People on Time Covers 2008

Head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 19 April 2005 until his resignation on 28 February 2013.

British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1997 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007.

Pakistani politician and stateswoman who served as prime minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990 and again from 1993 to 1996. She chaired or co-chaired the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) from the early 1980s until her assassination in 2007.

British politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1997 to 2007

American politician and businessman who served as US president from 2001 to 2009. He served as the governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000.

British politician who has served as Foreign Secretary since 2023. He previously served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2016.

American politician and diplomat who served as US secretary of state from 2009 to 2013, as a U.S. senator representing New York from 2001 to 2009, and as the first lady of the U.S. from 1993 to 2001.

American actor and filmmaker. Starred in Batman & Robin, Three Kings, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. He had a starring role in Soderbergh's Ocean's film series from 2001 to 2007. Directed Monuments Men and co-produced Argo.

New York City teacher recruited and trained by The New Teacher Project’s NYC Teaching Fellows program

American anthropologist who specialized in the economic anthropology and rural development of Indonesia. She was the mother of the 44th president of the United States

American fashion designer and filmmaker. He launched his eponymous luxury brand in 2005, having previously served as the creative director at Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent. He wrote and directed the films A Single Man and Nocturnal Animals.

American businessman, investor, philanthropist, and writer best known for co-founding the software giant Microsoft,

English artist and art collector. He is one of the Young British Artists (YBAs) who dominated the art scene in the UK during the 1990s. In 2008, he sold a complete show, Beautiful Inside My Head Forever, at Sotheby's by auction The auction raised £111 million ($198 million).

American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers. Widely recognised as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Also played for the Cleveland and Miami.

North Korean politician who was the second supreme leader of North Korea. He led North Korea from the death of his father in 1994 until his own death in 2011,

The highest spiritual leader and head of Tibet. He is considered a living Bodhisattva. In exile since 1959.

Chinese-born Singaporean martial artist, film actor, film producer, and philanthropist. In English language films he starred in Kiss of the Dragon, the One, War, The Forbidden Kingdom and the Expendables.

American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the US president from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War.

Chinese 110 meter hurdler. He is an Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion. His 2004 Olympic gold medal was the first in a men's track and field event for China.

South African anti-apartheid activist and politician who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state.

American politician and United States Navy officer who served as a United States senator from Arizona from 1987 until his death in 2018. He was the Republican nominee for president of the United States in the 2008 election.

American politician who served as US president from 2009 to 2017. He was the first African-American president in U.S. history. Person of the Year.

American politician, commentator, author, and reality television personality who served as the governor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009. She was the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee.

American educator and advocate for education reform. She was Chancellor of District of Columbia Public Schools from 2007 to 2010. In late 2010, she founded StudentsFirst, a non-profit organization that works on education reform.

American politician who served as the 32nd president of the United States from 1933 until his death in 1945.

American competitive swimmer, who is a 12-time Olympic medalist and former world record-holder in three events. She is the first swimmer to represent the United States in five Olympic Games and at age 41, the oldest swimmer to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic team.

American writer, humorist, essayist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer. He was praised as the "greatest humorist the United States has produced". His novels include The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

American Baptist evangelical Christian pastor and author. He is the founder of Saddleback Church, an evangelical Baptist megachurch in Lake Forest, California. The Purpose Driven Life.

Pakistani politician who served as the 11th president of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013. He is the widower of twice-elected Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto.