''Time'' 100 (often stylized as ''TIME'' 100) is an annual

listicle In journalism and blogging, a listicle is an article that is structured as a list, which is often fleshed out with additional text relating to each item. A typical listicle will prominently feature a cardinal number in its title, with subsequent su ...

of the 100 most influential people in the world, assembled by the American news magazine ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, ...

''. First published in 1999 as the result of a debate among American academics, politicians, and journalists, the list is now a highly publicized annual event. Appearing on the list is often seen as an honor, and ''Time'' makes it clear that entrants are recognized for changing the world, regardless of the consequences of their actions. The final list of influential individuals is exclusively chosen by ''Time'' editors, with nominations coming from the ''Time'' 100 alumni and the magazine's international writing staff. Only the winner of the Reader's Poll, conducted days before the official list is revealed, is chosen by the general public. The corresponding commemorative gala is held annually in

Manhattan Manhattan (), known regionally as the City, is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the five boroughs of New York City. The borough is also coextensive with New York County, one of the original counties of the U.S. state ...

. In 2019, Time began publishing the ''Time'' 100 Next list, which "spotlights 100 rising stars who are shaping the future of business, entertainment, sports, politics, science, health and more."

Selection criteria

In 2004, ''Time'' editors identified "three rather distinct qualities" when choosing people to be listed. ''Time'' editor-at-large Michael Elliott wrote:

First, there were those who came to their status by means of a very public possession of power; President George W. Bush is the pre-eminent example. Others, though rarely heard from in public, nonetheless have a real influence on the great events of our time. Think of Ali Husaini Sistani, the Grand Ayatullah of Iraq's
Shi'ites Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his successor (''khalīfa'') and the Imam (spiritual and political leader) after him, most ...
. Still others affect our lives through their moral example. Consider Nelson Mandela's forgiveness of his captors and his willingness to walk away from the South African presidency after a single term.

For the 2007 list, managing editor

Richard Stengel Richard Allen Stengel (born May 2, 1955) is an American editor, author, and former government official. He was ''Time'' magazine's 16th managing editor from 2006 to 2013. He was also chief executive of the National Constitution Center from 2004 ...

clarified that the ''Time'' 100 focused on the most influential people rather than the hottest, most popular, or most powerful people. He said:

Influence is hard to measure, and what we look for is people whose ideas, whose example, whose talent, whose discoveries transform the world we live in. Influence is less about the hard power of force than the soft power of ideas and example. Yes, there are Presidents and dictators who can change the world through fiat, but we're more interested in innovators like
Monty Jones Monty Jones (born February 5, 1951) is a plant breeder and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security of Sierra Leone. He previously held the position of Special Adviser to the President of Sierra Leone and Ambassador-at-large until ...
, the
Sierra Leone Sierra Leone,)]. officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country on the southwest coast of West Africa. It is bordered by Liberia to the southeast and Guinea surrounds the northern half of the nation. Covering a total area of , Sierr ...
scientist who has developed a strain of rice that can save African agriculture. Or heroes like the great chess master
Garry Kasparov Garry Kimovich Kasparov (born 13 April 1963) is a Russian chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion, writer, political activist and commentator. His peak rating of 2851, achieved in 1999, was the highest recorded until being surpassed by ...
, who is leading the lonely fight for greater democracy in Russia. Or
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
-winning actor George Clooney who has leveraged his celebrity to bring attention to the tragedy in Darfur.

History

2000s

From 2005 to 2008, ''Time'' magazine awarded one of Darko Mladenovic's Ray crystal sculptures to each ''Time'' 100 honoree. These sculptures were produced by Swarovski. In 2009, the winner of the online poll was

4chan 4chan is an anonymous English-language imageboard website. Launched by Christopher "moot" Poole in October 2003, the site hosts boards dedicated to a wide variety of topics, from anime and manga to video games, cooking, weapons, television, ...

founder

Christopher Poole Christopher Poole (born ), also known online as moot, is an American internet entrepreneur and developer. Poole is known for founding the anonymous English-language imageboard 4chan in October 2003, when he was a still a teenager; he served as ...

