APRIL 28, 2025

DEMIS
HASSABIS
BY JENNIFER DOUDNA

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VOL . 205, NOS. 13–14 | 2025

ICONS
p. 16

The
ARTISTS
p. 28

Most LEADERS
p. 42

Influential PIONEERS

People
p. 56

TITANS
in the p. 66

World INNOVATORS
p. 76

Photograph by Adrienne Raquel for TIME

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2 Time April 28, 2025

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FROM THE
EDITOR

Shaping a Nobel laureate who, at 84, was sworn in

last summer to lead Bangladesh’s interim
government.
the future This year, TIME’s journalists reported
profiles of the five cover subjects. Belinda
ON THE
C OV E RS
Luscombe traveled to Los Angeles to hang
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? AS JOURNALISTS, out with Snoop Dogg, whose omnipres-
that is the question we get asked more than ence is a study in contradictions. “At a
any other, particularly these days. As we time when people increasingly huddle
were closing this issue, President Donald within cultural fortresses of their algo-
Trump introduced a tariff plan that up- rithms,” she writes, “Snoop is a batter-
ended the global economic system. For ing ram.” In London, Billy Perrigo spoke
many readers, the move accelerated the with Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google
sense that almost everything was shifting, DeepMind and winner of a 2024 Nobel
with very real consequences for themselves Prize, to determine what this singular
and their neighbors. Some celebrate these figure in AI can tell us about the techno-
changes. Others condemn them. No one is logical transformation he is leading. Sean
certain what comes next. Gregory stopped by Serena Williams’ farm
TIME’s founders knew that focusing on in South Florida to find out how the tennis
the individuals who are transforming the legend is now reshaping both the worlds
world is the best way to help readers un- of sport and investment. Andrew Chow
derstand it. That belief animates much of accompanied Ed Sheeran to a surprise
what we do at TIME. Take Person of the St. Patrick’s Day show at a Boston pub,
Year, which in two years will reach its cen- seeking to learn how the singer emerged
tennial. Or the TIME100, our annual list from a dark period to find new sources
of the most influential people in the world, of creativity. Lucy Feldman spoke with
launched more than two decades ago. Both The Substance star Demi Moore, who was
projects are as relevant today as at any point reflective about her career and is now en-
in their histories. The 2025 TIME100, in ergized by the prospect of telling stories
partnership with our Official Timekeeper that challenge how we perceive women
Rolex, will be our biggest yet, including in their 60s: “In fact, this is an incredibly
a daylong summit with interviews with powerful, exciting, and alive time.”
world leaders, and our annual gala, which The TIME100 now lives across all the
will be broadcast on May 4 on ABC in the many channels where people follow TIME.
U.S. and stream around the world on Hulu. At its center is a process overseen by Dan
This year, as we continue to develop TIME’s Macsai and Cate Matthews, who leads
signature leadership platform, we’ll intro- TIME’s journalists through a year of debate
duce two new TIME100 franchises: one and discovery, speaking with sources and
focused on philanthropy and the other on partners around the globe to whittle down
digital creators. a list of 100 individuals. “The stories this
What does the 2025 TIME100 tell project tells change with the headlines, so
us about the forces shaping our lives? every May, our research starts anew. The
It includes six members of the Trump one constant we see each year is that a sin-
Administration, the largest contingent from gle person’s hard work, idea, or decision can
a political Administration since Barack change the world,” Matthews said.
Obama arrived in Washington in 2009, a So what’s going to happen? Whatever
recognition of where global disruption ori h thi k th TIME100
inates today. This year’s group also include
16 corporate CEOs, a record, and a sign of
the emergence of a class of business leader
who are filling a leadership void. It include
nine leaders who are fighting for justice,
equality, and democracy, at a moment whe
the rights of so many are at stake. Mem-
bers of the list come from 32 countries. Th
youngest is 22-year-old Léon Marchand, a
French swimmer who dominated the Paris
Olympics. The oldest is Muhammad Yunu
If children are the future,
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ChildFund has always brought together people who care about

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9
SPAYKA:
Cultivating Armenia’s Global Reputation
“Spayka” brand, a symbol of quality and reliability,

I
n the heart of the Caucasus, where snow-
capped peaks meet sun-drenched valleys, is backed by $500 million in investment in
a quiet revolution has been unfolding. At its Armenian agriculture and logistics. By consistently
helm stands David Ghazaryan, a visionary who, meeting the demands of diverse export markets,
in 2001, looked beyond Armenia’s striking Spayka has elevated Armenia’s reputation on the
landscapes and saw something more -- a nation’s world stage. Spayka also produces high-quality
untapped potential. dairy products, including over 2,000 tons of blue
Ghazaryan recognized that beneath Armenia’s cheese and up to 3,000 tons of butter in a year.
picturesque surface lay fertile lands waiting for a “We are not just selling produce,” says Ghazaryan,
David Ghazaryan Founder of SPAYKA
catalyst to connect them to the global marketplace. “we are selling the story of Armenian resilience and
His creation, Spayka, has become an emblem 320 refrigerated trucks wasn’t just a logistical quality.”
of strategic thinking and entrepreneurial grit, necessity, it was a bold statement. “Logistics is Spayka’s influence ripples through Armenian
transforming Armenia’s agricultural sector and the lifeblood of our business,” says Ghazaryan. society. The company empowers local farmers
export capabilities in a way few could have This investment not only ensured the timely and strengthens rural communities by providing
imagined. and temperature-controlled delivery of delicate access to modern technologies, fair pricing, and
Ghazaryan’s vision encompassed a fundamental goods, like the burgeoning tulip exports, but also reliable market access. This commitment to social
reimagining, not just incremental improvements. laid the foundation for a more robust national responsibility is deeply ingrained in Ghazaryan’s
He understood that Armenian agriculture, despite transportation infrastructure. By intelligently vision. Spayka’s investment in agricultural
its inherent richness, lacked the infrastructure and allocating a portion of its fleet to external freight education programs and partnerships with local
integrated systems to compete on the world stage. forwarding, Spayka actively contributes to the farming communities promotes the sharing
“We needed to build a system that could guarantee development of Armenia’s transportation expertise, of knowledge and modern techniques, lifting
quality from farm to fork,” says Ghazaryan, a fostering growth beyond its own operations. the entire sector. The company also provides
philosophy that drove the creation of Spayka’s Technology is the silent force propelling Spayka’s substantial employment opportunities, both
vertically integrated model. This was about more success. Within its vast greenhouse complexes, in its agricultural operations and its extensive
than just growing produce, it was about controlling advanced semi-closed technology systems logistical network, further bolstering the Armenian
every step of the process, from the seed in the meticulously regulate the environment. Sensors economy.
ground to the product on the shelf. monitor temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels, Navigating the complexities of the global
Today, Spayka oversees sprawling operations allowing for precise environmental management market, particularly in a region marked by
that encompass everything from cultivation and that maximizes yields. This is not merely farming geopolitical sensitivities, is a testament to
state-of-the-art processing facilities to sophisticated -- it’s precision agriculture, leveraging data Spayka’s strategic prowess. By prioritizing
packaging and an extensive logistics network. The and innovation to cultivate a diverse range of quality, efficiency, and logistical excellence, the
company has developed nearly 20 square miles of products. Spayka’s commitment to technological company has proven that Armenian businesses
intensive modern orchards and owns 120 hectares advancement extends throughout its operations, can compete effectively on the world stage.
of latest-generation greenhouse complexes, from advanced ERP (enterprise resource planning) Spayka’s story demonstrates how a strategically
the largest in the region. The result is year- systems that integrate data across the entire supply diversified agricultural enterprise, built on a strong
round production of premium-quality fruits and chain to precision agriculture techniques. foundation of logistics, quality, technological
vegetables under the globally recognized “SPAYKA” Under Ghazaryan’s leadership, Spayka has advancement and visionary leadership, can
brand, now synonymous with quality Armenian grown beyond a successful enterprise – it thrive globally while also elevating its nation’s
agricultural products. has become a national asset. Controlling an standing in the world. From dusty fields to global
A critical element of Ghazaryan’s strategy estimated 70% share of Armenia’s fruit and tables, Spayka, under the leadership of David
was tackling Armenia’s geographical challenges vegetable exports, Spayka is effectively Armenia’s Ghazaryan, has cultivated not just crops, but
head-on. The establishment of a fleet exceeding ambassador to the global agricultural market. The Armenia’s future.

time.com/partnercontent
100

ICONS / Fatou Baldeh. Adrien Brody. Bobbi

Brown. Amy Griffin. Jalen Hurts. Léon Marchand.
Demi Moore. David Muir. Angeline Murimirwa.
Gisèle Pelicot. Anthony Romero. Hiroyuki Sanada.
Raquel Willis. Yoshiki. ARTISTS / Kristen Bell.
Willy Chavarria. Danielle Deadwyler. Hozier. Branden
Jacobs-Jenkins. Scarlett Johansson. Rashida Jones.
Miranda July. Daniel Dae Kim. Diego Luna. Yoshitomo
Nara. Mohammad Rasoulof. Nicole Scherzinger.
Adam Scott. Annabelle Selldorf. Ed Sheeran. Kristen
Wiig. LEADERS / Mo Abudu. Noa Argamani.

The
Duma Boko. Megyn Kelly. Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Reshma Kewalramani. Lee Jae-myung. Howard
Lutnick. María Corina Machado. Friedrich Merz.

