TIME Magazine will soon announce its 2024 Person of the Year. The magazine has selected its annual Person of the Year since 1927, recognizing the person, group, or idea with the most significant global impact, positive or negative, over the past year. In 2023, the honor went to singer Taylor Swift. Previous winners include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the “spirit of Ukraine” in 2022, Elon Musk in 2021, Ebola fighters in 2014, and Barack Obama in both 2008 and 2012. Ten finalists for the 2024 title were revealed on NBC’s Today show. The magazine’s criteria for selection is the person, group, or concept that “had the biggest impact—for good or for ill—on the world over the previous 12 months.”
Kamala Harris
Donald Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election, Harris conceded on November 6. The election concluded a rapid 107-day campaign launched after President Joe Biden ended his reelection bid on July 21 and endorsed Harris. Harris focused her campaign on reproductive rights, criticizing Trump’s role in the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade and portraying him as a threat to democracy. Harris and Biden were jointly named Person of the Year in 2020 after defeating Trump and Mike Pence.
Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, revealed her cancer diagnosis this year after undergoing a planned abdominal surgery. The surgery took place in January, requiring a two-week hospital stay. Kensington Palace initially stated she would remain out of public view until Easter. Online speculation about her absence prompted Middleton to disclose her diagnosis in March. In September, she announced the completion of her chemotherapy treatment. Previously, Middleton was on the 2013 TIME100 list of Most Influential People and a 2011 Person of the Year runner-up. Kensington Palace said she would be out of the public eye until Easter.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk will co-lead a new government efficiency department, President-elect Trump announced. Trump won the 2024 presidential election after Musk endorsed him, appeared at rallies, promoted pro-Trump content on X (formerly Twitter), and helped shape Trump’s agenda. The Department of Government Efficiency is expected to propose federal workforce and regulatory cuts. Musk, named TIME Person of the Year in 2021, bought and rebranded Twitter to X in 2023. He is the world’s richest person, according to Forbes. Musk’s previous ventures include online payments, electric vehicles, and commercial space.
Yulia Navalnaya
Yulia Navalnaya, wife of deceased Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, has vowed to continue her husband’s political work. Following his death in prison in February, Navalnaya publicly blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin. She has since gained international recognition, meeting with world leaders like US President Joe Biden amidst Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Navalnaya has been called the “first lady” of the Russian opposition and was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2024.
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces international scrutiny amid ongoing conflict. In October 2023, Hamas attacked Israel, resulting in 1,200 deaths. Israel subsequently launched a military offensive in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Health Ministry reports 44,056 casualties in Gaza. The conflict expanded to Lebanon in September, targeting Hezbollah. Netanyahu told TIME in August, “We’re in the midst of a war, a seven-front war. I think we have to concentrate on one thing: winning.” In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and Hamas’ military chief, alleging crimes against humanity.
Jerome Powell
Jerome Powell leads the Federal Reserve. He became chairman in 2018, serving under both Presidents Trump and Biden. Voters consider the economy the most important issue in the 2024 election, and Powell guides the Fed’s economic policies. Former President Trump, who initially nominated Powell, later criticized the Fed for high interest rates. Powell emphasizes the Fed’s non-partisan nature. He appeared on the TIME100 list in 2019 and 2020 and was considered for Person of the Year in 2023. Powell “stressed the importance of the Fed’s independence from political parties and candidates.”
Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan’s podcast remained popular in 2024. “The Joe Rogan Experience” topped Spotify’s charts for the fifth consecutive year, averaging 11 million listeners per episode, primarily young men. The podcast covers various topics including current events, comedy, and politics. In August, Rogan’s stand-up comedy special, “Joe Rogan: Burn Your Boats,” premiered on Netflix. Prior to the election, Rogan released a three-hour interview with Trump, whom he later endorsed. Some voters reported the interview influenced their voting decisions. Rogan has been a controversial figure. He has received criticism for spreading COVID-19 misinformation and past use of racial slurs. In 2022, Rogan was listed on TIME100’s list of Most Influential People.
Claudia Sheinbaum
Claudia Sheinbaum became Mexico’s first female president in October. She is also the first Jewish person to lead the country since its independence over two centuries ago. Sheinbaum, a longtime leftist, campaigned on helping low-income Mexicans. She faces challenges like a weak economy and increased organized crime. Following a tariff announcement from Trump on Mexican goods entering the U.S., Sheinbaum stated Mexico would respond with its own tariffs.
Donald Trump
Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election, marking a return to the White House after his 2020 loss to Joe Biden. Trump secured victory by winning the popular vote and flipping every swing state in his favor. Increased turnout among young male voters was key to his success.
This victory is unprecedented for several reasons. Trump will be the oldest president in US history. He is also the first convicted felon to be elected president, following his conviction earlier this year in New York on 34 counts of fraud.
Trump’s campaign focused on the economy and border security as his main priorities. He has pledged to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China upon taking office, a move that has raised concerns among economists. He has also announced several controversial cabinet picks. Trump was previously named TIME’s Person of the Year in 2016.
Mark Zuckerberg
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced government scrutiny in 2024. He testified before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about social media’s impact on youth. Election officials at all levels also worried about misinformation spreading on Facebook during the 2024 election cycle. Zuckerberg’s net worth, estimated at $210 billion by Forbes in December, ranked him the world’s fourth richest person. He was included in the TIME100 AI list in 2024. Previously, in 2010, when Facebook exceeded 500 million users, TIME named him Person of the Year.