, who received 16,794,368 votes. ''

'' claimed that their technical team "did detect and extinguish several attempts to hack the vote". However, it was shown weeks before the poll ended that the results had been heavily influenced by hackers. The first letters of the top 21 names spell out "marblecake also the game". Marblecake was an obscene 4chan meme, and #marblecake was the name of the

Internet Relay Chat Internet Relay Chat (IRC) is a text-based chat system for instant messaging. IRC is designed for group communication in discussion forums, called '' channels'', but also allows one-on-one communication via private messages as well as chat an ...

channel used for communication by some of the participants in rigging the poll.

2010s

In its online presentation, ''Time'' introduced the 2010 list as follows: "In our annual ''Time'' 100 issue, we name the people who most affect our world". The overall list was organized with four main sub-lists: Leaders, Heroes, Artists, and Thinkers. Oprah Winfrey continued her streak of having been included on every ''Time'' 100 list, and was one of 31 women on the list. The list included many expected names and some surprises such as Scott Brown, who ''

HuffPost ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...

'' described as a premature selection at that point in his career. The list included 10 Indians, but according to a local news station in

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

, ''Time'' faced criticism when they excluded

Bollywood Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...

actor Shah Rukh Khan from the list, even though he was supposedly "in the race". According to Rob Cain of ''

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also r ...

'', "Khan is the biggest and most revered figure

n India N, or n, is the fourteenth letter in the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''en'' (pronounced ), plural ''ens''. History ...

, and Khan's fan following is one of the largest in Bollywood. The announcement of the list was celebrated by a black tie gala at the

Time Warner Center Deutsche Bank Center (also One Columbus Circle and formerly Time Warner Center) is a mixed-use building on Columbus Circle in Manhattan, New York City. The building occupies the western side of Columbus Circle and straddles the border between ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

on May 4, 2010. ''Time'' readers contributed to the selection through an online vote of over 200 finalists. ''Time'' introduced the 2011 list as follows: "Meet the most influential people in the world. They are artists and activists, reformers and researchers, heads of state, and captains of industry. Their ideas spark dialogue and dissent and sometimes even revolution. Welcome to this year's ''Time'' 100." The announcement was celebrated with a black tie event in New York City on April 26, 2011. The honorees were joined by A-list celebrities at the Jazz at Lincoln Center for the event. ''Time'' readers contributed to the selection through an online vote of over 200 finalists. The list included familiar leaders including U.S. President

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...

and Chancellor of Germany

Angela Merkel Angela Dorothea Merkel (; ; born 17 July 1954) is a German former politician and scientist who served as Chancellor of Germany from 2005 to 2021. A member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), she previously served as Leader of the Opp ...

, as well as "newcomers" to the global press. The list included numerous figures representing the Arab Spring in the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...

, including rebels, political leaders, and news correspondents. Media figures unrelated to the Arab Spring were also listed. Additionally, Prince William and Kate Middleton were part of the list during the week before their wedding. The list also included Katsunobu Sakurai, the mayor of

Minamisōma is a city located in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 53,462 in 26,355 households, and a population density of 130 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Minamisōma is located in northe ...

Fukushima may refer to: Japan * Fukushima Prefecture, Japanese prefecture ** Fukushima, Fukushima, capital city of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan ***Fukushima University, national university in Japan *** Fukushima Station (Fukushima) in Fukushima, Fukushim ...

, which was the city most affected by the

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami The occurred at 14:46 JST (05:46 UTC) on 11 March. The magnitude 9.0–9.1 (M) undersea megathrust earthquake had an epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region, and lasted approximately six mi ...

. Revealed on April 24, 2014, the 2014 list featured Beyoncé on the U.S. cover and Robert Redford,

Jason Collins Jason Paul Collins (born December 2, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player who was a center for 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal, where he was ...