100
Javier Milei. Elon Musk. Teresa Ribera. Ahmed al-
Sharaa. Claudia Sheinbaum. Keir Starmer. Tedros
Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Donald Trump. J.D. Vance.
Andrea Vidaurre. Russell Vought. Muhammad

Most
Yunus. PIONEERS / Dario Amodei. Cordelia
Bähr. Julie Burkhart. Tomas Cihlar. Napheesa Collier.
Andrew Forrest. Demis Hassabis. Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Influential
Liang Wenfeng. Robert Montgomery. Rosé. Allison Sesso.
Myles Smith. Breanna Stewart. Wesley Sundquist.
TITANS / Ed Bastian. Simone Biles. Bonnie

People
Y Chan. Percival Everett. Jonathan Greenblatt.
Alex Karp. Blake Lively. Doug McMillon. Lorne
Michaels. Miuccia Prada. Joe Rogan. Ted Sarandos.

in the
Stephen Squeri. Lisa Su. Serena Williams. Mark
Zuckerberg. INNOVATORS / Tim Cadogan.
Jon M. Chu. Sandra Diaz. Snoop Dogg. Ismahane
Elouafi. Larry Fink. Wendy Freedman. Nikki

World
Glaser. Christian Happi. Josh Koskoff. Ma Yansong.
Kwame Onwuachi. Skye Perryman. Chutatip “Nok”
Suntaranon. Mickalene Thomas. Richard Thompson.
100
Points of Origin
PIONEERS
W HE RE T HE TIM E1 00 W ERE BORN
1 By Erin McMullen
2
3
4
5 68
6
7
41 19 59 86 93 84 14 75
8
15 40 34 99 58 10 45 8
9
10 95
11
12 100
13 48
14 36
15 1 61
53 89
LEADERS 81 39
16 69 97
17 80 12
18 91 33
19 74 23
20 57 63
21
55 90
22
35 73
23
24 96
25
26 66
27 44 85
28 20
29 30
72
30 64
50
31 3
77 88
32 92 70
33 5
34
35
36
37

ICONS
38
39 42
40
41 26
42 54
43
44
45
24
46
47
48
49
50
51
 I N N O VAT O R S

52
53
76 54
16
55
56
57
71 67 31 82 58
83 13 7 52 59
60
61
62
63
78 64
49 65
51 66
25 22 67
47
2 62 ARTISTS

4 98 68
94 87 69
43 9 70
28 71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
65 81
38 56 17 32
82
60 29
83
37 84
21
6
T I TA N S

85
86
87
11 88
89
90
46 91
18 92
93
79
94
95
27
96
97
98
99
100
G I S È LE P E LI C O T. JA L E N H U RTS. RAQU E L W I L L IS. AD R IEN B RO DY. AN TH ON Y ROME RO + M OR E
 100

Demi Moore
CHANGI NG CU LTURE
By Ryan Murphy
 100
ICONS

Léon Marchand
U NS TOPPABLE SWI MM ER
By Summer McIntosh
Léon Marchand’s drive to get his hand on
the wall first at the Paris Olympics capti-
vated the entire world four times over.
First, he dominated the 400-m indi-
vidual medley, winning gold by over 5 sec-
onds. He then went on to become the first
swimmer ever to achieve Olympic record-
breaking, back-to-back individual gold
medals in the 200-m butterfly and 200-m
breaststroke—each within a couple hours
of each other. His fourth win? The 200-m
individual medley, another broken record.
I have so much respect for the incredible Adrien
dy
Brody
work and dedication that went into Léon’s
preparation to be the world’s best across
multiple races, including some of the
toughest events in our sport. THE VIRTUOS O
Everyone in the building felt the energy By Rian Johnson
when Léon was racing. The crowd would
roar each time his head broke the sur-
face of the water. His performance at the
2024 Olympics inspires the entire world of
sport to bring your best when your best is
required. To be able to do that under the
pressure of a home crowd is nothing short
of sensational. Léon is simply unstoppable.
McIntosh is a three-time Olympic gold
medalist in swimming

18 TIME April 28, 2025

 FATO U B AL DE H
Protecting girls
BY C HA NTELLE LE E
Last year, Gambia’s parliament
considered a bill that would
have repealed the country’s
ban on female genital mutila-
tion (FGM). Widely recognized
as a human-rights violation,
FGM has been illegal in Gambia
since 2015, but experts say the
practice still occurs because
the ban is poorly enforced.
When the bill to overturn the
ban came before parliament,
Fatou Baldeh, the founder of
the organization Women in Lib-
eration & Leadership, sprang
into action. Baldeh, herself
an FGM survivor, launched a
campaign with other advocates
to block the bill. Ultimately, the
bill failed in July 2024—thanks,
in large part, to the advocates’
collective efforts.
It was a victory for Gambia,
Y: A U G U S T; B A L D E H : S A N J E E V V E R M A — H I N D U S TA N T I M E S/G E T T Y I M A G E S

but also the world at large,

Baldeh says. She had feared
that overturning the ban in
Gambia would have a ripple
effect, potentially leading to
other countries backsliding on
outlawing FGM. “It’s been a dif-
ficult year, I have to admit, but it’s
also opened up the space ... for
more conversations around the
issue,” Baldeh says. “I think
what happened in the Gambia
has really awakened people [to]
the need to do more about this.”
Lee is a TIME reporter
M

PHOTOGR APH BY MARK SELIGER 19

 100
ICONS

Bobbi Brown
NAT U RAL LE ADE R
By Charlamagne tha God
Some people are surfers, some people
are waves. My friend Bobbi Brown is the
wave. She doesn’t follow trends, she cre-
ates them. For decades, she’s been the
blueprint for what it means to be a beauty
mogul. She didn’t just change how people
wear makeup—she changed how they see
themselves. When Bobbi came into the
game, she made it clear that beauty wasn’t
about excess or perfection; it was about
enhancing what’s already there.
And here’s what makes her legendary—
she never stops evolving. In recent years,
she’s reminded everyone why she’s the un-
disputed queen of natural beauty. After
building an empire with Bobbi Brown Cos-
metics, she walked away and did it again
with Jones Road Beauty, proving that re-
invention isn’t just possible, it’s necessary.
Bobbi has and will continue to disrupt the
industry on her own terms. She’s show-
ing the world that legacy isn’t just about
Jalen Hurts
what you build—it’s about how you keep INSP IRI NG CH AM P
moving forward. She’s an innovator, a By Derek Jeter
risk taker, a visionary. And in a world ob- I admire
sessed with what’s new, she’s timeless. both su
Hurts w
Charlamagne tha God is a radio during t
host and author ship gam
20 TIME April 28, 2025
 A N T H O N Y D.
ROMERO
Defending civil rights
BY D A RR EN W A LK E R
Among the giants of America’s
civil-liberties tradition—
from Thomas Jefferson
to John Stuart Mill, Oliver
Wendell Holmes Jr. to Roger
Baldwin—stands Anthony
Romero, defender of the U.S.
Constitution.
In our pluralist democracy,
the work of advancing the
values they embodied—and
enlarged—remains our highest
calling. With courage and con-
viction, Anthony has answered
it. Today, we are reminded anew
of an old idea’s enduring power:
as Jefferson phrased it in his
Inaugural Address, “Error of
opinion may be tolerated where
reason is left free to combat it.”
As executive director of the
American Civil Liberties Union,
which defends our constitu-
tional rights through litigation
and advocacy, Anthony has
devoted his life to protecting
these twin ideals, sometimes
in tension, that precede all
the others: at the most basic
level, our grand, complicated
experiment in self-government
depends on tolerance for each
other and for perspectives with
U X ; R O M E R O : PA U L M O R I G I — G E T T Y I M A G E S

which we disagree, even vehe-

mently. But it also depends
on reason and truth—and on
proud patriots, like Anthony,
who defend and demand free-
dom for all.
Walker is president of the
Ford Foundation

21
 100
ICONS

GISÈLE PELICOT
Taking a stand
B Y G L O RI A S T E I NE M
Each morning when Gisèle

Amy Griffin
Am
Pelicot arrived at a French
courthouse with her head held
high, she was refusing to be
dominated by the patriarchal
order that has for so long sub- T RU T H T ELL ER
jugated women.
The trial detailed a series of Byy Reese W
Witherspoon
horrific assaults by her husband
and the dozens of others he
recruited. In a demonstration of
extraordinary courage, Gisèle
chose to shed her anonymity
and participate openly in the
proceedings. In her brave public
fight—which saw her husband
convicted of rape and 50 other
defendants found guilty of
rape, attempted rape, or sexual
assault—she has contributed
to a global process of justice
that will weaken patriarchy
and disrupt the acceptance
of sexual violence around the
world. Just as Gandhi chal-
lenged racial violence in India,
Gisèle has challenged the patri-
archy everywhere, including
within marriage, and advanced
universal human rights.
There have been tributes
to Gisèle in many countries.
She is a symbol of strength
and survival, she is a source of
inspiration for women and for
humane men, wherever we live.
Gisèle has shown us the way.
Now we must follow.
Steinem is a writer political

22 TIME April 28, 2025

 Yoshiki
MA ESTRO
By Nicole Scherzinger
Yoshiki is an absolute force—an artist
whose brilliance has transcended bor-
ders and genres throughout his 40-plus-
year career. Our collaboration in 2002 on
“I’ll Be Your Love” was one of my earliest
moments in music, and even then I could
feel the magnitude of his vision. He doesn’t
just play music; he channels emotion
through every note, whether he’s behind a
piano or a drum kit.
In recent years, Yoshiki has continued
to break boundaries—not just as a musi-
cian, but also as a cultural ambassador.
From his classical world tour and his di-
rectorial debut to becoming the first Jap-
anese artist to have his hand- and foot-
prints memorialized on the Hollywood
Walk of Fame, his influence resonates
across the globe.
Yoshiki’s artistry is matched only by his
heart. His philanthropic efforts through
his foundation have made him a timeless
inspiration. He donated half a million dol-
lars to support victims of the Los Angeles
wildfires earlier this year, benefiting seven
organizations.
He is a legend and a true original, and
P E L I C O T: C L E M E N T M A H O U D E A U — A F P/G E T T Y I M A G E S; YO S H I K I : G E N E W A N G — G E T T Y I M A G E S

I feel blessed to call him my friend.

Scherzinger is a Grammy-nominated
musical artist and actor

PHOTOGR APH BY THOMAS MCCARTY 23

 100
ICONS

Hiroyuki Sanada DAVID MUIR

S CE N E STEAL ER Steadfast anchor
By Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan
BY D IA NE SA W YER
Respect on a Hollywood set is often mea-
sured in silence. You’ve never been on a A N G E L IN E
quieter set than one with Hiroyuki Sanada.
Sanada is a legend, an actor cut from al- M U R I MI R W A
most mythic material. He honed that Educating millions
coiled power and grace with a murderer’s BY M A LA LA YO USA FZ AI
row of mentors, from Sonny Chiba and Growing up in rural Zimbabwe in
Jackie Chan to Michelle Yeoh. the 1990s, Angeline Murimirwa
If you want to be reminded of your own was a star student, but her fam-
ily couldn’t afford to continue
inadequacies, watch Hiro earn an MBE her education. Around the same
while singing in iambic and doing a flying time, an organization called
handspring onstage in King Lear with the CAMFED (Campaign for Female
Royal Shakespeare Company. Education) started offering
scholarships covering both
With unerring politeness, like a gentle- tuition and housing to a few hun-
man thief, he steals scenes from the likes of dred girls across the country,
Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, and Keanu Reeves. including Angeline. At school,
Angeline often sat down for
With Shogun, he stole the whole damn meals worrying guiltily whether
show. her family had eaten that day.
All of this is belied by the quiet pleasure Today, Angeline is the CEO
of CAMFED, helping millions
of working with Hiro. When he’s on set, ev- of girls go to school in Ghana,
eryone works with a little more reverence. Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and
You think you’re hiring an actor—but you’re Zimbabwe. Just like her, these
young women may also be
actually summoning a force of nature. tomorrow’s leaders.
Educating girls is the founda-
Joy and Nolan are Emmy-nominated tion of healthy and strong societ-
screenwriters and producers ies. But in many places, the
barriers to attending school are
mounting, depriving girls of the
resources to choose their own
futures. Few people are fighting
to solve this crisis as tenaciously
and effectively as Angeline—one
reason among many that her
work won her the prestigious
2024 Africa Education Medal.
Girls’ education leads to
healthier, more prosperous
communities. How do we
end poverty, mitigate clim
change, and tackle so many
our world’s biggest problems
As Angeline says, the closest
thing we have to a silver bullet is
to educate a girl.
Yousafzai is a Nobel Peace Prize
laureate and founder of the
Malala Fund
24 TIME April 28, 2025
 Brazil’s Green Gold Rush
Promotion Agency, plays a crucial role in boosting

