Ben Bernanke

Ben Bernanke is named Time’s Person of the Year after serving as Chairman of the United States Federal Reserve during the country’s financial crisis of 2007–2008. Runners-up for the honor are commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the Chinese worker, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Jamaican sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt.

Managing Editor Richard Stengel explains the magazine’s choice: He was the great scholar of the Depression who saw another depression coming, and did everything he could to stop it. He is influencing how the economy operates.