, and Mary Barra on international covers. The list included 41 women, the most in the list's history. The gala was held on April 29, 2014, in New York City. ''Time'' managing editor Nancy Gibbs commented: At age 14, Spanish-British born actress

Millie Bobby Brown Millie Bobby Brown (born 19 February 2004) is a British actress and producer. She gained recognition for playing Eleven in the Netflix science fiction series ''Stranger Things'' (2016–present), for which she received nominations for two Prim ...

became the youngest person to be listed on the 2018 list, when '' Stranger Things'' was in its third season. In the 2019 list, ''Time'' chose authors to write the honorees' blurbs. Some of the pairings include

Gal Gadot Gal Gadot-Varsano ( he, גל גדות ; born 30 April 1985) is an Israeli actress and model. At age 18, she was crowned Miss Israel 2004. She then served in the Israel Defense Forces for two years as a combat fitness instructor, whereafter she ...

writing about

Dwayne Johnson Dwayne Douglas Johnson (born May 2, 1972), also known by his ring name The Rock, is an American actor and former professional wrestler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, he was integral to the develop ...

Shawn Mendes Shawn Peter Raul Mendes (; born August 8, 1998) is a Canadian pop singer. He gained a following in 2013, when he posted song covers on the video sharing platform Vine. The following year, he caught the attention of artist manager Andrew Gert ...

writing about

Taylor Swift Taylor Alison Swift (born December 13, 1989) is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans multiple genres, and her vivid songwriting—often inspired by her personal life—has received critical praise and wide media coverage. Bor ...

Shonda Rhimes Shonda Lynn Rhimes (born January 13, 1970) is an American television screenwriter, producer, and author. She is best known as the showrunner—creator, head writer, and executive producer—of the television medical drama '' Grey's Anatomy'', ...

writing about

Sandra Oh Sandra Miju Oh (born July 20, 1971) is a Canadian–American actress. She is best known for her starring roles as Rita Wu on the HBO comedy '' Arliss'' (1996–2002), Dr. Cristina Yang on the ABC medical drama series ''Grey's Anatomy'' (2005 ...

Ava DuVernay Ava Marie DuVernay (; born August 24, 1972) is an American filmmaker, television producer and former film publicist. She is a recipient of a Primetime Emmy Award, a NAACP Image Award, a BAFTA Film Award and a BAFTA TV Award, as well as a nominee ...

writing about

Gayle King Gayle King (born December 28, 1954) is an American television personality, author and broadcast journalist for CBS News, co-hosting its flagship morning program, '' CBS Mornings'', and before that its predecessor ''CBS This Morning''. She is ...

, and Beyoncé writing about Michelle Obama.

2020s

The 2020 list included

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, rapper Megan Thee Stallion, comedian

Phoebe Waller-Bridge Phoebe Mary Waller-Bridge (born 14 July 1985) is an English actress and screenwriter. She is best known as the creator, head writer, and star of the BBC sitcom ''Fleabag'' (2016–2019), which was based on her one-woman show of the same name. ...

, tennis champion Naomi Osaka (her second time being included), Formula 1 driver

Lewis Hamilton Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton (born 7 January 1985) is a British racing driver currently competing in Formula One for Mercedes. In Formula One, Hamilton has won a joint-record seven World Drivers' Championship titles (tied with Mic ...

, attorney Nury Turkel,

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...

player Patrick Mahomes, and

environmental justice Environmental justice is a social movement to address the unfair exposure of poor and marginalized communities to harms from hazardous waste, resource extraction, and other land uses.Schlosberg, David. (2007) ''Defining Environmental Justic ...

advocate

Cecilia Martinez Cecilia Martinez is the senior director for environmental justice at the Council on Environmental Quality and co-founder and executive director of the Center for Earth, Energy, and Democracy. In 2020, she was named one of ''Time (magazine), Time' ...

