The 2008 TIME 100 Finalists

Are They Worthy?
Toru Yamanaka / AFP / Getty

JIMMY WALES

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AGE: 41
OCCUPATION: Creator of Wikipedia
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 1

PRO: As the brains behind Wikipedia, Wales, a former options trader, has created the first open-source online encyclopedia truly by the people, for the people.

CON: The digital evangelist has recently come under attack for giving preferential treatment on his site to potential (and realized) romantic conquests, not to mention for skimming cash from his non-profit set-up.

Next: JEFFREY SACHS >>

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