Every Bearer of the One Ring in Lord of the Rings: How They Got It, Lost It & What It Did to Them

Even though Frodo destroyed the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, it continues to live on in the imaginations of Lord of the Rings enthusiasts. Created by Sauron in J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy stories, the Ring held a piece of its creator’s power, offering immense strength but also twisting anyone who tried to use it. Over thousands of years in Middle-earth, the Ring changed owners many times – some held it for a short while, while others possessed it for centuries – and each owner’s story reflected the Ring’s grand and sweeping tale.

From the powerful Dark Lord to the simple hobbits, the Ring impacted many characters in Tolkien’s stories. Isildur’s arrogance led to the downfall of an era, Déagol’s fishing outing became a tragic event, and Gollum’s 500-year fixation drastically altered Middle-earth. Plus, Tolkien never revealed the identity of one enigmatic Ring-bearer, sparking fan theories for over 70 years. Here’s a complete list of every character who ever possessed, or wore, the Precious.

9) Sauron

The tale starts with the Dark Lord, Sauron. Around the year S.A. 1600, he created the One Ring in the fiery depths of Mount Doom, infusing it with a significant part of his own power. Using this Ring, he controlled those who possessed the other, weaker Rings of Power and almost completely conquered Middle-earth. For more than 1,800 years, he used the Ring to rule through fear and expand his dominion.

However, the Ring also proved to be Sauron’s downfall. During the Siege of Barad-dûr at the close of the Second Age, he was defeated when Isildur severed the Ring from his finger. This act stripped him of his physical body, reducing him to a mere shadow of his once-powerful self. Though diminished, his spirit lived on, inextricably linked to the Ring’s destiny until it was finally destroyed.

8) Isildur

When Sauron was defeated, the most sensible course of action would have been to immediately destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom, where it had been forged. Elrond and Círdan strongly advised Isildur to do just that, but he instead took the Ring as compensation – or “weregild” – for the deaths of his father and brother. This choice ultimately shaped the events of the Third Age.

Isildur only had the Ring for two years before a terrible event occurred. On October 4th of the year 2 of the Third Age, he was attacked by Orcs close to the Gladden Fields. While trying to escape, he put the Ring on to become invisible, but it unexpectedly slipped off his finger and fell into the Anduin River. Isildur was killed in the attack, and the Ring remained lost for hundreds of years.

7) Déagol

Over two thousand years later, the Ring reappeared in the Gladden Fields. Around the year 2463 of the Third Age, Déagol was fishing when he noticed the shiny gold ring at the bottom of the river. Even though he only had it for a short time, that moment dramatically altered both his life and the fate of Middle-earth.

Before Déagol had a chance to appreciate his discovery, his cousin and friend, Sméagol, insisted on having the Ring. When Déagol wouldn’t give it up, Sméagol killed him and took the Ring. Déagol’s death was the start of Sméagol’s change into something else, and a consuming obsession that would continue for as long as the Ring existed.

6) Gollum (Sméagol)

Following the killing of Déagol, Sméagol escaped with the Ring and went deep into the caves under the Misty Mountains. The Ring greatly extended his lifespan, but it also twisted his body and mind, eventually transforming him into the wretched creature called Gollum. He carried the Ring for almost five hundred years, keeping it hidden in darkness and solitude.

Even after the Ring left him, falling from his hand as it tried to return to Sauron, Gollum continued to desperately want it. This overwhelming desire became the central part of his life. Ultimately, his destiny was linked to the Ring’s end; he snatched it from Frodo’s finger at Mount Doom, but then fell into the fire and died along with his “Precious.”

5) Bilbo Baggins

In the year 2941 of the Third Age, Bilbo found the Ring while exploring Gollum’s cave, after becoming separated from Thorin’s group during the events of The Hobbit. He essentially “won” it by solving more riddles than Gollum, although he didn’t immediately understand how important his prize truly was. For almost sixty years, Bilbo kept the Ring hidden away in the Shire.