. On September 15, ''Time'' revealed the 2021 list, distributed into the categories ''Icons'', ''Pioneers'', ''Titans'', ''Artists'', ''Leaders'' and ''Innovators''. Each category has a highlighted section of personalities being featured on the ''Time'' magazine cover, naming

Prince Harry Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984) is a member of the British royal family. He is the younger son of Charles III and his first wife Diana, Princess of Wales. He is fifth in the line of succ ...

and Meghan Markle as ''Icons'',

Billie Eilish Billie Eilish Pirate Baird O'Connell ( ; born December 18, 2001) is an American singer-songwriter. She first gained public attention in 2015 with her debut single " Ocean Eyes", written and produced by her brother Finneas O'Connell, with whom ...

as ''Pioneer'',

Simone Biles Simone Arianne Biles (; born March 14, 1997) is an American artistic gymnast. Her seven Olympic medals tied with Shannon Miller for the most Olympic medals won by an American gymnast. Having won 25 World Championship medals, she is the most de ...

as ''Titan'', Kate Winslet as ''Artist'',

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (; born 13 June 1954) is a Nigerian economist, who has been serving as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization since March 2021. Notably, she is the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organiza ...

as ''Leader'' and

Jensen Huang Jen-Hsun "Jensen" Huang (; born February 17, 1963) is a Taiwanese American billionaire business magnate, electrical engineer, and the co-founder, current president and CEO of Nvidia Corporation. Early years and education Huang was born in Ta ...

as ''Innovator''. Furthermore, ''Time'' held a readers poll prior to the reveal of the editors list, asking whether certain personalities should be included in this year's annual list. Nearly 1.8 million votes were cast, with Britney Spears claiming the top spot, while also being featured as an ''Icon''. Editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal commented on the current working circumstances at ''Time'' and the effects of the ongoing

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

on their annual gala:

Multiple appearances

Each category is given equal weight every year, but some people are more likely to make repeat appearances over time. The following list includes individuals who have appeared at least three times. The order is based on the number of times each person has been listed in ''Time'' 100. Those who are tied are listed alphabetically. Some individuals, such as Nelson Mandela, have also been listed in the one-off ''Time'''s list of " The Most Important People of the 20th Century". They are listed in bold.

Listed five times or more

File:Xi Jinping 2019.jpg,

Xi Jinping Xi Jinping ( ; ; ; born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has served as the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), and thus as the paramount leader of China, ...

Listed thirteen times: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2009 File:President Barack Obama (cropped) 3.jpg,

Listed eleven times: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2005
(Finalist in 2018) File:Oprah in 2014.jpg, Oprah Winfrey
Listed eleven times: 2022, 2018, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, and the 20th century
(Finalist in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2015, and 2012) File:Hillary Rodham Clinton-cropped.jpg,

Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, diplomat, and former lawyer who served as the 67th United States Secretary of State for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, as a United States sen ...

Listed ten times: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2004
(Finalist in 2013 and 2010) File:Angela Merkel. Tallinn Digital Summit.jpg,

Listed nine times: 2020, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2011, 2009, 2007, and 2006
(Finalist in 2021, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2013, 2010, and 2008) File:Kim Jong-un April 2019 (cropped).jpg, Kim Jong-un
Listed eight times: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011
(Finalist in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019) File:Vladimir Putin (2020-02-20).jpg,

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin; (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who holds the office of president of Russia. Putin has served continuously as president or prime minister since 1999: as prime min ...

Listed seven times: 2022, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2008, and 2004
(Finalist in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2012, 2011, 2009, and 2007) File:Pope Francis Korea Haemi Castle 19 (cropped).jpg,

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

Listed six times: 2019, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, and 2013
(Finalist in 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2018) File:Donald Trump official portrait (cropped).jpg,

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...

Listed six times: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016
(Finalist in 2022) File:Jeff Bezos at Amazon Spheres Grand Opening in Seattle - 2018 (39074799225) (cropped).jpg,

Jeff Bezos Jeffrey Preston Bezos ( ;; and Robinson (2010), p. 7. ''né'' Jorgensen; born January 12, 1964) is an American entrepreneur, media proprietor, investor, and commercial astronaut. He is the founder, executive chairman, and former preside ...

