![dek](https://content.time.com/time/2009/time_100_walkup/ben_bernanke.jpg)
AGE: 55
OCCUPATION: Federal Reserve Chairman
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 1
PRO: He spent last year brokering takeovers (Bear Stearns), seizing floundering institutions (AIG) and pouring billions of dollars into lending markets.
CON: His money-printing prowess has investors worried about inflation. And his efforts to boost consumer confidence have so far faltered.