Mario
After failing to secure the rights to use characters from Popeye, games developer Shigeru Miyamoto never realised he'd be responsible for designing the mascot of gaming giant Nintendo. The video game icon was given his own series and name with Mario Bros, but first appeared as Jumpman in the classic Donkey Kong title.
Michelin Man
Also called Bibendum, this character made his debut at the 1894 Lyon Exhibition in France. This means the Michelin Man is one of the world's oldest mascots. He seems to be made of white tyres, something attributed to the fact that tyres were once much lighter in appearance.
Ronald McDonald
A citizen of McDonaldland, Ronald McDonald first graced McDonald's advertising in 1963. Between 1959 and 1962, the much-loved cartoon character Bozo the Clown was used in the adverts, so the character was intended to replace him. Comics, a cartoon and even a video game have now featured the famous Ronald.
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is perhaps the best-known character on our list. His first appearance on the big screen was in the Steamboat Willie cartoon, created in 1928. Now the lynchpin and logo of the Disney world, Mickey's look has not altered much since his debut 83 years ago.
Rainbow Riches Leprechaun
The Rainbow Riches Leprechaun has featured in numerous Rainbow Riches online slots games through the years. You can now catch up with his daily exploits, because the little rascal has even gone and got himself a Twitter account (@RainbowRiches) for all his fans!