Steven Spielberg Achieves Coveted EGOT Status with Grammy Win
This weekend marked a monumental achievement in the entertainment industry as legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg secured his place among the most exclusive club in show business. By winning a Grammy Award for Best Music Film, Spielberg completed the set of awards required to become an EGOT winner—joining just twenty-one other individuals who have earned an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony throughout their careers.
The journey to EGOT status often spans decades, with Spielberg's own path beginning with his first Emmy win in 1995. His accomplishment brings renewed attention to this rarefied achievement, which represents the pinnacle of success across television, music, film, and theatre.
The Origins of the EGOT Dream
The term EGOT was reportedly coined by actor Philip Michael Thomas in 1984 during the height of his Miami Vice fame. Thomas boldly declared his intention to win all four major entertainment awards within five years, even wearing a gold pendant engraved with the acronym. Although he never achieved his ambitious goal, the concept was revived and popularised by the television series 30 Rock in 2009, embedding the EGOT in popular culture as the ultimate show business accomplishment.
The Complete EGOT Hall of Fame
1. Richard Rodgers
American composer Richard Rodgers made history as the first EGOT winner, completing his collection in 1962 with an Emmy win. His remarkable career included an Oscar for State Fair in 1945, Grammys for The Sound of Music and No Strings, and six Tony Awards for legendary productions including South Pacific and The King and I.
2. Helen Hayes
Helen Hayes became the first woman to achieve EGOT status, beginning her collection with a Best Actress Oscar in 1932 for The Sin of Madelon Claudet. Her journey spanned an incredible forty-five years, culminating with a Grammy win in 1977 for spoken-word contributions to Great American Documents alongside Orson Welles and James Earl Jones.
3. Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno's EGOT journey began with her iconic Oscar win for West Side Story in 1962. She added a Grammy in 1972, a Tony in 1975, and completed her collection with an Emmy for The Muppet Show in 1977, becoming one of the fastest achievers of the four-award milestone.
4. John Gielgud
British acting legend John Gielgud made history as the first non-American EGOT winner in 1991. His distinguished career included Tony wins dating back to 1948, a Grammy in 1979 for his Shakespeare show Ages of Man, an Oscar for Arthur in 1981, and finally an Emmy at age 87 for Summer's Lease.
5. Audrey Hepburn
Tragically, Audrey Hepburn did not live to see her EGOT completion. At her death in 1993, she possessed an Oscar for Roman Holiday and a Tony for Ondine. Posthumously, she received an Emmy for her documentary series Gardens of the World and a Grammy for her children's storytelling album.
6. Marvin Hamlisch
Composer Marvin Hamlisch's EGOT journey included three Oscars in 1973 for The Sting and The Way We Were, Grammys for the same works, a Tony for A Chorus Line in 1976, and finally an Emmy in 1995 for his work on Barbra Streisand's television special.
7. Jonathan Tunick
Composer and orchestrator Jonathan Tunick completed his EGOT in 1997 with a Tony win for Titanic: The Musical. His collection included an Oscar for A Little Night Music (1977), an Emmy for Night of 100 Stars (1982), and a Grammy for arranging Cleo Laine's Sondheim interpretation (1988).
8. Mel Brooks
Comedy icon Mel Brooks achieved EGOT status in 2001 with three Tony wins for The Producers. His journey began with an Emmy in 1967, followed by an Oscar for writing The Producers in 1968, and a Grammy in 1999 for his comedy album with Carl Reiner.
9. Mike Nichols
Director Mike Nichols completed his EGOT in 2001 with Emmy wins for Wit. His collection included a Grammy as a performer (1961), nine Tony Awards beginning with Barefoot in the Park (1964), and an Oscar for directing The Graduate (1967).
10. Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg made history as the first Black EGOT winner, completing her collection in 2002. Her awards included a Grammy for her comedy album (1986), an Oscar for Ghost (1990), and both an Emmy and Tony in 2002 for documentary hosting and Broadway producing respectively.
11. Scott Rudin
Producer Scott Rudin has amassed an astonishing eighteen Tony Awards, with his first coming in 1994. He completed his EGOT with a Grammy win in 2012 for The Book of Mormon, adding to his Emmy (1984) and Oscar (2007) for No Country for Old Men.
12. Robert Lopez
Songwriter Robert Lopez holds the unique distinction of being the only Double EGOT winner, having won each award at least twice. He's also the youngest EGOT winner in history, completing his collection by age 39 with credits including Frozen, The Book of Mormon, and WandaVision.
13. Andrew Lloyd Webber
British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber began his EGOT journey with Grammy and Tony wins for Evita in 1980. He added an Oscar for the film adaptation in 1996 and completed his collection with an Emmy for Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert in 2018.
14. Tim Rice
Lyricist Sir Tim Rice shares much of his EGOT journey with Andrew Lloyd Webber, beginning with Evita wins in 1980 and completing with the same 2018 Emmy. His additional Oscars include wins for Disney classics A Whole New World and Can You Feel The Love Tonight.
15. John Legend
Musician John Legend became an EGOT winner in 2018 alongside Lloyd Webber and Rice through Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert. His collection includes twelve Grammys, an Oscar for Selma (2014), and a Tony for reviving August Wilson's Jitney (2017).
16. Alan Menken
Disney composer Alan Menken completed his EGOT in 2020 with an Emmy win for Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure. His remarkable career includes eight Oscars beginning with The Little Mermaid (1989), a Grammy for the same soundtrack (1991), and a Tony for Newsies (2012).
17. Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson became the youngest woman to achieve EGOT status at age 40. Her journey began with an Oscar for Dreamgirls (2006), followed by a Grammy for her debut album (2009), an Emmy for VR work (2021), and a Tony for producing A Strange Loop.
18. Viola Davis
Viola Davis completed her EGOT in 2023 with a Grammy for her audiobook Finding Me. Her collection includes two Tony Awards (2001, 2010), an Emmy for How to Get Away with Murder (2015), and an Oscar for Fences (2017).
19. Elton John
Music legend Sir Elton John achieved EGOT status in 2024 with an Emmy for his farewell concert special. His extensive collection includes five Grammys beginning in 1987, a Tony for Aida (2000), and two Oscars for The Lion King and Rocketman.
20. & 21. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul became EGOT winners in 2024 with an Emmy for Only Murders in the Building. Their journey included an Oscar for La La Land (2017), Tonys for Dear Evan Hansen (2017), and a Grammy for the same musical (2018).
22. Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg's EGOT completion in 2026 represents the culmination of a legendary career spanning over five decades. The filmmaker's collection includes three Oscars for Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan, multiple Emmys for productions like Band of Brothers, a Tony for producing A Strange Loop, and finally a Grammy for a documentary about composer John Williams.
The Enduring Legacy of EGOT Achievement
The EGOT represents more than just award collection—it signifies exceptional versatility and sustained excellence across multiple entertainment disciplines. With only twenty-two achievers since the concept's popularisation, it remains one of the most exclusive honours in show business. As new talents emerge and established artists continue their careers, the EGOT club will undoubtedly welcome more members, but Spielberg's recent induction ensures this elite achievement remains in the cultural spotlight for years to come.
