No queiro,
Actually, I wasn't trying to imply that you denied MJ's popularity. I just wanted to say that MJ's popularity shouldn't be underestimated and the article does a real nice job in briefly describing his popularity.
Well, the author of this topic regards famous and known as interchangeable words. I don't have knowledge about the number of album sales and gold and blah blah. I was arguing in favour of MJ as having the most name recognition or being most widely known if we consider/compare all the single points in history and with no empirical observation but from my gut feeling. MJ revolutionized the entertainment industry in the 80's. Besides music, he innovated/promoted various dance moves which wowed the people all around the world..Bollywood which influences Billions of people went crazy for Michael Jackson and I can show you several dances that try to copy MJ..Also, even these days dancers try to imitate some fragments of his move. So, you are only comparing MJ with Elvis regarding album sales? And also, more advanced media during MJ time should have helped him more widely known on the planet than Elvis.
You are absolutely true about foolishness of comparing people of different eras. And of course, if we count heads of all living or dead people, Jesus/Mohammad/Buddha or even Leonardo Da Vinci will far surpass either Elvis or Michael Jackson.