| 100% | SHAQUILLEONEAL | 14 | Basketball great who earned a doctoral degree in human resource development from Barry University: 2 wds. |
| 56% | RACHELMADDOW | 12 | MSNBC host who earned a doctoral degree in politics from Oxford University: 2 wds. |
| 49% | ANGELAMERKEL | 12 | German chancellor who earned a doctoral degree in quantum chemistry from the German Academy of Sciences: 2 wds. |
| 38% | JAMESFRANCO | 11 | "127 Hours" actor who earned a master's in writing from Columbia University: 2 wds. |
| 36% | MAYIMBIALIK | 11 | "The Big Bang Theory" actress who earned a doctorate in neuroscience from 33-Down: 2 wds. |
| 32% | DAVIDROBINSON | 13 | Basketball great who retired in 2003 after winning the NBA title: 2 wds. |
| 32% | SALLY | 5 | ___ Ride, American astronaut who earned a PhD in physics from Stanford University |
| 28% | BILLRUSSELL | 11 | Basketball great who became the first African-American head coach in the NBA in April 1966 (2 wds.) |
| 28% | HENRYWINKLER | 12 | "Barry" Emmy winner who earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama in 1970 (2 wds.) |
| 28% | ZACEFRON | 8 | Actor who plays a protégé of 15-Across in "The Greatest Showman": 2 wds. |
| 27% | ANDREABOCELLI | 13 | Opera singer with a law degree from the University of Pisa: 2 wds. |
| 27% | DEVPATEL | 8 | "Lion" actor who has earned a black belt in taekwondo: 2 wds. |
| 27% | ANNAKENDRICK | 12 | Actress who had a song from "Pitch Perfect" chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013: 2 wds. |
| 27% | ANNEHATHAWAY | 12 | Actress who had a song from "Les Misérables" chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013: 2 wds. |
| 26% | GERARD | 6 | With 32-Across, "300" actor who earned a law degree from the University of Glasgow |
| 26% | MICHAELREDD | 11 | Former basketball player who is a partner at NCT Ventures and has invested in a food solutions startup called Azoti: 2 wds. |
| 26% | BRADLEYCOOPER | 13 | Actor who had a song from "A Star Is Born" chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018: 2 wds. |
| 26% | BURTREYNOLDS | 12 | "The Longest Yard" actor who earned a football scholarship to Florida State: 2 wds. |
| 26% | JERRYSPRINGER | 13 | TV talk show host with a law degree from Northwestern University: 2 wds. |
| 26% | FORESTWHITAKER | 14 | "Black Panther" actor who has earned a black belt in kenpo: 2 wds. |
| 26% | CAREYMULLIGAN | 13 | "The Great Gatsby" actress who plays a feminist in 42-Across: 2 wds. |
| 26% | PAULGIAMATTI | 12 | "John Adams" Golden Globe winner who earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama in 1994 (2 wds.) |
| 26% | JAMESEARLJONES | 14 | "Coming 2 America" actor who won two Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Play, for "The Great White Hope" and "Fences" (3 wds.) |
| 25% | LEBRONJAMES | 11 | Basketball star who played himself in "Trainwreck": 2 wds. |
| 25% | MIKEKRZYZEWSKI | 14 | Duke University basketball coach who led the US men's basketball team to Olympic gold in 2008, 2012, and 2016: 2 wds. |
| 25% | JAROMIRJAGR | 11 | Czech hockey great who is second to Wayne Gretzky in all-time total points: 2 wds. |
| 25% | CHRISEVERT | 10 | 1970s-1980s tennis great who was painted by Andy Warhol in his "Athletes" series: 2 wds. |
| 25% | EDONEILL | 8 | "Modern Family" actor who has earned a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: 2 wds. |
| 25% | DEANSMITH | 9 | University of North Carolina basketball coach who led the US men's basketball team to Olympic gold in 1976: 2 wds. |
| 24% | ANDREAGASSI | 11 | Tennis player who earned a career Grand Slam and cofounded the Athletes for Hope charity-education organization: 2 wds. |