B
razil, a nation synonymous with vibrant Data centers are notorious for high energy
rainforests and abundant natural resources, Brazil’s presence in the global economy. By consumption, but under the direction of Viana,
is poised to lead a global green energy fostering export opportunities and attracting ApexBrasil is positioning Brazil as a destination
revolution. Forget fossil fuels -- the future of foreign direct investment, the agency acts as a with an answer to this challenge. “We are a global
Brazilian power is to be found in the country’s strategic force amplifying the nation’s economic leader in renewable energy,” he says. “We already
sunshine, wind, and flowing rivers. With its prowess. “We are committed to helping generate around 90% of our electricity from
unique blend of solid infrastructure and untapped Brazil become a global leader in inclusive and renewable sources. We are pioneers of the new
potential, Brazil is on the verge of becoming sustainable development through a strong focus energy solution matrix.”
a sustainable energy powerhouse, attracting on environmental protection, social equality, and Investors are taking note. The prospect of
investment and setting a global standard. economic growth,” says Jorge Viana, president of exponential growth in Brazil’s solar and wind
The foundation is already in place. Brazil’s ApexBrasil. sectors is attracting significant capital, both
hydropower sector, long a cornerstone of its Brazil is rich in both natural resources and domestic and international. The government’s
energy matrix, provides a stable and reliable human talent, and with ApexBrasil’s support, the commitment to renewable energy targets, together
source of clean electricity. But the real excitement country has managed to capture a substantial with the country’s favorable regulatory framework,
lies in the nation’s burgeoning wind and solar portion of the Latin American business process has created fertile ground for investment.
industries. Vast expanses of land, coupled with outsourcing market. The booming call center sector The promise of long-term returns, coupled
consistent wind patterns and abundant sunlight, alone now employs more than 1.5 million people. with the growing global demand for sustainable
make Brazil an ideal location for large-scale The Brazil data center market is also thriving and energy, makes Brazil a particularly attractive
renewable energy projects. expected to grow almost 10% a year through to proposition. The green gold rush is on, and Brazil is
ApexBrasil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment the end of the decade. poised to strike it rich.

Sustainable development
is at the core of Brazil’s
business strategy
The country’s abundant natural resources are a With a strategic focus on renewable energy,
key asset. Our energy matrix is 50% renewable. green hydrogen and biofuels, Brazil is
Our electric matrix is 90% renewable. It is well-positioned to lead the global energy
therefore no coincidence that Brazil is at the transition. Sustainability is a priority, alongside
forefront of sustainable development. sound investments and strategic partners.
The sustained adoption of renewable sources,
in conjunction with investments in emerging For partnership opportunities in the low carbon
technologies such as hydrogen and energy economy, please visit apexbrasil.com.br/br/en.html
storage, positions Brazil to spearhead the
global energy transition, thereby contributing
substantially to the reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions and sustainable development.
 100
ICONS

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MA R C HI NG FORWA RD
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 100

Ed Sheeran
OP ENHEARTED STORYTELL ER
By Chris Hemsworth
 100
ARTISTS

M O H A MM AD
R AS OUL OF
Revealing Iran
B Y C HR I S T I A N E A M A N P O U R
Mohammad Rasoulof is a
courageous Iranian filmmaker,
putting his freedom, safety, and
even his life on the line for his
craft. His latest film, The Seed
of the Sacred Fig, received
raves at the Cannes Film Fes-
tival and was nominated for an
Oscar. Rasoulof was in prison
for his activism and his art
when the idea for the film came
to him. It’s about the violent
crackdown on Iran’s Woman
Life Freedom movement.
“The experience of this
revolt,” he told me, was “see-
ing its effect on the people
who worked inside the prison.
I had a casual encounter with
a senior prison official who
seemed to recognize me. He
got close to me and told me in
secret how embarrassed he
was about himself, and that he
was even thinking about taking
his life. Then he told me that
his family, his children, kept
criticizing him and asking him
why he collaborates with the
system, with this oppression.”
That admission inspired the
film. Rasoulof’s team inside
Iran recorded in secret, while
he directed remotely. If that
makes him a hero, he credits
the bravery and sacrifice of
Iran’s young people.
Amanpour is a journalist and
CNN’s chief international anchor
30 TIME April 28, 2025 PHOTOGR APH BY COREY NICKOLS
 Kristen Bell
FO RM IDA BLE TALE NT
By Ted Danson
Kristen Bell is one of the most remark-
able human beings I’ve ever known. It
may seem odd to start by labeling her as
human, but it is important to clarify that
although she appears to be from some
other, highly evolved planet, she is not.
She’s human. And I adore her. I met Kris-
Danielle ten while we were shooting Big Miracle in
Alaska, but I really got to know her dur-

Deadwyler ing our four years on The Good Place. On

set, she is a dazzling combination of tal-
ent and efficiency. The efficiency comes
SHINING HER LIGHT with the caveat that no one should stop her
from getting home in time to have dinner
with her kids. While she shines as an actor-
writer-director-producer (and took the
world by storm last fall in Nobody Wants
This), that’s not her true calling. She’s really
here to use her big, beautiful brain to make
the world a better place. Kristen and her
amazing husband Dax Shepard spend a
great deal of their time and money sup-
porting and creating organizations that
R A S O U L O F : J E F F S P I C E R — B A F TA /G E T T Y I M A G E S F O R B A F TA ; D E A D W Y L E R : G E T T Y I M A G E S F O R I M D B ; B E L L : PAT M A R T I N

provide essential items and care for fami-

lies in need across the world. Oh yeah, and
she sings—like an angel! To be able to call
Kristen Bell a friend is a grace upon my life.
Danson is an Emmy-winning actor
 100
ARTISTS

Nicole Scherzinger
CO M MA NDIN G PRE SENCE
By Patti LuPone

I didn’t know what to expect from Jamie

Lloyd’s explosive reimagining of Sunset
Boulevard. While my experience with the
show may not be totally objective, I feel
Mr. Lloyd stripped the musical of its bloat,
of its too-careful re-creation of the film—
and in doing so set a theatrical pace that was
exhilarating. Then there was Nicole Scher-
zinger: courageous, audacious, mesmer-
izing, elegantly beautiful, and ultimately
heartbreaking. Her mad scene alone is
worth the price of admission. I left the the-
ater energized. And it’s made all the more
stunning by watching her transition from a
pop singer to a bona fide Broadway star. All
audiences want is to be assured the actors
onstage are in command. From Nicole’s first
entrance, I sat back in my seat and happily
gave her my complete and undivided atten-
tion. I was riveted. Brava, Diva.
LuPone is a Tony- and Grammy-winning
actor and singer

Miranda
July
AUD ACIOUS AUTH OR
By Molly R

32 TIME April 28, 2025

 YO S H ITO M O
NARA
Exuberant creative

S C H E R Z I N G E R : K A L P E S H L AT H I G R A — T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S/ R E D U X ; J U LY: T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S/ R E D U X ; A N D E R G I L L E N E A — A F P/G E T T Y I M A G E S; N A R A : A N D E R G I L L E N E A — A F P/G E T T Y I M A G E S

BY S TELLA M CC A RT N E Y
I recently had a drink with
Yoshitomo Nara in Tokyo and
left feeling so full of gratitude;
it is such a precious gift to
know this fine gentleman and
the art he has given us. His
work is not only childlike, inno-
cent, and direct—it also carries
messages that we need to
hear, presented in a way we can
digest with humor and clarity.
Nara is an artist who is truly
in the moment, in the spirit.
He is alive. When you look at
his art, you see and feel him.
His love of rock ’n’ roll. How
he views the world through the
eyes of a child who doesn’t
understand why we have
war and not peace; why we
have killed nature instead of
living in harmony with her. He
is a pure jewel.
I feel privileged to know
him and am so proud that he
is getting global recognition,
because I can’t think of anyone
more deserving. After spending
time with Nara, I feel full of his
energy and full of excitement
to get to know him more as the
years unfold.
McCartney is a fashion designer

33
 100
ARTISTS

Hozier
OT H E RWOR LDLY S OU ND
By Noah Kahan
When an artist can create a sound so beau-
tiful and melancholy, so full of symbolism
and truth that you feel they must be from a
different time, or a better world, you can’t
help but believe in magic. Hozier had me
believing from the first note. His music be-
came the barometer for my own: How can
I make a song feel like an extension of my
Adam Scott
soul, the way Hozier does? How can I cre- UNASSUM ING STAR
ate a voice, a language, like he has? By Nick Offerman
It was easy to imagine Hozier as a folk
deity in the forests of Ireland until I met
him. At a festival in 2023, he asked if I
wanted to sing together. I ran into him in
a hotel lobby, in sweaty golf clothes with
a bag of fast food in my hand—not how
I envisioned this moment. Fortunately, he
is as kind as they come. We spoke about
the performance, and I pinched myself as
I stuffed fries in my face on the way up-
stairs. Performing with him was one of the
greatest moments of my life. And when
we collaborated on my song “Northern
Attitude,” I didn’t believe it was truly hap-
pening until I heard his voice on the track.
I’m not sure where my life would’ve
gone if I hadn’t been exposed to his music.
Thank you, Hozier, for sharing your gift
with us mere mortals.
Kahan is a Grammy-nominated musician

34 TIME April 28, 2025

PHOTOGR APH BY ELIZABETH RENSTROM
H O Z I E R : K AY L A D E L A U R A — G E T T Y I M A G E S; S E L L D O R F : S T E P H E N K E N T J O H N S O N /S E L L D O R F A R C H I T E C T S
Deft architect
SELLDORF
A N N A B E L LE

