| 100% | WOUK | 4 | Herman, who got his first publisher's contract serving onboard the USS Southard and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1952 |
| 34% | EDITHWHARTON | 12 | 13-Across and 25-Across writer who was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize in Literature, for her 1920 novel "The Age of Innocence" (2 wds.) |
| 34% | ISABELWILKERSON | 15 | "Caste" author who was the first Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in journalism |
| 33% | EDITH | 5 | ___ Wharton, "The Age of Innocence" novelist and the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Literature |
| 30% | FOSSE | 5 | Jon who won the Nobel Prize in Literature “for his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable” (October, 2023) |
| 29% | EDITH | 5 | Wharton who was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Literature |
| 29% | ELIHUROOT | 9 | Secretary of War who went on to win the 1912 Nobel Peace Prize |
| 28% | EDITH | 5 | Wharton who was the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction |
| 28% | RICHARDWILBUR | 13 | American poet behind "Things of This World" who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1957 and 1989: 2 wds. |
| 28% | ROBERTFROST | 11 | American poet behind "A Witness Tree" who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1924, 1931, 1937 and 1943: 2 wds. |
| 27% | TOM | 3 | ___ Brady, NFL quarterback who suffered a major knee injury and went on to become the Comeback Player of the Year in 2009 |
| 27% | CURIE | 5 | Last name of the first woman to win the Nobel Prize and who is credited with the theory of radioactivity |
| 27% | ROBERTFROST | 11 | 17-Across and 26-Across writer who is the only person to win four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry (2 wds.) |
| 26% | BABE | 4 | ___ Didrikson Zaharias, Olympic gold medalist in track and field who went on to win 10 L.P.G.A. major championships |
| 26% | MORRISON | 8 | First Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 26% | MUHAMMADYUNUS | 13 | Social entrepreneur and economist who was the first Bangladeshi to win the Nobel Peace Prize: 2 wds. |
| 26% | BYRONSCOTT | 10 | One of the greatest players of the LA Lakers who won three NBA Championships and went on to coach the team for two years: 2 wds. |
| 26% | ANNAQUINDLEN | 12 | "One True Thing," 14-Across, and 26-Across/29-Across novelist who won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1992 (2 wds.) |
| 26% | MAMET | 5 | David ___, American playwright who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1984 |
| 26% | BOB | 3 | ___ Dylan, first musician to win the Nobel Prize in Literature |
| 26% | WARRENGHARDING | 14 | U.S. president who, in 1922, became the first president to have his voice transmitted on the radio (3 wds.) |
| 26% | DALIPSINGH | 10 | Wrestler known as "The Great Khali," who went on to act in movies like "Get Smart" and "The Longest Yard" |
| 26% | FRANCESARNOLD | 13 | First American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, in 2018: 2 wds. |
| 26% | PEARLSBUCK | 10 | First American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, in 1938: 3 wds. |
| 25% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | "Beloved" author who died August 5, and who was the first African-American woman to win a Nobel Prize: 2 wds. |
| 25% | CUNARD | 6 | Samuel ___, who got the first British transatlantic steamship mail contract in 1839 and whose company is now owned by the Carnival Corporation |
| 25% | GAYE | 4 | Marvin ___, former member of Harvey and the New Moonglows who is known for his solo hits like "Let's Get It On" and "What's Going On" |
| 25% | SIMULIU | 7 | Kim's Convenience actor who went on to star in the Marvel Cinematic Universe |
| 25% | JAREDLETO | 9 | Onetime teen idol who went on to win the 2013 Oscar for Best Supporting Actor |
| 25% | CATEBLANCHETT | 13 | "Blue Jasmine" and "The Aviator" star who was the first Australian to win Oscars in two acting categories (2 wds.) |