The 2009 TIME 100 Finalists

2009 Candidates

Brendan McDermid / Reuters / Corbis

Bernie Madoff

Article Tools

AGE: 70
OCCUPATION: Ponzi schemer
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 0

PRO: Madoff's last name has been a boon for bad-pun headline-writers everywhere. That's about the only good thing we can say about him.

CON: He bilked almost $50 billion through fraudulent investment deals, wiping out bank accounts around the world, crippling charities, and damaging an already vulnerable economy. And if that weren't enough to earn international scorn, he even ripped off Elie Wiesel.

View the full list for "The 2009 TIME 100 Finalists"

Poll Results

The World's Most Influential Person Is...

In a stunning result, the winner of the third annual TIME 100 poll, and new owner of the title world's most influential person, is ...

Video

Determining the TIME 100

Managing editor Rick Stengel explains how TIME's editors determine the year's 100 most influential people

Video

Are You On The List?

Geraldo? Naked Cowboy? We hit the streets of New York to ask why you think you'd make TIME's list of the world's 100 most influential people

Video

TIME 100: Who's Most Influential?

As the editors of TIME Magazine determine the 100 most influential people in the world, TIME.com hit the streets to ask what you think

Video

TIME 100 Online Poll: Moot versus Rain

TIME.com is asking you to vote for the top 100 most influential people in the world. The 4Chan founder and a Korean pop star are topping the list

The 2008 TIME 100

Look back at our fifth annual list of the world's most influential people