| 100% | BARACKOBAMA | 11 | Former U.S. President who wrote "Dreams from My Father," 18-Across, and 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 59% | BARACKOBAMA | 11 | 44th US president who published "Dreams From My Father" in 1995, before his election to Illinois's legislature: 2 wds. |
| 55% | RICHARDNIXON | 12 | Former U.S. president who wrote "In the Arena: A Memoir of Victory, Defeat, and Renewal" (2 wds.) |
| 51% | BILLCLINTON | 11 | U.S. president who wrote the novels "The President Is Missing" and "The President's Daughter" with 33-Across (2 wds.) |
| 51% | RONALDREAGAN | 12 | Former U.S. president who wrote "An American Life" (2 wds.) |
| 51% | BARACKOBAMA | 11 | Former U.S. President who served as State Senator and U.S. Senator of 48-Across (2 wds.) |
| 50% | OBAMA | 5 | President who wrote "Dreams From My Father" |
| 50% | OBAMA | 5 | Former U.S. president who won a Best Spoken Word Album Grammy Award for the audiobook of "Dreams from My Father" |
| 48% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Author who wrote the novels from which 17-Across and 29-/31-Across were adapted: 2 wds. |
| 47% | JIMMYCARTER | 11 | Former president who wrote over 30 books, including 19-Across and 34-Across, and who turns 100 years old on October 1, 2024 (2 wds.) |
| 47% | GEORGEHWBUSH | 12 | Former U.S. president who wrote "A World Transformed" with Brent Scowcroft (4 wds.) |
| 46% | RUDYARDKIPLING | 14 | English author who wrote the children's literature at 18- and 41-Across: 2 wds. |
| 44% | DONDELILLO | 10 | American novelist who wrote "Mao II," 18-Across, 25-Across, and 34-Across (2 wds.) |
| 44% | JASONREYNOLDS | 13 | National Ambassador for Young People's Literature who wrote 18-Across and 39-Across (2 wds.) |
| 44% | RUTHHANDLER | 11 | Former 29-Across president and inventor who created 32-Across (2 wds.) |
| 43% | DAVIDBALDACCI | 13 | Lawyer who wrote the thrillers "The Whole Truth" and "Deliver Us From Evil": 2 wds. |
| 43% | AUDRELORDE | 10 | Former New York State Poet Laureate who wrote 5-Across, 16-Across, 48-Across, and 56-Across (2 wds.) |
| 43% | LOUISEERDRICH | 13 | Native American novelist who wrote 18-Across, 44-Across, and 2020's "The Night Watchman" (2 wds.) |
| 42% | CHELSEACLINTON | 14 | Former First Daughter who wrote 19-Across and 44-Across (2 wds.) |
| 42% | ARTHURASHE | 10 | Tennis champ who captained the US's Davis Cup team (1981-1985) and wrote "A Hard Road to Glory": 2 wds. |
| 41% | OBAMA | 5 | Senator who wrote "Dreams From My Father" |
| 41% | ANGIETHOMAS | 11 | Novelist who wrote the Y.A. bestsellers 17-Across and 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 41% | RYANSEACREST | 12 | Host of 18-Across and 33-Across who was Kelly Ripa's morning co-host from 2017 to 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 41% | ALGORE | 6 | Former vice president who wrote "An Inconvenient Truth" (2 wds.) |
| 41% | MELISSAGILBERT | 14 | TV actress who wrote "My Prairie Cookbook: Memories and Frontier Food From My Little House to Yours": 2 wds. |
| 41% | JUSTINBALDONI | 13 | Former "The Bold and the Beautiful" actor who plays an accidental father in 41-Across (2 wds.) |
| 41% | DAVIDABRAMS | 11 | U.S. Army veteran who wrote the war novels "Fobbit" and "Brave Deeds" (2 wds.) |
| 41% | ASHLEYELSTON | 12 | "10 Blind Dates" author who wrote 18-Across and 32-Across (2 wds.) |
| 41% | AHMADRASHAD | 11 | Former Vikings wide receiver who hosted 18-Across from 1990-2004: 2 wds. |
| 41% | MAGICJOHNSON | 12 | NBA star and former president of LA Lakers who received an honorary degree from Xavier University of Louisiana: 2 wds. |