Another brain teaser

[Alex Franke]

What one word can best describe why these particular people are listed together? (I tried to add enough so that you could figure it out without knowing who they all are.) Bonus points for explaining why each one is listed.

Bill Gates
Reggie Corner
Tiger Woods
Margaret Spellings
Usain Bolt
Bernie Madoff
Thomas Crapper
Megan Fox
Vince Offer
Dana Strum
Mark Shuttleworth
Richard Smalley
Rich Fairbank

[Alex Franke]

I just saw another example on TV: Scotty Nguyễn probably also fits in this category (at least in English-speaking countries), although it might not be immediately obvious.

[chopnhack]

ok here's the obvious: famous

[Uncle Cracker]

The only thing I see in common between them is that each of their names contains commonly used words. Example: Bill Gates

[Alex Franke]

Not quite, but Uncle Cracker on the right track...

You don't need to come up with the one word answer either (it's not a very common word at all) -- so long as you can describe what it means. You also might not see the connection in some of the people, but there should be enough there to know what makes the list unique.

To help identify some of the people: Richard Smalley was a physics/chemistry professor at Rice. Rich Fairbank is a CEO and BoD chair. Shuttleworth was the guy who originally funded Ubuntu. Dana Strum is in the band Slaughter. Vince Offer is the "Sham-Wow" guy.

[germdoc]

Their names reflect what they do or are.

[crokett]

Their names reflect what they do or are.

That's what I was thinking too, but was wondering how you get Windows from Gates or Ubuntu, well Linux from Shuttleworth. I knew Shuttleworth had something to do with Linux, just couldn't remember what. I don't know who Richard Smalley or Rich Fairbank are.

[cabinetman]

Thomas Crapper - Funny...funny...funny.
.

[Alex Franke]

Their names reflect what they do or are.

You got it. The "one word" answer is aptronym.

That's what I was thinking too, but was wondering how you get Windows from Gates or Ubuntu, well Linux from Shuttleworth. I knew Shuttleworth had something to do with Linux, just couldn't remember what. I don't know who Richard Smalley or Rich Fairbank are.

Bill Gates - the "gate" is fundamental to computer logic.
Reggie Corner - is a cornerback for the Bills
Tiger Woods - uses woods and irons (well, when he was golfing anyway)
Margaret Spellings - was Bush 43's secretary of education
Usain Bolt - is super fast
Bernie Madoff - he "made off" with lots of cash
Thomas Crapper - was in the toilet business
Megan Fox - is a fox
Vince Offer - sells Sham-wow
Dana Strum - plays bass
Mark Shuttleworth - is a space tourist
Richard Smalley - is a pioneer in nanotechnology
Rich Fairbank - founded Capital One
Scotty Nguyễn - (pronounced "win") wins a lot at poker.