BY AN NIE LEIBO V I T Z
 100
ARTISTS

DA NIE L DA E KI M
Activist actor
B Y J. J . A B R A MS
Daniel Dae Kim contains multi-
tudes. A beloved star of shows
such as The Good Doctor, Hawaii
Five-0, and Lost, Kim is also a suc-
cessful producer and director and
a devoted husband and father.
And he was named one of People’s
Sexiest Men Alive. Twice.
When Kim combines his talent,
skill, and humanity as an advocate
for equality, he becomes a force
of nature. I’ve seen this firsthand.
When we made the Lost pilot, Kim
insisted his character’s arc defy
stereotypes. Years later, when he
learned of a significant pay dispar-
ity between himself and his white
Hawaii Five-0 co-stars, Kim, along
with Grace Park, made the bold
decision to publicly walk away from
the series, demanding equity even
at personal cost. His advocacy
extends beyond Hollywood—in
2021, as anti-Asian violence
surged in the U.S., Kim testified
before the House Judiciary Commit-
tee, calling on lawmakers to take
action. And in 2024, Kim returned
to Broadway to star in Yellow Face,
David Henry Hwang’s acclaimed
Willy
satire exploring Asian American
identity, cultural appropriation, and
the complexities of activism.
Chavarria
A career like Kim’s is rare. But
even rarer is a willingness to use MA KI NG A
success not just for oneself, but STATEMENT
for others—a quality that makes
Daniel Dae Kim a leading voice in
By Becky G
the fight for change.
Abrams is an Emmy-winning
director and producer, and
co-created Lost
36 TIME April 28, 2025
 Rashida Jones
RENAI SSANCE W OMAN
By Amy Poehler
Rashida Jones is a graceful and grounded
example of openhearted flow. I’ve had the
privilege to call Rashida a friend for over 25
years, and there are not enough adjectives
in the world to express her beauty both
inside and out. Her work crosses genres in
a way that few can pull off. She lands jokes
in Parks and Recreation and The Office. She
serves dystopian sci-fi in Sunny and Silo.
She leaves us breathless in The Social Net-
work and Celeste and Jesse Forever. Not to
mention her career as a writer, and as a di-
rector, most recently of the beautiful docu-
mentary short A Swim Lesson.
Rashida treats life like an adventure, and
K I M : R I S TA N F E W I N G S — G E T T Y I M A G E S F O R T H E R E D S E A I N T E R N AT I O N A L F I L M F E S T I VA L ; C H AVA R R I A : P I C T U R E - A L L I A N C E / D PA /A P ; J O N E S : E L I S A B E T H C A R E N — A U G U S T

she generously brings back something that

she has learned along the way. She believes
in the power of music, she stands up for
her friends, and she is constantly search-
ing for the truth. Rashida makes everyone
feel cool, even though we all know she is
the coolest. And she can dance us all under
the table. Big brain, big life, and big love for
Rashida Jones.
Poehler is a writer, producer, and
Emmy-winning actor
 100
ARTISTS

Scarlett
Johansson
GENERATIONAL STAR
By Chris Evans

38 Time April 28, 2025

 Branden
Jacobs-Jenkins
P RO V OCAT I VE PLAYWR IGHT D IE G O L U N A
By Michael R. Jackson
Radiating charisma
The first time I ever saw a play by Branden BY GA EL G AR C ÍA B E R N A L
Jacobs-Jenkins, my jaw hit the floor. I had
never seen anything so sophisticated, ex- K R I S T E N W II G
perimental, and intelligent that also used
black (and Black) humor to such great ef-
Effervescent actor
fect. It was immediately clear to me that I BY M A R IELLE HE LLER
was in the hands of a master. As I’ve got- “She’s one of the best come-
dians of all time, and me and
ten to know Branden over the years, his your dad know her!” How can
genius has only become more apparent. one person have the adoration
He is a creator of trends, not a follower, so of the snobbiest comedy nerds
his work is always original and interesting. in the world, but also of my
4-year-old?
And with an unflappable nature and a gen- Because Kristen Wiig is
uine curiosity about the world, it feels like effervescent. The human
J A C O B S -J E N K I N S : M E R O N T E K I E M E N G H I S TA B — T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S/ R E D U X ; W I I G : D I A D I PA S U P I L— G E T T Y I M A G E S; L U N A : F R E D E R I C J . B R O W N — A F P/G E T T Y I M A G E S

he was simply born with the ability to cre- embodiment of Willy Wonka’s
fizzy lifting drink. With Kristen
ate singular, knockout shows—including in a scene, there is always lift-
An Octoroon, Appropriate, and his latest to off. And not just in comedies.
arrive on Broadway, Purpose. Kristen is one of the best dra-
matic actors out there. She can
Even though he’s younger than me, I break your heart with a look
look up to Branden in so many ways. He is moments after making your
truly in a class of his own, and, as history stomach hurt with laughter.
Kristen isn’t capable of giving a
unfolds, there is no doubt that he will be false performance. She brings
noted as one of the greats. the same dedication and truth-
fulness whether she’s playing
Jackson is a Pulitzer Prize– and Tony Gilly and Dooneese on SNL or
Award–winning playwright and composer Annie in Bridesmaids or Maxine
in Palm Royale.
There’s one problem:
editing her scenes is a ter-
rible task. Picking just one
take feels cruel—like casti
diamonds onto the ground.
Knowing the world will miss
on this version of that line, o
that version of this characte
As I explained to my kids
“She’s probably the funnies
person on the whole planet,
and we’re so lucky we’re here
on earth at the same time as
her. Don’t you think it’s cool
that we know her?”
With her best Gilly smile
and silly little Gilly nod, my
daughter responds “Sorry!”
Heller is a filmmaker
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D O NA LD T RU MP. T E R E SA R I B E RA . TE D RO S A DH A N O M G H E B R E Y E SUS. M U H A M M A D Y U N US. C L AUDI A S HE IN BAUM. K EIR STAR ME R + MO R E
 100

Mo Abudu
FI LM MOGUL
By Idris Elba
 100
LEADERS

J AVIE R MI LE I
Economist in chief
B Y I AN B RE MM E R
In 2023, candidate Javier Milei
offered himself to voters as the
antiestablishment, chainsaw-
wielding bolt from the blue
that Argentina needed to tame
the country’s chronic inflation
and government dysfunction.
Twenty months later, the
doubters—I was one of them—
are in retreat.
Since Milei entered the
Casa Rosada as President,
voters have punished elected
leaders and ruling parties in
India, South Africa, France,
Britain, Japan, Germany, and
the U.S.—in part because
prices have risen. Milei is the
G-20 leader taking the big-
gest risks to turn his country
around .. . and they’re paying
off. Annual inflation in Argen-
tina fell from a jaw-dropping
289% in April 2024 to 66.9% in
February 2025.
Critics say Milei is taming
inflation with austerity mea-
sures that weigh heavily on the
poor, but they’ve been wrong
on that front too: the national
poverty rate fell from 52.9% in
the first half of 2024 to 38.1%
in the second half.
Argentina’s political system
has been badly broken for
decades. Turned out they
needed someone to actually
fix it.
Bremmer is a TIME
editor-at-large and the

Claudia
president of Eurasia
Group and GZERO Medi

Sheinbaum
LA P RESIDE NTA
By Jorge Ramos

44 TIME April 28, 2025

 Donald Trump
UP ENDING U. S. P OLICY
By Brian Bennett
No other modern President has as force-
fully grabbed control of the U.S. government
as Donald Trump. Within weeks of moving
back into the White House, he fired prosecu-
tors and inspectors general who might check
his power, dismissed thousands of federal
workers, stripped away global aid programs,
gutted the Department of Education, and
used wartime powers to send Venezuelan
men from the U.S. to a notorious prison in
El Salvador. He then stepped over Congress
P R E V I O U S PA G E S : C O N T O U R /G E T T Y I M A G E S; T H E S E PA G E S : M I L E I : K E N T N I S H I M U R A — B L O O M B E R G /G E T T Y I M A G E S; S H E I N B A U M : G E T T Y I M A G E S; T R U M P : P H I L I P M O N T G O M E R Y F O R T I M E
to make erratic tariff announcements that
have shaken the global economy and baffled
business leaders and voters. When he hasn’t
been trying to steer American culture to
the right by pressuring companies and uni-
versities to shut down diversity programs,
he’s rattling U.S. allies by threatening to in-
vade Greenland and end U.S. support for
Ukraine. The rest of his term will show just
how much he can bend the country—and
the world—before it breaks.
Bennett is a TIME senior correspondent

45
 100
LEADERS

RU SSE LL
V O U GHT
Agenda architect
B Y ER I C CO RT E L L E S S A
When Donald Trump took office
in January, he was armed with a
weapon none of his predeces-
sors had enjoyed: a shadow
government in waiting, ready
to turn his ideas into policy.
The man who built much of
that infrastructure is Russell
Vought, an architect of Trump’s
shock-and-awe second-term
agenda.
During the Biden years,
Vought led the Center for
Renewing America, a think
tank dedicated to disempow-
ering the administrative state
and laying the groundwork for
Trump 2.0. Now, many of the
Administration’s most aggres-
sive moves can be traced to
Vought’s recommendations:
from dramatically downsizing
the federal bureaucracy and
demoralizing career civil
servants to ending diversity
hiring practices and withhold-
ing congressionally appropri-
ated funds.
As director of the Office
of Management and Budget,
Vought is one of Trump’s clos-
est advisers helping consoli-
date power within the Executive
María
aría
Branch. Vought may keep a low
profile, but he’s the intellectual
lodestar of the revolution
Corina
Machado
upending Washington.
Cortellessa is a TIME senior
correspondent
A VOICE F OR VE NE ZUELA
By Marco Rubio

46 TIME April 28, 2025

 Robert F. Kennedy Jr. AHMED
P U BL I C HEALT H DISR UPT ER AL-SHARAA
By Alice Park Deposing Assad
BY R OBER T FO RD
For years, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has raised
questions about vaccine safety. Now,
as the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, Kennedy oversees the govern-
V O U G H T: A L D R A G O — B L O O M B E R G /G E T T Y I M A G E S; M A C H A D O : A L F R E D O L A S R Y R — G E T T Y I M A G E S; K E N N E DY: D AV I D W I L L I A M S F O R T I M E ; R I B E R A : T H I E R R Y M O N A S S E — G E T T Y I M A G E S; A L- S H A R A A : A R E F TA M M A W I — A F P/G E T T Y I M A G E S

ment’s key health agencies, including the

Centers for Disease Control and Preven-
tion (CDC) and the National Institutes of T E R E S A R IB E RA
Health (NIH). Kennedy believes that par- Climate
ents should choose whether to immunize
their children, which contradicts the sci-
commissioner
ence behind population immunity. Since BY INGE R AND ER SE N
January, a measles outbreak originating in The science is clear: unless we
act, and act fast, the world will
Texas has sickened hundreds and led to miss our opportunity to effec-
the first deaths from the disease in the U.S. tively combat climate change.
in years. Meanwhile, there have been cuts Europe is already feeling the
and layoffs in Kennedy’s HHS, the CDC impacts of a rapidly warming
world. From deadly heat waves
has removed immunization messages, and to devastating floods, econo-
researchers requesting grants from the mies and livelihoods are under
NIH have been warned to avoid referenc- threat as the Continent is
warming faster than anywhere
ing “mRNA,” the technology behind the else in the world.
COVID-19 vaccines. Two months into his Leadership has never been
role, Kennedy is already having an outsize more important—or more
complex to navigate in such
impact on U.S. health care. turbulent times. European
Commission Executive Vice
Park is a TIME senior correspondent President Teresa Ribera is a
leader who not only deeply
understands these challenges,
but also understands how
to unite people during
challenging times. I have sat
beside her in negotiations
and seen her sharp focus
on ambitious solutions that
benefit people and planet.
A Europe with a vibrant green
economy, boosting jobs at
home and abroad, benefits
not only Europe but also the
world. If anyone can usher in
a clean, just transition that
addresses climate change and
makes Europe competitive
in a fractured world, it is
Teresa Ribera.
Andersen is executive director
of the U.N. Environment
Programme
 100
LEADERS

