Silvio Berlusconi
Age: 74
Occupation: Prime Minister of Italy
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 0
The Italian Prime Minister has been all over the news this year, and not for his affairs of state. Rather, tabloids the world over have tittered over the septuagenarian's many alleged liaisons with younger women in luxurious, so-called "bunga bunga" parties held at various private villas. Berlusconi is no stranger to scandal (or infidelity), and has weathered myriad controversies in the past. But the latest, involving a Moroccan dancing girl whom he is accused of paying for sex when she was underage, has him set for court — Berlusconi denies the charges, and describes his parties as "elegant" affairs — and could finally end the career of one of Europe's most controversial politicians.