Listed five times: 2018, 2017, 2014, 2009, and 2008
(Finalist in 2021, 2020, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2013, and 2012) File:Joe Biden presidential portrait (cropped).jpg, Joe Biden
Listed five times: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2013, and 2011
(Finalist in 2016) File:Tim Cook 2009 cropped.jpg,

Tim Cook Timothy Donald Cook (born November 1, 1960) is an American business executive who has been the chief executive officer of Apple Inc. since 2011. Cook previously served as the company's chief operating officer under its co-founder Steve Jobs ...

Listed five times: 2022, 2021, 2016, 2015, and 2012
(Finalist in 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2014) File:Steve Jobs Headshot 2010-CROP2.jpg, Steve Jobs
Listed five times: 2010, 2008, 2007, 2005, and 2004
(Finalist in 2011 and 2009) File:Lagarde, Christine (official portrait 2011).jpg,

Christine Lagarde Christine Madeleine Odette Lagarde (; née Lallouette, ; born 1 January 1956) is a French politician and lawyer who has been serving as President of the European Central Bank since 2019. She previously served as the 11th managing director of the ...

Listed five times: 2022, 2016, 2012, 2010, and 2009
(Finalist in 2014) File:Shri Narendra Modi.jpg,

Narendra Modi Narendra Damodardas Modi (; born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician serving as the 14th and current Prime Minister of India since 2014. Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Parliament fro ...

Listed five times: 2021, 2020, 2017, 2015, and 2014
(Finalist in 2022, 2019, 2018, 2016, and 2012) File:Remise du Prix Sakharov à Aung San Suu Kyi Strasbourg 22 octobre 2013-18.jpg,

Aung San Suu Kyi Aung San Suu Kyi (; ; born 19 June 1945) is a Burmese politician, diplomat, author, and a 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate who served as State Counsellor of Myanmar (equivalent to a prime minister) and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2 ...

Listed five times: 2016, 2013, 2011, 2008, and 2004
(Finalist in 2012 and 2009) File:Official photo of Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2019.jpg, Nancy Pelosi
Listed five times: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2010, and 2007
(Finalist in 2022, 2021, 2013, 2009, and 2008)
Listed five times: 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, and 2016

Listed four times

File:George-W-Bush.jpeg, George W. Bush
2008, 2006, 2005, and 2004
(Finalist in 2009 and 2007) File:Bill Clinton.jpg,

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

2010, 2006, 2005, and 2004
(Finalist in 2015, 2013, and 2007) File:George Clooney 2016.jpg, George Clooney
2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006
(Finalist in 2012, 2011, and 2010) File:The Global Financial Context James Dimon (cropped).jpg, Jamie Dimon
2011, 2009, 2008, and 2006
(Finalist in 2015 and 2012) File:Recep Tayyip Erdoğan 2018 (cropped).jpg, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
2017, 2016, 2010, and 2004
(Finalist in 2022, 2021, 2019, 2015, 2014, and 2012) File:Bill Gates 2018.jpg,

Bill Gates William Henry Gates III (born October 28, 1955) is an American business magnate and philanthropist. He is a co-founder of Microsoft, along with his late childhood friend Paul Allen. During his career at Microsoft, Gates held the positions ...

2006, 2005, 2004, and the 20th century
(Finalist in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2010, and 2008) File:Hu Jintao at White House 2011.jpg, Hu Jintao
2008, 2007, 2005, and 2004
(Finalist in 2011 and 2009) File:Lebron wizards 2017 (cropped).jpg,

LeBron James LeBron Raymone James Sr. (; born December 30, 1984) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "King James", he is widely considered one of the greatest p ...