Compared to Gollum, Bilbo was inherently kind and only used the Ring occasionally, but even that limited exposure still affected his thoughts. His difficulty giving it up at Rivendell in The Fellowship of the Ring (seen as the “scary-Bilbo” scene in the film) demonstrated how strongly it had influenced him. Nevertheless, Bilbo mostly resisted the Ring’s harmful power and was eventually able to let it go, allowing him to travel to the Undying Lands and live peacefully for the rest of his life.

4) Frodo Baggins

Following Gandalf’s guidance, Bilbo passed the Ring on to his nephew, Frodo, who would become its most well-known carrier. For seventeen years, Frodo kept the Ring safe in the Shire, not realizing how truly dangerous it was. When Sauron’s forces started to become active, Frodo began the dangerous journey to take the Ring to Mordor.

Frodo’s quest really pushed him to his limits, and by the time he arrived at Mount Doom, the Ring had taken complete control. He claimed it as his own, putting it on his finger right at the Cracks of Doom. It was only because of Gollum-who bit off Frodo’s finger and fell into the fire-that the Ring was finally destroyed. Even so, the One Ring had a lasting impact on Frodo, preventing him from ever truly finding peace back in the Shire. Ultimately, he decided to sail to the Undying Lands with Gandalf, Bilbo, and the Elves, seeking a different kind of peace. This journey forever altered his life.

3) Gandalf

Although Gandalf never actually possessed the Ring, he did briefly hold it. On April 13th, 3018 of the Third Age, he threw it into Frodo’s fireplace to examine it. When heated, the Elvish writing became visible, confirming his long-held suspicion: it was, in fact, the One Ring.

Perhaps most importantly, Gandalf the Grey declined the Ring, even when Frodo offered it to him. He understood the immense temptation it presented, recognizing his own limits and the danger his great power would pose if he fell under its influence. Therefore, Gandalf opted to guide the quest instead of trying to control the Ring himself. As one of the most powerful and insightful defenders of Middle-earth, he believed the Ring could never be truly mastered-only destroyed.

2) Tom Bombadil

On September 27th of the year 3018 of the Third Age, Tom Bombadil briefly possessed the One Ring, the same day the hobbits managed to escape the Barrow-wights. Secure within his home in the Old Forest, Tom took the Ring from Frodo and put it on his finger. However, unlike anyone else who wore it, Tom experienced absolutely no effect. He didn’t become invisible, and he immediately gave the Ring back. The reason for his immunity is still one of the most puzzling and frequently discussed topics among fans and scholars of the lore.

Tolkien explained this himself in The Letters, stating that Bombadil wasn’t a central character to the story. Instead, he was meant to embody a perspective separate from the desire for power and control. While Sauron craved domination, and even the good characters fought against him, Bombadil simply observed and appreciated the world around him. This is why the Ring had no influence over him.

1) Samwise Gamgee

Late in the story, Sam unexpectedly became the Ring-bearer after Orcs captured Frodo in the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Thinking Frodo had died, Sam took on the responsibility of carrying the Ring and finishing their mission. For two days in March of the year 3019 of the Third Age, he carried its burden and even had brief visions of himself as a powerful warrior and the hero of Middle-earth.

However, Sam’s modesty turned out to be more powerful than the Ring’s allure. When he discovered Frodo was still alive, he readily gave it up, a decision that distinguished him from almost everyone else who had carried it. In several respects, Sam’s short time possessing the Ring was the most genuine example of resistance, demonstrating that his natural kindness and devotion to his Friend were strong enough to overcome the temptation of power it offered.

Bonus: The Unknown Ring-Bearer

There’s still one unanswered question about the timeline of events surrounding the Ring. After Frodo was taken to Rivendell and recovered from being wounded by the Morgul blade, he woke up with the Ring securely on a chain around his neck. However, someone must have put it there while he was unconscious.

It’s still a mystery whether Elrond or Gandalf was the one who briefly handled the One Ring, as many fans believe. This subtle moment, mostly discussed by dedicated followers, brings up some fascinating possibilities: did another character touch the Ring? If so, would that make them a Ring-bearer? And were they tempted to keep it? Whoever it was, they briefly held the fate of the Ring – and its ultimate destruction – in their hands when they took it from Bilbo’s pocket and put it on a chain.

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2025-09-30 21:43