a Yourlist ranking · the crowd decides the order
From battered underdogs to written-off empires, these are the most jaw-dropping turnarounds in history, sports, and business. Vote for the comeback that still gives you chills.
What counts: Ranking reflects the scale of the deficit overcome, the improbability of the recovery, and lasting historical impact. Years, odds, and figures are approximate and sourced from popular historical accounts.
Apple's Return to Dominance (1997-2007)
90 days from bankruptcy to the most valuable tech company on Earth, powered by Jobs, iMac, and iPod.
Era: 1997-2007Domain: BusinessMagnitude of Turnaround: 9/10Lasting Impact: 10/10
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Rocky Balboa-style: Buster Douglas KOs Mike Tyson (1990)
A 42-to-1 underdog knocked out the 'unbeatable' heavyweight champion in one of boxing's greatest upsets.
Era: 1990Domain: SportsMagnitude of Turnaround: 9/10Lasting Impact: 7/10
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Miracle on Ice (1980)
A ragtag US college hockey team beat the unbeatable Soviet machine at the height of the Cold War.
Era: 1980Domain: SportsMagnitude of Turnaround: 9/10Lasting Impact: 9/10
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Winston Churchill's Political Resurrection (1930s-1940)
Written off as a washed-up warmonger in the 'wilderness years,' he returned to lead Britain through its darkest hour.
Era: 1930s-1940Domain: PoliticsMagnitude of Turnaround: 8/10Lasting Impact: 10/10
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Battle of Midway (1942)
Six months after Pearl Harbor, a heavily outnumbered US Navy sank four Japanese carriers and turned the Pacific War.
Era: 1942Domain: MilitaryMagnitude of Turnaround: 9/10Lasting Impact: 10/10
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George Foreman Reclaims Heavyweight Title (1994)
At 45, twenty years after losing to Ali, Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in history.
Era: 1994Domain: SportsMagnitude of Turnaround: 8/10Lasting Impact: 6/10
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Napoleon's Return from Elba (1815)
Exiled and defeated, he returned to France, raised an army, and ruled again for a hundred days.
Era: 1815Domain: Military/PoliticsMagnitude of Turnaround: 8/10Lasting Impact: 8/10
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South Korea's Economic Miracle (1953-1990s)
From war-ravaged poverty to a global tech and industrial powerhouse in a single generation.
Era: 1953-1996Domain: EconomicsMagnitude of Turnaround: 9/10Lasting Impact: 9/10
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Nelson Mandela: Prisoner to President (1962-1994)
27 years in prison couldn't stop him from becoming the man who ended apartheid and led South Africa.
Era: 1962-1994Domain: PoliticsMagnitude of Turnaround: 9/10Lasting Impact: 10/10
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Battle of Stalingrad (1942-1943)
Soviet forces, pushed to the brink of total collapse, encircled and destroyed an entire German army.
Era: 1942-1943Domain: MilitaryMagnitude of Turnaround: 9/10Lasting Impact: 10/10
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Tiger Woods' Masters Win (2019)
After scandal, injury, and years of irrelevance, Woods won his fifth Masters at age 43.
Era: 2019Domain: SportsMagnitude of Turnaround: 8/10Lasting Impact: 7/10
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Lance Armstrong's Cancer Comeback (1996-1999)
Given a near-50% survival chance against testicular cancer, he returned to win the Tour de France (later stripped for doping).
Era: 1996-1999Domain: SportsMagnitude of Turnaround: 8/10Lasting Impact: 5/10
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New England Patriots Super Bowl LI (2017)
Down 28-3 in the third quarter, the Patriots stormed back to win the first overtime Super Bowl.
Era: 2017Domain: SportsMagnitude of Turnaround: 8/10Lasting Impact: 6/10
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Marvel Studios' Bankruptcy to Box Office King (1996-2008)
Marvel filed for bankruptcy in the 90s, then bet everything on Iron Man and built the biggest film franchise ever.
Era: 1996-2008Domain: BusinessMagnitude of Turnaround: 8/10Lasting Impact: 8/10
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Abraham Lincoln's Path to the Presidency
Serial election loser and depression sufferer who rose to become one of America's greatest presidents.
Era: 1832-1860Domain: PoliticsMagnitude of Turnaround: 7/10Lasting Impact: 10/10
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Japan's Post-WWII Economic Rise (1945-1980s)
From atomic devastation to the world's second-largest economy in under four decades.
Era: 1945-1989Domain: EconomicsMagnitude of Turnaround: 9/10Lasting Impact: 9/10
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LeBron James: Cleveland Cavaliers 2016 NBA Finals
Down 3-1 against a 73-win Warriors team, Cleveland completed the first-ever finals comeback from that deficit.
Era: 2016Domain: SportsMagnitude of Turnaround: 8/10Lasting Impact: 7/10
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Robert Downey Jr.'s Career Revival (2003-2008)
From addiction, arrests, and being uninsurable in Hollywood to becoming Iron Man and a top-paid actor.
Era: 2003-2008Domain: EntertainmentMagnitude of Turnaround: 7/10Lasting Impact: 6/10
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Duke of Wellington at Waterloo (1815)
Nearly broken by Napoleon's advance, allied forces held the line and delivered the emperor's final defeat.
Era: 1815Domain: MilitaryMagnitude of Turnaround: 7/10Lasting Impact: 9/10
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Leicester City's Premier League Title (2015-2016)
5000-to-1 underdogs who'd nearly been relegated the year before won England's top football league.
Era: 2015-2016Domain: SportsMagnitude of Turnaround: 9/10Lasting Impact: 6/10
added by IJR
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