2019, 2017, 2013, and 2005
(Finalist in 2021, 2020, 2018, and 2015) File:SpaceX CEO Elon Musk visits N&NC and AFSPC (190416-F-ZZ999-006) (cropped).jpg,

Elon Musk Elon Reeve Musk ( ; born June 28, 1971) is a business magnate and investor. He is the founder, CEO and chief engineer of SpaceX; angel investor, CEO and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; owner and CEO of Twitter, Inc.; founder of The ...

2021, 2018, 2013, and 2010
(Finalist in 2022, 2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, and 2015) File:Benjamin Netanyahu 2018.jpg,

Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu (; ; born 21 October 1949) is an Israeli politician who served as the ninth prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 to 2021. He is currently serving as Leader of the Opposition and Chairman of ...

2019, 2015, 2012, and 2011
(Finalist in 2020, 2017, 2013, 2010, and 2009) File:Michelle Obama 2013 official portrait.jpg, Michelle Obama
2019, 2013, 2011, and 2009
(Finalist in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, and 2010) File:Condoleezza Rice cropped.jpg, Condoleezza Rice
2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004
(Finalist in 2008) File:Elizabeth Warren--Official 113th Congressional Portrait--.jpg, Elizabeth Warren
2017, 2015, 2010, and 2009
(Finalist in 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013, and 2011) File:Mark Zuckerberg F8 2019 Keynote (32830578717) (cropped).jpg, Mark Zuckerberg
2019, 2016, 2011, and 2008
(Finalist in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, and 2009)

Listed three times

File:Adele for Vogue in 2021.png,

Adele Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (, ; born 5 May 1988), professionally known by the mononym Adele, is an English singer and songwriter. After graduating in arts from the BRIT School in 2006, Adele signed a rec ...

2022, 2016, and 2012 File:Benedict XVI Blessing-2.jpg,

Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI ( la, Benedictus XVI; it, Benedetto XVI; german: link=no, Benedikt XVI.; born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger, , on 16 April 1927) is a retired prelate of the Catholic church who served as the head of the Church and the soverei ...

2007, 2006, and 2005
(Finalist in 2013, 2009, and 2008) File:Warren Buffett KU Visit.jpg,

Warren Buffett Warren Edward Buffett ( ; born August 30, 1930) is an American business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is currently the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. He is one of the most successful investors in the world and has a net ...

2012, 2007, and 2004
(Finalist in 2016, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, and 2008) File:Catherine Elizabeth Middleton (colorized).jpg, Catherine, Princess of Wales
2013, 2012, and 2011
(Finalist in 2018) File:Dalai Lama in 2012 02.jpg, The

14th Dalai Lama The 14th Dalai Lama (spiritual name Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, known as Tenzin Gyatso (Tibetan: བསྟན་འཛིན་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, Wylie: ''bsTan-'dzin rgya-mtsho''); né Lhamo Thondup), known as ...

, Tenzin Gyatso
2008, 2005, and 2004
(Finalist in 2015 and 2009) File:Mario Draghi 2021 cropped.jpg,

Mario Draghi Mario Draghi (; born 3 September 1947) is an Italian economist, academic, banker and civil servant who served as prime minister of Italy from February 2021 to October 2022. Prior to his appointment as prime minister, he served as President of ...

2021, 2013 and 2012 File:Kamala Harris Vice Presidential Portrait (cropped).jpg,

Kamala Harris Kamala Devi Harris ( ; born October 20, 1964) is an American politician and attorney who is the 49th vice president of the United States. She is the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in U.S. history, as well ...

2021, 2020, and 2013
(Finalist in 2022, 2019, 2017, 2012, and 2011) File:John Kerry official Secretary of State portrait.jpg,

John Kerry John Forbes Kerry (born December 11, 1943) is an American attorney, politician and diplomat who currently serves as the first United States special presidential envoy for climate. A member of the Forbes family and the Democratic Party, he ...

2016, 2014, and 2004
(Finalist in 2015 and 2013) File:Charles Koch portrait (cropped).jpg,

Charles Koch Charles de Ganahl Koch ( ; born November 1, 1935) is an American billionaire businessman. As of November 2022, he was ranked as the 13th richest person in the world on ''Bloomberg Billionaires Index'', with an estimated net worth of $66 billio ...

