mickey by like 1000 fold.
for those saying he isn't in many cartoons lately you are forgetting his is basically the top franchise with young children. my 2 year old is obsessed with mickey and elmo. both are everywhere in kids clothing, books, toys, ect.
mickey = disney
if you know who disney is you know who mickey is.
don't get me wrong,.. mario is big and hugely reconizable. ...but tv/movie is much more mainstream than gaming and nintendo hasn't merchandised mario even a 10th as much as disney has merchandised mickey.