A complete list of all of the 500cc/MotoGP World Champions since the premier championship was established in 1949.
| Season | Country | Rider | Constructor |
| 1949 | United Kingdom | Leslie Graham | AJS |
| 1950 | Italy | Umberto Masetti | Gilera |
| 1951 | United Kingdom | Geoff Duke | Norton |
| 1952 | Italy | Umberto Masetti | Gilera |
| 1953 | United Kingdom | Geoff Duke | Gilera |
| 1954 | United Kingdom | Geoff Duke | Gilera |
| 1955 | United Kingdom | Geoff Duke | Gilera |
| 1956 | United Kingdom | John Surtees | MV Agusta |
| 1957 | Italy | Libero Liberati | Gilera |
| 1958 | United Kingdom | John Surtees | MV Agusta |
| 1959 | United Kingdom | John Surtees | MV Agusta |
| 1960 | United Kingdom | John Surtees | MV Agusta |
| 1961 | Rhodesia and Nyasaland | Gary Hocking | MV Agusta |
| 1962 | United Kingdom | Mike Hailwood | MV Agusta |
| 1963 | United Kingdom | Mike Hailwood | MV Agusta |
| 1964 | United Kingdom | Mike Hailwood | MV Agusta |
| 1965 | United Kingdom | Mike Hailwood | MV Agusta |
| 1966 | Italy | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta |
| 1967 | Italy | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta |
| 1968 | Italy | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta |
| 1969 | Italy | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta |
| 1970 | Italy | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta |
| 1971 | Italy | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta |
| 1972 | Italy | Giacomo Agostini | MV Agusta |
| 1973 | United Kingdom | Phil Read | MV Agusta |
| 1974 | United Kingdom | Phil Read | MV Agusta |
| 1975 | Italy | Giacomo Agostini | Yamaha |
| 1976 | United Kingdom | Barry Sheene | Suzuki |
| 1977 | United Kingdom | Barry Sheene | Suzuki |
| 1978 | United States | Kenny Roberts | Yamaha |
| 1979 | United States | Kenny Roberts | Yamaha |
| 1980 | United States | Kenny Roberts | Yamaha |
| 1981 | Italy | Marco Lucchinelli | Suzuki |
| 1982 | Italy | Franco Uncini | Suzuki |
| 1983 | United States | Freddie Spencer | Honda |
| 1984 | United States | Eddie Lawson | Yamaha |
| 1985 | United States | Freddie Spencer | Honda |
| 1986 | United States | Eddie Lawson | Yamaha |
| 1987 | Australia | Wayne Gardner | Honda |
| 1988 | United States | Eddie Lawson | Yamaha |
| 1989 | United States | Eddie Lawson | Honda |
| 1990 | United States | Wayne Rainey | Yamaha |
| 1991 | United States | Wayne Rainey | Yamaha |
| 1992 | United States | Wayne Rainey | Yamaha |
| 1993 | United States | Kevin Schwantz | Suzuki |
| 1994 | Australia | Mick Doohan | Honda |
| 1995 | Australia | Mick Doohan | Honda |
| 1996 | Australia | Mick Doohan | Honda |
| 1997 | Australia | Mick Doohan | Honda |
| 1998 | Australia | Mick Doohan | Honda |
| 1999 | Spain | Alex Criville | Honda |
| 2000 | United States | Kenny Roberts Jr | Suzuki |
| 2001 | Italy | Valentino Rossi | Honda |
| 2002 | Italy | Valentino Rossi | Honda |
| 2003 | Italy | Valentino Rossi | Honda |
| 2004 | Italy | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha |
| 2005 | Italy | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha |
| 2006 | United States | Nicky Hayden | Honda |
| 2007 | Australia | Casey Stoner | Ducati |
| 2008 | Italy | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha |
| 2009 | Italy | Valentino Rossi | Yamaha |
| 2010 | Spain | Jorge Lorenzo | Yamaha |
| 2011 | Australia | Casey Stoner | Honda |
| 2012 | Spain | Jorge Lorenzo | Yamaha |
| 2013 | Spain | Marc Marquez | Honda |
| 2014 | Spain | Marc Marquez | Honda |
| 2015 | Spain | Jorge Lorenzo | Yamaha |
| 2016 | Spain | Marc Marquez | Honda |
| 2017 | Spain | Marc Marquez | Honda |
| 2018 | Spain | Marc Marquez | Honda |
| 2019 | Spain | Marc Marquez | Honda |
| 2020 | Spain | Joan Mir | Suzuki |