2015, 2014, and 2011
(Finalist in 2016 and 2012)
(shared with brother David at all times) File:David Koch by Gage Skidmore.jpg,

David Koch David Hamilton Koch ( ; May 3, 1940 – August 23, 2019) was an American businessman, political activist, philanthropist, and chemical engineer. In 1970, he joined the family business: Koch Industries, the second largest privately held c ...

2015, 2014, and 2011
(Finalist in 2016 and 2012)
(shared with brother Charles at all times) File:Pony Ma 2011.jpg, Ma Huateng
2018, 2014, and 2007
(Finalist in 2022, 2021, and 2019) File:Nelson Mandela-2008 (edit).jpg, Nelson Mandela
2005, 2004, and the 20th century
(Finalist in 2008 and 2007) File:Rupert Murdoch - Flickr - Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer.jpg,

Rupert Murdoch Keith Rupert Murdoch ( ; born 11 March 1931) is an Australian-born American business magnate. Through his company News Corp, he is the owner of hundreds of local, national, and international publishing outlets around the world, including ...

2008, 2005, and 2004
(Finalist in 2012, 2010, and 2009) File:Naomi Osaka 2017 Wimbledon.jpg, Naomi Osaka
2021, 2020, and 2019 File:Larry Page in the European Parliament, 17.06.2009 (cropped).jpg,

Larry Page Lawrence Edward Page (born March 26, 1973) is an American business magnate, computer scientist and internet entrepreneur. He is best known for co-founding Google with Sergey Brin. Page was the chief executive officer of Google from 1997 unti ...

2011, 2005, and 2004
(Finalist in 2014, 2012, and 2008) File:Brad Pitt 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg, Brad Pitt
2009, 2008, and 2007
(Finalist in 2012 and 2011) File:Ren Zhengfei 2014.jpg,

Ren Zhengfei Ren Zhengfei (; born 25 October 1944) is a Chinese entrepreneur and engineer who is the founder and CEO of Huawei Technologies, the world's largest manufacturer of telecommunications equipment and second largest manufacturer of smartphones. Ear ...

2019, 2013, and 2005 File:Shonda Rhimes at the 75th Annual Peabody Awards (cropped).jpg,

2021, 2013 & 2007
(Finalist in 2022, 2016, and 2015) File:Official roberts CJ.jpg,

John Roberts John Glover Roberts Jr. (born January 27, 1955) is an American lawyer and jurist who has served as the 17th chief justice of the United States since 2005. Roberts has authored the majority opinion in several landmark cases, including '' Nat ...

2020, 2007, and 2006
(Finalist in 2015, 2013, 2012, and 2008) File:Moqtada Sadr.jpg,

Muqtada al-Sadr Muqtada al-Sadr ( ar, مقتدى الصدر, Muqtadā aṣ-Ṣadr; born 4 August 1974) is an Iraqi politician and militia leader. He is the leader of the Sadrist Movement and the leader of the Peace Companies, a successor to the militia he had p ...

2011, 2008, and 2006
(Finalist in 2009 and 2007) File:Taylor Swift 3, 2011.jpg,

2019, 2015, and 2010
(Finalist in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2016, 2014, and 2009) File:Tiger Woods in May 2019.jpg,

Tiger Woods Eldrick Tont "Tiger" Woods (born December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer. He is tied for first in PGA Tour wins, ranks second in men's major championships, and holds numerous golf records. * * * Woods is widely regarded as ...

2019, 2009, and 2004
(Finalist in 2010, 2008, and 2007) File:Janet Yellen official Federal Reserve portrait.jpg, Janet Yellen
2017, 2015, and 2014
(Finalist in 2016) File:Shinzō Abe and Malala Yousafzai (1) Cropped.jpg,

Malala Yousafzai Malala Yousafzai ( ur, , , pronunciation: ; born 12 July 1997), is a Pakistani female education activist and the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Awarded when she was 17, she is the world's youngest Nobel Prize laureate, and the second P ...

