| 100% | ROALDAMUNDSEN | 13 | Norwegian explorer who in 1911 became the first person to reach the South Pole, one month ahead of 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 54% | RICHARDBYRD | 11 | American explorer who in 1929 became the first person to fly over the South Pole: 2 wds. |
| 49% | ROALD | 5 | ___ Amundsen, Norwegian explorer who became the first person to reach the South Pole on 14th December, 1911 |
| 45% | ROALDAMUNDSEN | 13 | Norwegian explorer who led the first expedition to the South Pole in the early 1900s: 2 wds. |
| 40% | MARIAHCAREY | 11 | "Fantasy" singer who recently became the first person to top the Billboard Hot 100 in four different decades: 2 wds. |
| 40% | RAMIMALEK | 9 | Actor who became the first one of Egyptian heritage to win an Oscar for Best Actor in 2019: 2 wds. |
| 39% | PONCEDELEON | 11 | Explorer who in 1513 became the first European to set foot in 14-Across, and gave the state its name: 3 wds. |
| 38% | NIKKIHALEY | 10 | In 2010, she became the first woman to be elected governor of South Carolina: 2 wds. |
| 38% | MANNYPACQUIAO | 13 | Filipino boxer who recently became the first person to hold a world title in four different decades: 2 wds. |
| 36% | ALTHEAGIBSON | 12 | In 1957, she became the first person of color to win a Wimbledon championship (2 wds.) |
| 36% | EDMUNDHILLARY | 13 | Mountaineer who climbed Mount Everest with Tenzing Norgay and became the first climbers to have reached the summit of the mountain: 2 wds. |
| 36% | TENZINGNORGAY | 13 | Sherpa who was one of the first two people to conquer Mount Everest: 2 wds. |
| 36% | EDMUNDHILLARY | 13 | New Zealand mountaineer who was one of the first two people to conquer Mount Everest: 2 wds. |
| 35% | CHANNINGTATUM | 13 | Actor who plays one of the studio's stars in 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 34% | SARAHPALIN | 10 | In 2006, she became the first woman to be elected governor of Alaska: 2 wds. |
| 34% | ROME | 4 | First city to reach a population of one million people, in the second century B.C. |
| 34% | SUSANAMARTINEZ | 14 | In 2010, she became the first woman to be elected governor of New Mexico: 2 wds. |
| 34% | ROBERTSCOTT | 11 | British explorer who tried to beat 31-Across to the South Pole, and who didn't make it back: 2 wds. |
| 34% | IGGYAZALEA | 10 | "Fancy" singer featured on "Problem" who in 2014 became the second ever to be simultaneously #1 and #2 with her first two hits: 2 wds. |
| 33% | THEBEATLES | 10 | "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "She Loves You" group who in 1964 became the first ever to be simultaneously #1 and #2 with their first two hits: 2 wds. |
| 33% | AMUNDSEN | 8 | First explorer to reach the South Pole |
| 33% | VINCECARTER | 11 | Atlanta Hawks forward who recently became the first to play in the NBA in four different decades: 2 wds. |
| 32% | AMUNDSEN | 8 | Roald __; first explorer to reach the South Pole |
| 32% | JOHNMADDEN | 10 | Football player turned broadcaster who was the first one to have worked for all of the "Big Four" TV networks: 2 wds. |
| 32% | AUDREYHEPBURN | 13 | British actress from "Sabrina" who is one of the 12 people to have won the EGOT: 2 wds. |
| 32% | BURKE | 5 | Robert O'Hara —, leader of the first expedition across Australia from south to north who died in 1861 |
| 32% | LISALESLIE | 10 | Basketball Hall of Fame inductee who was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game: 2 wds. |
| 32% | STEVIENICKS | 11 | American singer and songwriter who became the first woman to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: 2 wds. |
| 32% | THREETHOUSAND | 13 | Milestone number of hits 18-Across reached on 8/7/2016 (he's the 30th player to achieve this in the MLB): 2 wds. |
| 32% | BURKE | 5 | Robert O'Hara —, Irish soldier, leader of the first expedition across Australia from south to north, who died in 1861 |