation, supply-chain delays, and erratic weather conditions have modestly (or, let’s face it, dramatically) pushed the prices of staples ever higher. The USDA reports that food prices climbed an additional 2.9% year over year in May 2025—and that’s after the inflation storm of 2022–2023.
So, if you’ve got room in a pantry, freezer, or even a couple of extra shelves, now might be a good moment to stock up on these staple groceries—before the prices rise later.
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
6 Gas Station Chains With Food So Good It’s Worth Driving Out Of Your Way For
We scoured the Internet to see what people had to say about gas station food. If you think the only things available are wrinkled hot dogs of indeterminate age and day-glow slushies, we’ve got great, tasty news for you. Whether it ends up being part of a regular routine or your only resource on a long car trip, we have the food info you need.
Let’s look at 6 gas stations that folks can’t get enough of and see what they have for you to eat.
