# The most famous spies in history

From the Catalan Garbo, who fooled Hitler about D-Day, to Kim Philby and the Cambridge spies, by way of Mata Hari: the most celebrated secret agents. Who was the best?

- 77 votes · 11 items
- May 6, 2022 · Eduardo Vargas
- https://even.best/en/l/2730/the-most-famous-spies-in-history

## Top 11

1. **Juan Pujol García, "Garbo"** (9 · ▲11 ▼2) — He convinced the Germans the landings would be at Calais; decorated by both sides.
2. **Francis Walsingham** (7 · ▲7 ▼0) — Elizabeth I of England's spymaster.
3. **Nancy Wake** (7 · ▲7 ▼0) — The "White Mouse" the Gestapo hunted.
4. **Richard Sorge** (6 · ▲7 ▼1) — He warned Stalin of the German invasion from Tokyo.
5. **Guy Burgess** (5 · ▲6 ▼1) — Another of the Cambridge spies working for Moscow.
6. **Sidney Reilly** (5 · ▲5 ▼0) — The "ace of spies", a possible inspiration for James Bond.
7. **Mata Hari** (4 · ▲7 ▼3) — The dancer shot in 1917, accused of spying for Germany.
8. **Kim Philby** (4 · ▲5 ▼1) — A senior MI6 officer working for the Soviets.
9. **John Walker** (4 · ▲5 ▼1) — The US Navy man who sold secrets to the Soviets for years.
10. **Oleg Gordievsky** (3 · ▲4 ▼1) — The KGB colonel who worked for the British.
11. **Edith Cavell** (1 · ▲2 ▼1) — The nurse who helped Allied soldiers escape and was shot in 1915.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.