The 2009 TIME 100

Builders & Titans

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Timothy Geithner

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, 48, got off to a rocky start, but the man who holds the economy in his hands has recovered nicely with an ambitious bank-rescue plan, far-reaching regulatory reform and deft handling of the auto-industry bailout. He's also moved to shore up insurance companies. But huge challenges remain: the big banks are far from healthy, and he has yet to persuade many large institutions to dump the overpriced toxic assets that are rotting their books. The nonstop crisis has made his job the toughest any Treasury Secretary has faced in generations.

Fast Fact: He graduated from an international high school in Bangkok

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The People Behind the People

A peek at the circles of influence for this year's TIME 100

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The TIME 100 Gala in 100 Seconds

TIME celebrated the world's most influential people at a star-studded party in New York, where First Lady Michelle Obama was the featured guest

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The 2009 TIME 100 Red Carpet

Our correspondents ask some of the world's most influential people some really ridiculous questions

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M.I.A. Makes the TIME 100

Producer, DJ, singer, fashion designer. Sri Lankan pop star M.I.A. has global influence across many genres. That put her on this year's TIME 100

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Heroes & Icons

TIME Editor-at-Large Belinda Luscombe and Movie Critic Richard Corliss discuss some of the heroes and icons on this year's TIME 100 list

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World Leaders

TIME International Editor Michael Elliott discusses three of the many world leaders featured on the TIME's list of the world's most influential people

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American Leaders

TIME Deputy Managing Editor Romesh Ratnesar discusses some of the magazine's choices for U.S. political leaders on this year's TIME 100

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The Artists

TIME Deputy Managing Editor Josh Tyrangiel & writer Richard Lacayo discuss some of the many influential artists on this year's TIME 100 list

TIME 100 Poll

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See who was victorious in getting your votes this year

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And No. 1 Is...

I've ranked the TIME 100 based on the importance of their contributions. Their contributions to me