AN D REA
VI D A U R RE
Clearing the air
B Y R O B E R T D. B U L LAR D
Today, ZIP codes are still one
of the most potent predictors
of an individual’s health and
well-being. Andrea Vidaurre has
had a front-row seat as emis-
sions suffocated her community
in California’s Inland Empire
E LO N MU S K as 70,000-plus freight trucks
crisscrossed its highways each
Slashing government day. The torch was lit for her leg
of the environmental-justice
BY S I M ON S H U S T E R marathon relay.
As co-founder of the People’s
Collective for Environmental
Justice, Andrea has a unique
ability to find the intersection of
policy and people. She’s used
this skill to advocate for regula-
tions that limit trucking and rail
emissions, though such policies
face an uphill battle under the
new U.S. Administration. Her
work shines a light on the com-
pounding inequities that margin-
alized populations are often left
to shoulder, and amplifies what
has become a rallying cry for her
community: “We’re just trying to
breathe.”
Andrea Vidaurre is an
environmental-justice change
agent at the forefront of
safeguarding people’s rights
to clean air, and she is an
inspiration.
Bullard is the director of the
Bullard Center for Environmental
and Climate Justice at Texas
Southern University

PHOTOGR APH BY FABEHA MONIR

 Keir Starmer
SHIF TI NG THE TIDE
By Ursula von der Leyen
As a young human-rights lawyer, Keir
Starmer fought against the death penalty
in courts across the world. Throughout his
career, he worked to safeguard the values
of justice and democracy—even taking on
Vladimir Putin’s government, represent-
ing the widow of murdered Kremlin critic
Alexander Litvinenko. Those same princi-
ples have guided him since he became the
U.K.’s Prime Minister this past July.

Muhammad
Nowhere is this clearer than in his stead-
fast support for a sovereign and demo-

Yunus
cratic Ukraine. Under his leadership, the
M U S K : K E N N Y H O L S T O N — B L O O M B E R G /G E T T Y I M A G E S; V I D A U R R E : U L I C E S D E L T O R O ; Y U N U S : B L O O M B E R G /G E T T Y I M A G E S; S TA R M E R : B E N J A M I N C R E M E L— W PA P O O L /G E T T Y I M A G E S

U.K. has signed a 100-year partnership

with the government in Kyiv and stepped
L AY ING NEW FO UN DAT IONS up military aid. He has also played an im-
By Hillary Rodham Clinton portant role diplomatically maintaining
global support for Ukraine. With the world
in a period of geopolitical turmoil, both
the E.U. and the U.K. recognize the need
to take responsibility for the security of
our continent. As we embark on building
this new security architecture, I am glad to
have someone with Keir Starmer’s dedica-
tion and strong principles as a partner.
Von der Leyen is European
Commission President

49
 100
LEADERS

L EE J AE- MY U N G
Charting a new path
B Y C HAR L I E CA M PB E L L
Nothing about Lee Jae-myung’s
political rise has been easy.
Born the fifth of seven chil-
dren to a farming family, Lee
walked 10 miles round trip to
elementary school daily, and
later had his wrist crushed in a
pressing machine while work-
ing underage in a factory. After
stints as a mayor and governor,
Lee lost South Korea’s 2022
presidential election to Yoon
Suk-yeol, and was stabbed
in the neck two years later by
a deranged critic. Now, the
unlikely arc of Lee’s story
seems poised to end with his
becoming his country’s next
leader. Lee led the charge for
Yoon’s impeachment following
the then President’s declara-
tion of martial law in December,
livestreaming himself climbing
the National Assembly fence
to bypass a police blockade to
help repeal the order. As leader
of South Korea’s opposition,
Lee is the clear favorite to win
the coming election, though his
reward will be dealing with an
increasingly belligerent North
Korea and an escalating trade
war. Given the challenges he’s
already overcome, there’s little
chance Lee is cowed. “There
are many ways that you can
learn about the world,” Lee told

Megyn Kelly
TIME in 2022. “But actually
living it yourself, experiencing
it, is a different thing.”
Campbell is a TIME
editor-at-large MEDI A MA GN ATE
By Lara Trump

50 TIME April 28, 2025

 Friedrich Merz
P R E S CI ENT POL ITIC IAN
By Mette Frederiksen N O A A R G A M AN I
Europe stands at a crucial juncture in its Fighting for the
history. Few articulate this better than Ger- hostages’ return
many’s Friedrich Merz. BY D OUGLA S EM H O F F
Europe must not only become stronger
L E E : L E E J I N - M A N — A P ; K E L LY: A A R O N S C H W A R T Z— B L O O M B E R G /G E T T Y I M A G E S; M E R Z : A L E X A N D R A B E I E R — A F P/G E T T Y I M A G E S; L U T N I C K : W I N M C N A M E E — G E T T Y I M A G E S; A R G A M A N I : L E V R A D I N — PA C I F I C P R E S S/ Z U M A P R E S S/A L A M Y

and more adept at addressing critical chal-

lenges such as security and defense, the
future of Ukraine, enhancing competitive-
ness, accelerating clean energy, and man-
aging migration. It must also act swiftly.
From the outset, Merz has been remark- HOWARD
ably clear on these priorities. His actions
demonstrate a commitment to making
L U T N IC K
bold and important decisions to bolster Pushing tariffs
Germany’s defense—and, by extension, BY E RIC C ORTELLE SS A
Europe’s. A year ago, Howard Lutnick was
There’s a German saying: “Der frühe a Wall Street power player. Run-
ning the financial-services firm
Vogel fängt den Wurm.” (Or: The early Cantor Fitzgerald, he amassed
bird catches the worm.) It underscores an estimated net worth of more
the importance of timeliness and than $2 billion. Now he’s at
the center of Donald Trump’s
making the most of one’s opportunities. Washington. As the transition
Friedrich Merz is an early bird, and I am co-chair, he helped to shape
confident he will leave a positive and the Administration, vetting
staffers and filling the Cabinet
enduring impact, ensuring a strong and with billionaires like himself.
resolute Europe. As U.S. Commerce Secre-
tary, Lutnick was one of the
Frederiksen is the Prime Minister main officials who urged Trump
of Denmark toward a maximalist approach
on tariffs, which triggered a
global financial panic. He’s at
times drawn the ire of White
House aides and business
leaders, and some suspect he
could take the fall if the nation
enters a recession. Others
see Lutnick, 63, as trying to
expand his influence. He’s
made moves to fold the U.S.
Postal Service, an independent
agency, into the Commerce
Department. Either way,
Lutnick’s proximity to power
reflects one of Trump’s core
bets: that success in business
can translate into success in
government.
Cortellessa is a TIME
senior correspondent
 100
LEADERS

Reshma
J . D. V A NCE
Power player Kewalramani
B Y M A SS I MO CA L A B RE SI EX TRAORDINARY INNOVATOR
By Jason Kelly
Reshma Kewalramani’s journey to become
the first female CEO of a large, public U.S.
D U M A B O KO biotechnology company after immigrating
Shifting gears from India at age 11 embodies what makes
B Y V IV I EN N E W ALT America great. In 2018, her exceptional ca-
Few predicted the seismic elec- reer in medical research led her to become
tion upset that made Duma the chief medical officer of Vertex Pharma-
Boko President of Botswana. ceuticals. Within two years, she was CEO.
Last October, the 55-year-old
Harvard-trained lawyer ousted Reshma sat on my board at Ginkgo Bio-
the party that had ruled the works, and her insights proved invaluable:
nation of 2.5 million people she knows how to effectively push the lim-

VA N C E : A N N A M O N E Y M A K E R — G E T T Y I M A G E S; B O K O : J O N A S R O O S E N S — B E L G A / R E U T E R S; K E W A L R A M A N I : A R A M B O G H O S I A N — A N T H E M M U LT I M E D I A F O R V E R T E X P H A R M A C E U T I C A L S
since its independence from
Britain nearly 60 years ago. its of science while navigating the drug-
But in hindsight, the out- approval process. She told us that when
come seems almost inevitable. you are doing something innovative, if it
In a democratic, stable country
with vast diamond reserves
sounds crazy or impossible, that’s OK—it’s
and the world’s largest popula- only because no one has done it before.
tion of elephants, voters were Under her leadership, Vertex secured
increasingly frustrated over
political corruption, and the
the first-ever FDA approval for a CRISPR-
huge influence of multina- based therapy, which treats sickle cell dis-
tional giant De Beers, whose ease by correcting patients’ own DNA mu-
diamond trading accounts for
more than 80% of Botswana’s
tations. Our bodies speak the language
foreign exports. World diamond of DNA. Our best drugs in the future will
prices have been plummeting, use DNA to talk directly back to our bod-
as lower-cost lab-grown stones
flooded the market.
ies, leading to many more cures. Reshma
Despite his impressive vic- is the kind of leader who can deliver that
tory at the polls, Boko has no extraordinary future—it only seems crazy
easy way to reverse the decline because no one’s done it before.
and fulfill his campaign prom-
ises, which include doubling Kelly is the co-founder and CEO
the minimum wage, expanding
social benefits for new moth- of Ginkgo Bioworks
ers and seniors, and creating
thousands of new jobs. He
says he is eyeing cannabis
and solar-power industries
as two paths to better times.
Whatever the recourse, he told
the country bluntly: “We can no
onger afford to depend on a
single commodity.”
Even in Botswana, dia-
monds might not be forever.
Walt is a TIME correspondent
in Paris
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 100
LEADERS

Tedros
Adhanom
Ghebreyesus
GUARDIA N OF GLO BAL H EALTH
By Larry Brilliant

54 TIME April 28, 2025

 COVER STORE

E N J OY T I M E A T H O M E
S H O P SO M E O F T I M E ’S M O S T I C O N I C C O V E R A R T

T I M E C OV E R S T O R E . C O M
A N D RE W F O R R E S T. RO S É . BR E A N NA ST E WA RT. RO B IN WA L L K IM M E R E R . NA P H E E SA C OL LI E R. DA RI O AMOD E I + MOR E
 100

Demis
Hassabis
AI LAUREATE
 100
PIONEERS

B R EA NN A
S TEW ART A ND
N AP H E ES A
CO L LI E R
Growing the game
B Y A LE X MO RG A N
As an investor in Unrivaled,
the women’s 3-on-3 profes-
sional basketball league
launched in January of this
year, I have so much respect
for Napheesa Collier and
Breanna Stewart, the league’s
founders. Their ability to con-
tinue to shine in the WNBA—in
fact, Phee and Stewie faced
off in the 2024 finals—while
building the next big thing
blows me away. The dynamic
duo stuck their necks out
there to give players a chance
to make money in the U.S. in
the offseason, and not have
to move their families across
the world.
Unrivaled makes female
athletes think about everything
differently. It’s not always just
take the salary and sign on
the dotted line and be happy.
Sometimes you can just do
it yourself better. That’s what
Phee and Stewie did here.
The launch of Unrivaled will
go down in history as a pivotal
moment for continuing the
tidal wave of momentum in
women’s sports.
Morgan is a World Cup and
Olympic champion soccer
player and entrepreneur