2015, 2014, and 2013.

Controversies

Controversies over exclusions

The exclusion of then-British Prime Minister

Tony Blair Sir Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born 6 May 1953) is a British former politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007. He previously served as Leader of th ...

from the 2004 list caused mild controversy. ''Time'' editor-at-large Michael J. Elliott defended the decision to consistently exclude Blair, saying that " Gerhard Schröder and Jacques Chirac are not there either. This is a worldwide list. There are no Western European political leaders on it because they are not that powerful or influential at this time". Although George W. Bush has been on the list several times, controversy emerged when he was dropped from the list in 2007 in part because of the Democratic victory in the 2006 congressional election. Former Senator

Rick Santorum Richard John Santorum ( ; born May 10, 1958) is an American politician, attorney, and political commentator. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a United States Senator from Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2007 and was the Senate's third ...

(R–PA) said on

Fox News The Fox News Channel, abbreviated FNC, commonly known as Fox News, and stylized in all caps, is an American multinational conservative cable news television channel based in New York City. It is owned by Fox News Media, which itself is owne ...

The fact of the matter is, the president of the United States, I don't care who's in that office, is the most powerful man on the face of the Earth and has more influence over various aspects of lives, not just in this country, but around the world. And for ''Time'' magazine to dismiss that just shows you how biased and, I would argue, hateful they are.

Adi Ignatius Adi Ignatius (born in Burbank, California) is editor-in-chief of ''Harvard Business Review''. He joined the magazine in January 2009. Biography Previously, he was deputy managing editor for ''Time (magazine), Time'', where he was responsible for ...

, ''Time''s deputy managing editor who oversaw the list at the time, explained that "any U.S. president has a certain built-in influence ... Bush had actually squandered some of that built-in influence. His position on

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...

has cost him support in his own party. ... To a certain point, he sort of reached a lame-duck status".

Controversies over inclusions

The list has also generated controversy over inclusions. In 2005, conservative commentator

Ann Coulter Ann Hart Coulter (; born December 8, 1961) is an American conservative media pundit, author, syndicated columnist, and lawyer. She became known as a media pundit in the late 1990s, appearing in print and on cable news as an outspoken critic of ...

was listed, which led '' Salon'' to observe:

When ''Time'' magazine named Ann Coulter among its 100 "most influential people" last week, alongside such heavyweights as Ariel Sharon,
Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
, Nelson Mandela, Kim Jong-il, and the
Dalai Lama Dalai Lama (, ; ) is a title given by the Tibetan people to the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest and most dominant of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th and current D ...
, the choice produced guffaws online. Plugging the issue on Fox News last week, ''Time'' executive editor ''Priscilla Painton'' insisted it was Coulter's use of "humor" that made her so influential, stopping just short of suggesting that Coulter is the conservative Jon Stewart. But even Fox's Bill O'Reilly wasn't buying it. He pressed Painton: "Do you think people, Americans, listen to Ann Coulter? Do you think she has influence in public opinion?"

''Time'' defended Coulter as a best-selling author whose controversial commentary strongly affected political debates in the United States. Coulter did not, however, make additional appearances on the list.

Mistakes

In February 2016, ''Time'' included the male British author

Evelyn Waugh Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh (; 28 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) was an English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books; he was also a prolific journalist and book reviewer. His most famous works include the early satires '' Decl ...

on its "100 Most Read Female Writers in College Classes" list, generating media attention and concerns regarding fact-checking at the magazine. ''Time'' later issued a retraction. In a

BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...

...

Selection criteria

History

2000s

2010s

2020s

Multiple appearances

Listed five times or more

Listed four times

Listed three times

Controversies

Controversies over exclusions

Controversies over inclusions

Mistakes

Other ''Time'' lists

Next Generation Leaders

The 25 Most Influential People on the Internet

''Time'' 100 Next list

''Time'' 100 Women of the Year

See also

References