Time Magazine has just unveiled its list of the 100 Most Influential People in the world for 2016. Designed to honor the works and contributions of public figures in various fields, the Time 100 includes statesmen, athletes and artists who dominated the news over the past year.
Here are some of the personalities that made the list:
Tim Cook
When federal authorities asked Apple to help unlock the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooting suspects, the company's CEO, Tim Cook, declined the request, citing that it could lead to violations of people's privacy. The government even sought a court order to force the tech giant to cooperate, but Cook stood by his decision.
Fellow industry leaders, such as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, rallied behind the Apple chief and expressed their concern about potential abuses if a decryption program were to be created.
Bob Iger, chairman and CEO of the Walt Disney Co., described Cook as a softspoken man who draws courage from his deep personal conviction.
"Tim is committed to doing the right thing, in the right way, at the right time and for the right reasons," Iger wrote.
"As CEO, he's led Apple to new heights, and he continues to build a global brand that is universally recognized as an industry leader and widely respected for its values."
Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan
Arguably one of the most well-known power couples in the tech industry today, Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have both accomplished a lot individually, with Zuckerberg being the founder and CEO of Facebook and Chan being a highly respected pediatrician.
However, that doesn't seem to stop them from achieving more things together. Through the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, the couple is leading efforts to cure disease, improve education and foster stronger ties between communities. Zuckerberg and Chan have even committed 99 percent of their wealth to achieving these goals.
Stephen Curry
Basketball superstar Stephen Curry is having the best season of his young career. The six-foot-three point guard led the Golden State Warriors to a league best 73 wins and 9 losses this season, which beats the NBA record of 72 wins and 10 losses set by the Michael Jordan-led Chicago Bulls during the 1995-1996 season.
Curry also set the record for the most three-point shots made in a single season with 402.
As ballerina Misty Copeland puts it:
"My definition of a role model is someone who maximizes their potential to push the boundaries of their circumstances with passion, purpose, integrity and the sensitivity to know they are setting an example for others along the way. Stephen Curry is a true role model."
Palmer Luckey
Palmer Luckey may only be 23 years old, but he has already proven his knack for business and innovation. In less than five years, he saw his company, Oculus VR, develop into a giant in the tech industry by helping popularize virtual reality technology further.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio has played countless of notable characters in films over the years, but it's his role as a long-time advocate of environmental protection that makes him a true icon in history.
Not content with simply donating money to charity and advocacy foundations, DiCaprio has also used his skills and influence to help raise public awareness of various environmental concerns. This was evident when he took the chance to address the issue about climate change in his speech after winning his very first Academy Award in February.
"Twenty years ago, Leo captured the hearts of millions of moviegoers by declaring, 'I'm the king of the world!'" U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry wrote about the actor.
"Through his work and example, today he's inspiring many millions more to help save it."
Other icons featured in the Top 100 list include U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, entertainers Priyanka Chopra, Charlize Theron, Ariana Grande, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and athletes Usain Bolt, Lewis Hamilton and Ronda Rousey.
U.S. President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pope Francis all made the prestigious list as well.