58 TIME April 28, 2025 PHOTOGR APH BY BR AD TRENT

 Cordelia Bähr
SUIN G FOR CLI MATE JU ST ICE
By Katharine Hayhoe
If climate justice had a formula, it could
be this: one tenacious lawyer plus 2,500
determined senior women equals a ruling
Robert that redefined climate accountability.
When Zurich-based attorney Cordelia

Montgomery Bähr realized elderly women were dying

at higher rates from extreme heat, she
didn’t wait for politicians to act—she took
TR ANSPLA NT T RA ILBL AZER them to court. As lead counsel for Klima-
Seniorinnen Schweiz, she led an eight-
year fight to hold the Swiss government
accountable for failing to protect its most
vulnerable citizens from climate change.
And she won.
In a historic ruling last year, the Euro-
pean Court of Human Rights declared that
inadequate climate action by a government
violates fundamental human rights to pro-
tection from the “serious adverse effects of
climate change on lives, health, well-being
and quality of life.” This sets a new legal
S T E W A R T: D AV I D B E R D I N G — G E T T Y I M A G E S; C O L L I E R : S T E P H C H A M B E R S — G E T T Y I M A G E S; B Ä H R : S H E R V I N E N A F I S S I — G R E E N P E A C E

- precedent for individuals to hold their gov-

ernments accountable. With science, law,
and relentless determination, Bähr didn’t
just fight for justice—she redefined it.
Hayhoe is a climate scientist, a professor
at Texas Tech University, and chief scientist
for the Nature Conservancy

59
 100
PIONEERS

T OM A S C IHL AR
A N D W E S L EY
SUNDQUIST
Innovative scientists
B Y ALICE PARK
Today, antiviral medications can
turn HIV, a once fatal infection,
into a chronic condition. None-
theless, the cocktail of pills
remains out of reach for many—
and lapses in the daily regimen
make them less effective.
Wesley Sundquist, a biochemist
at University of Utah, and Tomas
Cihlar, a virologist at Gilead, a
biopharmaceutical company,
have labored for more than a
dozen years to turn one antiviral
treatment, lenacapavir, into a
twice-a-year therapy to prevent
HIV infection in those at high
risk. Sundquist laid the ground-
work in studying one of HIV’s
proteins, the capsid, which cre-
ates a protective shell around
the virus’ genome; Cihlar visited
his labs and was impressed
enough to take his discoveries
to Gilead. There, his team
found ways to extend the effect
of the drug over six months,
meaning infected patients only
receive two injections a year to
treat HIV. Researchers are now
studying lenacapavir in people
who are not HIV positive but
are at high risk of exposure. If
approved, it would be the first
twice-a-year injected drug to
prevent HIV. Early results show
great promise.
Park is a TIME senior
correspondent
Andrew
Forrest
TR AN S F O R M ATIV E TITAN
By Fatih Birol

60 TIME April 28, 2025

 Julie Burkhart
INCREASI NG ACCESS
By Charlotte Alter
Julie Burkhart has been fighting for de-
cades to provide abortions in some of the
most rural and conservative areas of the
U.S. After Wyoming banned abortion in
2022, she joined other advocates to chal-
lenge the ban, and opened Wellspring
Health Access, the state’s only full-service
abortion clinic. In 2024, a judge ruled in
Wellspring’s favor, declaring the near total
ban unconstitutional. But in February, the
governor signed new legislation requiring
abortion clinics to be licensed as ambula-
tory surgical centers, forcing Wellspring
to stop providing abortions while it chal-
lenges the regulation in court. The clinic
is still open, taking phone calls and talking
to patients even if it can’t provide abor-
tion services.
Burkhart is no stranger to the ups and
downs of this fight—she has faced arson,
death threats, and legal obstacles while
starting clinics in Wyoming, Kansas, and
Oklahoma. She’s now the co-owner of
Hope Clinic in Illinois, which has seen a
700% increase in out-of-state patients
C I H L A R : G I L E A D S C I E N C E S I N C .; S U N D Q U I S T: U N I V E R S I T Y O F U TA H ; B U R K H A R T: D I N A L I T O V S K Y— R E D U X

since abortion restrictions went into effect

in neighboring states. Burkhart is devoted
to making sure patients can get abortion
care, no matter where they live.
Alter is a TIME senior correspondent
 100
PIONEERS

LIANG WENFENG
Making AI
more efficient
B Y C H A RL I E CA M PB E L L
It took a while for Silicon Valley
to comprehend exactly what
Liang Wenfeng had achieved.
But soon markets were reeling,
U.S. tech dominance was being
openly questioned, and Liang
had been propelled to global
renown. By crunching data
in a more efficient manner,

Rosé
Liang’s obscure AI startup
DeepSeek released a genera-
tive AI platform in January that
was comparable to OpenAI’s
ChatGPT while using just a SPARKLING S INGER
fraction of the bleeding-edge
chips produced by Nvidia, which
itself quickly lost $600 billion
in market value, the largest
drop for a single company in
U.S. stock-market history.
Meanwhile, the buzz around
DeepSeek’s low-cost AI helped
add billions to the value of tech
stocks in China and Hong Kong.
By February, DeepSeek had sur-
passed ChatGPT to become the
No. 1 free app on Apple’s U.S.
app store, and Liang, who grew
up in a tiny village in China’s
southern province of Guang-
dong and studied computer
science at Zhejiang University,
was among the Chinese tech
titans invited to meet Chinese
President Xi Jinping. “We’re not
looking to make a quick profit,”
Liang, 40, told Chinese media.
“We want to get out in front of
the technology and help drive
the entire ecosystem forward.”
Campbell is a TIME
editor at large

62 TIME April 28, 2025

 Allison Sesso
FO RGI VING D EBT
By Adam Conover
Every year, tens of thousands of Ameri-
cans get sick or die for the crime of being
unable to afford medical coverage, and
over 100 million currently struggle with
medical debt. Allison Sesso runs one of
the only organizations that effectively ad-
dress this crisis: Undue Medical Debt
buys medical debt for pennies on the dol-
lar, then does something unheard of: for-
gives it. I know—what a concept! As of
2024, the organization had forgiven more
than $14 billion in debt, relieving over
9 million people of that burden. It’s now
partnering with local and state govern-
ments across the U.S. to make an even
greater impact.
Allison’s organization not only commits
a stunning act of generosity, it also brings
attention and awareness to a system we
created, and can just as easily undo. In an
era of lip service to making a better world,
her work actually takes steps toward bring-
ing that world into being.
Conover is a writer and comedian
L I A N G : V C G /G E T T Y I M A G E S; R O S É : G Q K O R E A ; S E S S O : K R I S T I N K A R K O S K A

PHOTOGR APH BY KIM HEE JUNE 63

 100
PIONEERS

Robin Wall Kimmerer

S HA RI NG ABU NDANC E
By Elizabeth Gilbert
Much has already been written about the
unlikely success of the scientist, natu-
ralist, and Indigenous elder Robin Wall
Kimmerer. Braiding Sweetgrass, her
meditation upon the interconnected-
ness of humans and nature, became a
wildly successful best seller seemingly
out of nowhere—despite having no mass-
marketing campaign and an author with
little social media presence.
But her success has never felt “un-
likely” to me. Twelve years ago, after read-
ing her first book, Gathering Moss, I took
a pilgrimage to upstate New York to meet
Robin in person. I had no choice; the
beauty and power of her writing pulled me
straight to her door. Since then, millions of
readers have experienced that same mag-
netic pull—most recently with her newest
offering, The Serviceberry. Just as nature
finds a way, Robin has found her devoted
readers. And during a time of tremendous
environmental fear and uncertainty, we
have found, to our immeasurable relief,
our master teacher.
Gilbert is a best-selling author

Myles
Smith
INSP IRI NG VO ICE
By Shabooz

64 TIME April 28, 2025

 DARIO A MODE I
AI’s bridge builder
BY AS HTON KUTCH E R
As the CEO of Anthropic, Dario
Amodei navigates the precipice
between technological revolu-
tion and ethical obligation. His
physics background provides
the analytical foundation,
while his neuroscience training
informs his understanding
of intelligence itself—skills
perfectly calibrated for our
moment of artificial awakening.
His heart also plays a profound
role in how he architects the
future: he is kind, and that
matters given the role he’s
playing in our world. Amodei

K I M M E R E R : R O S E M M O R T O N — T H E W A S H I N G T O N P O S T/G E T T Y I M A G E S; S M I T H : R E D F E R N S/G E T T Y I M A G E S; A M O D E I : F A B R I C E C O F F R I N I — A F P/G E T T Y I M A G E S

doesn’t just build advanced
AI; he designs guardrails for it.
While others race to deploy ever
more powerful systems, Amodei
deliberately applies the brakes,
insisting that safety precede
capability—a radical position in
Silicon Valley’s “move fast and
break things” culture.
His recent essay “Machines
of Loving Grace” reveals a
leader grappling with AI’s dual
potential for liberation and dis-
ruption. This physics Ph.D. can
explain quantum uncertainty
and apply similar principles
to navigating AI’s probabilistic
future, while maintaining that
AI will be in service to a human
quest rather than humans being
in service to the quest of artifi-
cial general intelligence.
Amodei’s approach resem-
bles a master bridge builder who
tests each support beam metic-
ulously before allowing a single
traveler to cross—knowing that
what’s being constructed will be
humanity’s most consequential
crossing yet.
Kutcher, an actor and producer,
is a co-founder of Sound Ven-
tures, which invests in Anthropic
65
L O R NE M I CH A E L S. M IU C C IA P RA DA . D OU G M CM IL LO N. T ED SARA NDOS. S I M ONE B I LES + M ORE
 100

Serena
Williams
THE GA ME CH ANGER
By Allyson Felix

-
 100
TITANS

ST EPH E N
SQ U ERI
Values-driven
decisionmaker
B Y ED B AS T I AN
tephen Squeri can be best
ummed up in one word:
magnanimous. Since he took
he helm of American Express
in 2018, Steve has demon-
strated the impact a leader
B ON NIE Y CHA N with clear vision and deeply

Trading up
rooted values can have on a
company. He is devoted to the
BY C HA R L I E C A M PB E L L notion of growth with purpose,
which is evident in the invest-
ments American Express has
made in expanding its global
footprint, its dedication to its
partners, and its passion for
customer service.
It all flows from Steve’s
commitment to doing the
right thing for people—AmEx
customers, employees, and
the communities they serve—
which, in turn, is one of many
reasons I’m proud that Delta
is such a close partner. Steve
is passionate about shaping
future generations, whether
it be improving access to
values-based education,
galvanizing support for those
battling cancer, or growing
communities through AmEx’s
unwavering support for small
business. Bottom line: where
Steve leads, excellence is sure
to follow.
Bastian is CEO of Delta Air Lines

