Midjourney / TC Agency

Zodiacs With The Most To Least Ambition, Ranked

Ambition, determination, the drive to achieve – whatever you want to call it, some zodiac signs are just born with it. Although the two traits often go hand-in-hand, being ambitious is not the same as being hard-working. Rather than just a strong work ethic, the most ambitious signs have a pure desire to win and see how far they can go in the world. Here are all 12 signs of the zodiac ranked from the most to the least ambitious, and how astrology explains their will to succeed.

1. Capricorn

Capricorn is easily the most ambitious sign of the zodiac. Ruled by Saturn, the planet of responsibility, authority, and long-term goals, this star sign has an unmatched drive to achieve. Capricorns are hard-working and willing to do whatever it takes to rise to the top. They long to be respected and praised for their accomplishments, even though they would never admit that external validation is important to them. But everything they do is in search of the love and admiration of their peers, so they work as hard as possible to be the best.

2. Scorpio

The typical Scorpio personality is an interesting dichotomy: they don’t care what other people think of them, but at the same time they desperately want to be respected. They don’t necessarily want to be liked; they prefer to be feared and admired. And for Scorpios, the best way to do that is to become such a high achiever that they intimidate others. Their zodiac sign is ruled by Pluto, the planet of power, so it makes sense that power and control are so important to them. The more Scorpios accomplish, the more control they have.

3. Taurus

Taurus is an extremely hard-working sign. They would be even higher on this list, but their work ethic is balanced by a strong hedonistic side. Taurus people work hard, play hard, and even rest hard. They like to put in an honest day’s work, and their love of luxury makes them crave high-earning jobs. But ultimately, their ambition isn’t their defining characteristic, as they can turn off their drive to succeed to enjoy their relaxation time, too.

4. Aries

As perhaps the most competitive sign of the entire zodiac, Aries’ ambition is driven by competition. They are number one in the order of the zodiac, and they like to be number one everywhere else, too. They hate losing, so they are willing to work hard to take home the trophy. But Aries lack self-control and discipline, making it difficult for them to focus on their goals. They perform best when their goals are short-term and individual, as opposed to a group effort. For example, training for a 5k race next week is a better ambition for them, instead of planning to run a marathon next year.

5. Leo

Leo is ruled by the sun, which tells us that Leos are warm and vibrant, and they love to shine. They are the life of any party they attend, and they light up any room they enter. Leo’s ambition derives from their desire to be the star of the show – they love the attention that winning and achieving brings them. But they also hate to disappoint anyone, and see any loss or failure as potentially letting others down. 

6. Gemini 

Geminis love winning awards just as much as the previous signs on this list. But for them, ambition is about getting to explore their many various interests. Geminis are so multifaceted and dynamic, and they are always diving into a new hobby or career. They love to learn and truly enjoy the journey of working hard toward their goals as much as achieving them. 

7. Libra

As the sign represented by the scales, Libras strive for balance in everything they do. They are ambitious, motivated, and hard-working enough to be higher on this list, but it’s not the most important thing to them. They also prioritize socializing, hobbies, and rest. As natural people-pleasers, Libras don’t like the idea of stepping on others to get to the top. They would rather give opportunities to other people than upset anyone. 

8. Pisces

Pisces people are deeply spiritual, so mortal achievements don’t hold much value to them. They are more focused on becoming better humans and helping others than on climbing the corporate ladder. Their ambitious side is fueled by delusions of grandeur – Pisces people have vivid imaginations, and they likely want to build a fantasy life for their partner and family. But, for the most part, Pisces people are happy to prioritize their spiritual goals over earthly ones.

9. Aquarius

Aquarians rarely seek achievement just for the sake of it. They are independent and free-thinkers, so accolades from others don’t mean much to them. The ambition they have stems from a desire to serve other people, not to celebrate themselves. There’s a reason why Aquarius has the highest number of US presidents (tied with Scorpio), despite their apparent lack of ambition – they want to help society. They have a great deal of discipline and can go far, as long as their ultimate goal is making the world a better place. 

10. Sagittarius

Some of the most famous, accomplished people are Sagittarians, like Taylor Swift and Britney Spears. Clearly, this sign has some ambition and work ethic, as well as the ability to follow through and finish projects. So why do they rank so low on this list? Because their level of ambition springs not from a sense of competition or pure desire to achieve, but from their never-ending journey of self-improvement. Sagittarius is guided by Jupiter, the planet of luck, expansion, higher education, and travel. This zodiac sign is always seeking knowledge and looking to improve themselves. And, thanks to Jupiter’s influence, Sagittarians don’t need a lot of ambition when they have luck on their side. 

11. Virgo

One might assume that Virgo should be higher on this list because it is one of the hardest-working signs of the zodiac. But while Virgos have a strong work ethic, they are not necessarily ambitious. They are humble by nature, and don’t need trophies or awards to show off. They keep their heads down and work quietly, deriving satisfaction from a job well done. As a mutable sign, they are happy to go with the flow instead of yearning to be the leader of the pack. Virgos make excellent teammates and employees, and they don’t have a strong desire to be the boss. 

12. Cancer

Cancer makes the bottom of this list not because they are lazy, but because climbing the corporate ladder or being number one simply isn’t important to them. Instead of work and achievements, Cancers prioritize their relationships, families, hobbies, and home life. If they are ambitious, it’s about being the best partner, friend, and family member they can be. They’ll drop everything to help a loved one in need, and they are always offering their shoulder to cry on. So, while Cancers aren’t particularly ambitious when it comes to winning awards or taking over the workplace, they have plenty of other wonderful qualities at the forefront of their personalities.