PHOTOGR APH BY AMIT ISR AELI

 Alex Karp
SECURITY EVANGEL IST
By Nikhil Kumar
As Palantir, the data-analytics giant that
works closely with U.S. armed forces and
intelligence agencies, has grown in value
on the stock market, its chief executive,
Alex Karp, has become the embodiment
of a new kind of Silicon Valley billionaire:
an unashamed techno-nationalist who
evangelizes Western power. In a Febru-
ary letter to his investors, he cited Samuel
Huntington, the late political scientist who
authored The Clash of Civilizations: “the
Miuccia rise of the West was not made possible
‘by the superiority of its ideas or values

Prada or religion ... but rather by its superior-

ity in applying organized violence,’ ” Karp
wrote, quoting Huntington. “He contin-
C H A N : V E R N O N Y U E N — N U R P H O T O/ R E U T E R S; S Q U E R I : S T E P H A N I E K E I T H — B L O O M B E R G /G E T T Y I M A G E S; K A R P : R YA N D AV I D B R O W N — T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S/ R E D U X

CR EAT IVE FOR C E ued: ‘Westerners often forget this fact;

By Baz Luhrmann non-Westerners never do.’ ” The aggressive
language has won Karp—who recently co-
authored the New York Times best seller
The Technological Republic: Hard Power,
Soft Belief, and the Future of the West—
legions of followers. Meanwhile, business
is booming. In the same shareholder letter,
Karp announced that Palantir’s revenue in
2024’s final quarter had increased by 36%
over the corresponding period in 2023.
Kumar is a TIME executive editor

69
 100
TITANS

B L A K E L I V E LY
Taking action
BY S HER RILYN IFILL
I don’t know the Blake Lively
of the red carpet. Or the Met
Gala. I never watched Gossip
Girl. The Blake Lively I know
is a philanthropist and a
student of our country’s most
intractable problems. She and
her husband Ryan Reynolds
reached out in 2019 to make
a contribution to the NAACP
Legal Defense Fund. I had

Lorne Michaels
been getting a few of these
calls, as our work fighting
against voter suppression and
M ONUM ENTAL WI T police brutality was receiving
national attention. I’m always
By Will Ferrell curious about the kind of
It’s still hard for me to believe I know research famous people do
before they make that cold call
Lorne Michaels. It is also still hard for me to offer their support. The ones
to comprehend that I ever got picked by I have remained in relationship
Lorne to be on the show. with are those who, like Blake,
really did their homework. I
I remember before my first episode admired immediately her curi-
of Saturday Night Live, there was a party osity, and her sincere work to
where the cast got our photos taken for the understand the conditions that
shape this country. I remember
opening credits. We were all very nervous, an early conversation in which
and Lorne came up to me and told me how she expressed frustration that
funny he thought I was. How I reminded so much of our nation’s history
was not part of the instruction
him of Chevy Chase and he thought I she had received as a student.
would do well. Well, guess what? I believed Her commitment to filling those
him. In one moment, Lorne filled me gaps—and becoming the most
fully informed and prepared
with confidence that allowed me to think citizen—is what I appreciate
I could be on national television—as part most about her. Blake is a seri-
of the show I had always dreamed about, ous person. She’s a risk taker.
the show that has defined American com- And she’s committed to moving

edy for 50 years. Lorne has seen something

special in every one of us who’ve had the
this country forward. For her
children. And for mine.
Percival
Everett
Ifill is a civil rights lawyer
thrill of saying, “Live from New York, it’s
Saturday night!” He cultivates new talent
and gives us the ability to express ourselves RADI CAL STORYTELL ER
in ways we didn’t know were possible. It’s
By Cord Jefferson
that ability, paired with his format, that
makes us all come back again and again to
watch on Saturday night.
And yes, it is live. Still.
Ferrell is a comedian, actor, and
Emmy-winning producer
70 TIME April 28, 2025
M I C H A E L S : J E S S E D I T T M A R — R E D U X ; L I V E LY: G A R E T H C AT T E R M O L E — G E T T Y I M A G E S; E V E R E T T: DY L A N C O U LT E R — G U A R D I A N / E Y E V I N E / R E D U X ; S A R A N D O S : C H A R L E Y G A L L AY— G E T T Y I M A G E S F O R N E T F L I X
TED SARANDOS
Savvy streaming
executive
BY S HONDA R HIME S
Fearless. That’s the only way
I can describe Ted Sarandos.
Fearlessly smart, fearlessly
innovative, fearlessly truthful.
In an industry quick to offer
platitudes, he leans into
the truth.
Maybe it’s instinct, maybe
it’s all the data he has backing
him up, but Ted’s truth-telling
makes ideas better. And when
you work with him, your ideas
matter. What he’s built over the
past 25 years is astonishing—
a house of creativity that is
constantly heading into the
future. Ted’s genuine love of
television and movies has
helped him turn Netflix, and the
streaming industry as a whole,
into something that none of us
can live without.
I love that I am along for
the ride.
Rhimes is the CEO of
Shondaland and an Emmy-
nominated producer and writer

71
 100
TITANS

Lisa Su
S T RATEGI
TEGI C CEO
C EO
By Andrew
ndrew Ng
N

PHOTOGR APH BY GUERIN BLASK FOR TIME

 Joe Rogan
C H A NGI NG TH E CO NVER SAT ION
By Mike Rowe
I’d like to tell you that I enjoyed every
moment of my interview with Joe Rogan, E D B A S T I AN
but that wouldn’t be entirely true. Because Respected leader
Joe Rogan didn’t interview me, he talked BY K EN CHEN AULT
to me. For over three hours, we had our-
selves a chat. The same kind of chat he’s
had with comedians and kickboxers, in- MARK
ventors and iconoclasts, dilettantes and ZUCKERBERG
devotees, physicians and politicians; an
authentic conversation with no agenda, Going all in
fueled by his own insatiable curiosity, and BY D RE W HOUSTON
all the time in the world. Mark Zuckerberg has always
Never mind podcasting—Joe Rogan had the courage to bet boldly
on the future. Long before
has changed broadcasting. His conversa- others saw the potential, he
tions have moved markets, influenced
R O G A N : J E F F B O T TA R I — Z U F F A L L C/G E T T Y I M A G E S; Z U C K E R B E R G : J A S O N H E N R Y— B L O O M B E R G /G E T T Y I M A G E S; B A S T I A N : B R I D G E T B E N N E T T — B L O O M B E R G /G E T T Y I M A G E S

invested aggressively in virtual

elections, and introduced millions of and augmented reality, later
staking Meta’s identity on a
people to countless subjects they didn’t vision others couldn’t yet see.
know they were interested in. He has de- More recently, his belief in
fied our short attention spans and given open-source AI—exemplified
by Meta’s groundbreaking
his guests—for better and worse—enough Llama models, downloaded
time to reveal their true selves. In other more than a billion times
words, by letting people talk, he’s chang- worldwide since the initiative’s
launch in 2023—has reshaped
ing the way we listen. the industry, democratizing
And that is changing everything. innovation and making AI more
accessible and affordable for
Rowe, a TV and podcast host, is the all of us.
creator of Dirty Jobs and the CEO of the What I admire most is his
unwavering conviction. Mark
mikeroweWORKS Foundation never does anything halfway,
in business or in life—whether
mastering mixed martial arts,
big-wave surfing in Kauai, or
making sure he’s home in time
to tuck his three daughters
into bed.
When Mark believes in
something—a technology,
a principle, a bold fashion
choice—he commits com-
pletely, guided by vision rather
than convention. This fearless
resolve fuels Meta’s mission
of building the future of human
connection.
Houston is the co-founder and
CEO of Dropbox and a member
of Meta’s board of directors
 100
TITANS

J ON AT HAN
G R EE NBL ATT
Combatting
antisemitism
BY VA N J O N E S
Protecting the Jewish people
has never been an easy job.
But when threats escalated,
Jonathan Greenblatt trans-
formed the Anti-Defamation
League (ADL) into an indis-
pensable shield. In 2024
alone, the ADL briefed 17,000
law-enforcement officers,
analyzed 10 million extremist
messages, and processed
17,000 antisemitic incident
reports. It’s helped federal
agencies and tech companies,
and provided education materi-
als for children. Greenblatt
has challenged antisemitism

Simone
on both sides of the aisle, and
maintained his commitment
to civil rights. After pushing for
a campus crackdown on anti-
semitism, he spoke out against
deporting student protesters.
His critics have come from
Biles
both left and right. But so have
the threats to Jewish safety.
RAIS ING THE BAR
In a moment that demands By Aly Raisman
operational excellence and
moral clarity, Greenblatt deliv-
ers both.
Jones, a political commentator,
is the founder of
DreamMachine.org
74 TIME April 28, 2025
 Doug McMillon
STEERI NG A GOLIATH
By Indra Nooyi
It’s not easy to run a global retailer these
days with online shopping, home delivery,
fast fashion, and AI all buffeting your tra-
ditional big-box retail business. Doug Mc-
Millon has shown us all it can be done—
reviving the brick-and-mortar with an
eye to improving the in-store experience
while investing in e-commerce, replicating
the successful “everyday low prices” U.S.
model globally, and rebuilding the talent
base in the company for the future. This is
why Walmart is the behemoth it is today,
and why its market value would make it
among the largest economies in the world.
But Doug is more than that. He has a deep
sense of purpose. He views his associates
as the key performance drivers and treats
them with respect, he invests to improve
G R E E N B L AT T: J E M A L C O U N T E S S — G E T T Y I M A G E S F O R A N T I - D E F A M AT I O N L E A G U E ; B I L E S : A N YC H A N C E /G E T T Y I M A G E S; M C M I L L O N : C H R I S T I E H E M M K L O K

Walmart’s environmental footprint, and

judiciously engages in larger societal issues.
Behind his approachable smile lies an in-
credible leader, deeply committed to his
family, faith, community, and country.
Nooyi is the former chair and CEO
of PepsiCo

75
L A RRY FIN K . JO N M. C HU. MIC KA LE NE THOMA S. SA ND RA DÍAZ. SKYE P ER RYMAN + MOR E
 100

Snoop Dogg
SUP ERF LY SPI RIT
By Hoda Kotb
 100
INNOVATORS

Christian Happi
M A K IN G THE I MPOS SIB LE POSSI BL E
By Pardis Sabeti
Christian Happi has been described as a
force of nature.
For 20 years, I’ve seen that force
up close—a limitless energy and will, and
dedication to science and improving lives,
that makes the impossible possible. It over-
came harrowing obstacles as we pursued a
deadly virus, Lassa, in rural Nigeria. It built
the African Centre of Excellence for Ge-
nomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID)
to educate future generations of African
scientists and launched its Sentinel pro-
gram to prevent and mitigate outbreaks.
And it led ACEGID and Sentinel in re-
sponding to COVID-19, Mpox, and Ebola,
training thousands of frontline scientists
from across Africa, and creating a world-
class genome center in rural Nigeria.
Christian won’t rest until every child is
safe from infectious disease, with African
Ma Yansong
scientists leading the charge—because a TRUE VISI ONARY
force like his doesn’t just make history, it By George Lucas
shapes the future.
Sabeti, a computational geneticist, is
a member of the Broad Institute of MIT
and Harvard

78 TIME April 28, 2025

 W E N DY
F R E E D MA N
Measuring the cosmos
BY J A NNA LEVIN
Imagine an infinite universe
expanding in all directions.
Visualization is impossible.
Questions abound. But cos-
mologist Wendy Freedman is
able to conceive of these heady
abstractions in concrete, physi-
cal terms. Remarkably, she
has also managed to measure
the actual expansion of the
universe, observing its rate and
its acceleration since the early
universe. Seen in her measure-
ments is the pressure of dark
energy driving the expansion
ever faster. From afar, as a
graduate student in the ’90s, I
watched Wendy’s quiet tenacity
and astounding composure as
she presented her results, then
controversial, to a pressurized
storm of critique. Calmly, she
described the observations
and her conclusions as she
found herself at the epicenter
of one of modern cosmology’s
most significant debates—
that of the universe’s age.
A consistent history of our
universe began to emerge with
a clarity that exposed other
conundrums. Today, Wendy is
again at the center of a tension
thrumming at the nexus of our
understanding of the early
WONG/UNIVERSIT Y OF CHICAGO

universe, its expansion, and

the cosmos as we observe, all
the while exhibiting her master-
ful calm.
Levin is an astrophysicist

79
 100
INNOVATORS

S AN DRA DÍ A Z
Tallying nature
B Y ELI Z A B E T H
MA R U MA MRE M A
Good teachers not only know
the number of children in their
nursery, they also understand
the traits of every individual
child and the dynamics of inter-
actions in class. What a good
teacher does in a classroom,
ecologist Sandra Díaz does for
the natural world.
Counting what is out there
in the natural world seems
simple, but it’s an important
endeavor for scientific research
and protecting biodiversity
around the world. A professor
of community and ecosystem
ecology at Argentina’s Córdoba
National University, Sandra
uses her research to assess
and quantify functional biodi-
versity, helping to lift our under-
standing of this crucial project
from simply counting species to
a complex examination of their
roles in different ecosystems.
Yet Sandra’s work reso-
nates with me not only as a
fellow lover of nature. She is
an indefatigable diplomat on
the front lines of the triple plan-
etary crisis of climate change,
biodiversity loss, and pollution.
With 1 million of the planet’s

Jon M. Chu
8 million plant and animal
species at risk of extinction
and scarce funding to protect
nature, the world needs many
more leaders like Sandra. M AGICMA KER
Mrema is deputy executive By Michelle Yeoh
director of the U.N.
Environment Programme

80 TIME April 28, 2025

 Skye Perryman
D I A Z : D A N I E L M . C Á C E R E S; C H U : Y U R I H A S E G A W A — R E D U X ; P E R R Y M A N : J E M A L C O U N T E S S — G E T T Y I M A G E S F O R P E O P L E ’S R A L LY T O C A N C E L S T U D E N T D E B T; F I N K : K R I S Z T I A N B O C S I — B L O O M B E R G /G E T T Y I M A G E S; C A D O G A N : B E T T Y L A U R A Z A PATA — B L O O M B E R G /G E T T Y I M A G E S

TA K ING T HE GO VE RNMENT TO C OUR T

By Kelley Robinson
Skye Perryman works tirelessly every day to
TIM CADOGAN
safeguard our enduring, yet fragile, democ- Crowdfunder
racy. When Donald Trump’s federal-funding BY S AR A H FR IA R
freeze sparked fear and confusion across L A R R Y F IN K
the country, Skye acted decisively. As presi- Leading with empathy
dent of Democracy Forward, she mobilized BY BE TH FOR D
a rapid-response legal team and filed the What a year my friend Larry
nation’s first lawsuit challenging the freeze, Fink had. Already well known,
winning the crucial administrative stay (and respected, and incredibly
influential as a founder and
later injunction) that halted it nationwide. the CEO of the world’s largest
Whether litigating policy in our nation’s asset manager, BlackRock,
highest courts or speaking with Medicaid he took it to another level with
recipients in small towns, she understands three groundbreaking acquisi-
tions, including the two largest
that institutional power structures concede alternative asset management
nothing without pressure and demand from deals ever. In a bumpy global
the people. environment, his voice has
never been more important.
When Skye took the helm of Democracy I was recently reminded
Forward in 2021, she knew the work ahead of what strikes me most
would not be easy, but was desperately about Larry when I joined him
for a discussion about the
needed. Her work is now more critical than retirement crisis. A third of
ever before. There is no question that we are Americans don’t have savings
living through uncertain, unstable, and scary to retire, and no word is more
feared than retirement. Larry
times for so many Americans. We are moving got energized around how we
through a moment that requires bold, swift MUST be able to talk about
action—Skye has shown time and again that uncomfortable topics like
Social Security, health care,
she is willing and able to meet this moment. and the challenges we face.
His concern was genuine ... as
Robinson is president of the Human evidenced by a backstage
Rights Campaign moment that was pure Larry.
Two speakers were onstage
discussing the risks taken
by their union members—
firefighters and construction
workers—every day. Larry
shushed folks trying to get his
attention, noting he wanted to
listen and understand. Then
we were called to the stage,
and where was he? Back with
the speakers as they departed,
thanking them and the workers
they represented.
Larry’s humanity informs
his influence, and that is what
makes him truly special.
Ford is CEO of Land O’Lakes
 100
INNOVATORS

JO S H KOS KOF F
Intrepid lawyer
BY C HR I S MU RPH Y
For almost two decades, the
federal Protection of Lawful
Commerce in Arms Act pre-
vented gun manufacturers from
being held accountable for their
role in the uniquely American
epidemic of gun violence. Josh
Koskoff, a feisty, public-interest-
minded lawyer in Connecticut,
dared to challenge what was
believed to be an impenetrable
shield—and won.
When Josh agreed to help
the families of Sandy Hook
victims take on Remington, the
company that manufactured and
marketed the AR-15-style rifle
used to murder 20 children and
six adults in Newtown, Conn., he
knew it would be an uphill battle.
But in 2022, his novel approach
won a $73 million settlement for
the families.
Josh’s arguments—focused
on corporate misconduct, not
the Second Amendment—have
become the model for holding
the gun industry to account. In
May, he filed lawsuits on behalf
of Uvalde, Texas, families
against gun manufacturer
Daniel Defense, Meta, and
Activision for their alleged roles
in marketing AR-15-style rifles
to a teenager who turned 18
just minutes before purchasing
that rifle. No amount of money
will bring back loved ones.
But Josh gives the families he
represents a real chance to
seek justice.
Murphy, a Democrat, is a U.S.
Senator for Connecticut

82 TIME April 28, 2025 PHOTOGR APH BY MALIKE SIDIBE

 Nikki Glaser
COMED IC GEN IUS
By Ali Wong
In the days leading up to this year’s Golden
Globes, all I could think about was how ex-
cited I was to watch Nikki Glaser host. Suc-
cessfully hosting an award show is such a
hard thing to do, because you have to toe
the line between celebrating and poking
fun at people in the room. I just knew Nikki
would kill it. And she did—with grace, great
Mickalene jokes, and incredible outfit changes.
Nikki is one of the most hardworking
Thomas people I know, but she makes her comedy
feel effortless. Her writing is phenomenal,
with not a single word or syllable wasted.
M AST ER OF HER C RA FT
Watching her is always a thrill—not only
By Alicia Keys
because she’s so unapologetically hot, but
also because her humor is so unique and
darkly funny that you never know what
she’s going to say next. Every time she
steps onstage, it’s like she’s performing
magic tricks. You can’t look away.
There’s nobody else doing it like Nikki,
and I love seeing her shine.
Wong is a comedian, writer, and
Emmy-winning actor and producer
K O S K O F F : S E T H W E N I G — A P ; T H O M A S : T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S/ R E D U X ; G L A S E R : J E N R O S E N S T E I N

83
 100
INNOVATORS

Chutatip
‘Nok’
Suntaranon
V IBR ANT CH EF
By Mike Solomonov

PHOTOGR APH BY MICHAEL PERSICO

 Kwame Onwuachi
CO OK I NG UP CHAN GE
By Keke Palmer RICHARD
Kwame Onwuachi is the embodiment of THOMPSON
brilliance, passion, and perseverance. I’m Microplastic detective
talking about a chef whose heart, soul, BY BILL M C K IBBE N
and creativity shine through every dish
he serves. From his West African roots to IS MA H A N E
his upbringing in the Bronx, Chef Kwame E L O UA F I
has turned every challenge into opportu- Sowing resilience
nity, showing the world the power of culi- BY BILL GATES
nary expression. He’s rewriting the narra-
Ismahane Elouafi holds the
tive in spaces that once overlooked Black keys to feeding our future. At a
chefs and has brought his story into each time when more people around
of his restaurants, including Dogon, the the world are struggling to put
Afro-Caribbean eatery he opened in D.C. food on the table for their fami-
lies, CGIAR—the agricultural
this past fall. What I think I admire most research organization she
is Chef Kwame’s unshakable commitment runs—is finding new ways to
to breaking boundaries and continuing to reduce poverty, increase food
security, and improve nutrition.
elevate others along the way. He is not just I met Ismahane on her very
cooking meals—he’s changing lives and first day on the job, and I was
changing the game. His work and his spirit immediately blown away by
her brilliance and passion. As
have inspired so many of us. The kitchen is the former chief scientist at
his oyster, and I cannot wait to see what he the U.N. Food and Agriculture
O N W U A C H I : S C O T T S U C H M A N — T H E N E W YO R K T I M E S/ R E D U X ; E L O U A F I : A Z I Z K A R I M O V — G E T T Y I M A G E S; T H O M P S O N : A . K . P U R K I S S

cooks up next. Organization, she understands

the unique challenges faced
Palmer is an Emmy-winning actor, author, by farmers in regions like sub-
Saharan Africa and South Asia.
and producer These farmers rely on the crops
they grow to feed their families
and earn a living, and they are
among the most vulnerable to
climate change’s wide-reaching
effects, from unpredictable
weather to rising temperatures.
Under Ismahane’s leadership,
CGIAR helps millions of people
grow stronger, healthier crops;
restore damaged soil; and
more. CGIAR’s mission to mak
the global food supply more
reliable and protect natural
resources is as important now
as it’s ever been. The Gates
Foundation is proud to partne
in this work, and the world is
lucky to have Ismahane leadin
the way toward a future where
no child goes hungry.
Gates is the chair of the
Gates Foundation