As the lead singer of U2, one of the most popular and influential rock bands of the last 30 years, Bono is a figure adored and admired both within and outside of the music industry. As a rock star, his music with U2 has earned him legions of devoted fans across the world, whilst as a humanitarian and crusader for the world’s poor, co-founder of organizations such as DATA and the ONE Campaign, he has gained deep respect from politicians and global statesmen as well as music fans. His rare ability to effectively straddle the spheres of both entertainment and politics remains rivaled by few in the realm of popular culture, and his determination to change the world for the better continues to inspire millions on both sides of the political divide.

Right from the beginning of his time with U2, Bono cultivated a reputation for being able to connect physically and emotionally with fans to an astonishing degree during the band’s performances. He honed his technique initially during U2’s earliest gigs in small pubs and clubs across America and Europe. Later on, in the 1983 War tour, the singer would regularly climb the stage tresses in order to prevent the crowds’ attention from wandering.

Bono is also a well-known activist in the fight against AIDS and extreme poverty in Africa and the cofounder of sister organizations ONE and (RED). ONE is a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease so that everyone, everywhere can lead a life of dignity and opportunity. As part of his work with ONE, Bono has lobbied heads of state and government, and members of legislatures all around the world. This lobbying combined with the work of ONE’s grassroots membership has helped to ensure the passage and funding of government policies and programs that have helped to save tens of millions of lives over the past 10 years.

(RED) partners with the world’s most iconic brands to raise public awareness about and corporate contributions for the AIDS crisis. To date, (RED) has generated more than $600 million for AIDS treatment and prevention in Africa through the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. Bono is also cofounder of The Rise Fund, a global impact fund investing in entrepreneurial companies driving measurable, positive social and environmental change in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Also in 2005, Bono and Ali, along with fashion designer Rogan Gregory, created the socially conscious clothing line EDUN. This range of clothes for men and women seeks to promote fair trade and sustainable growth by basing their means of production in poor communities, without the use of sweatshop-like conditions, encouraging them to use their skills in an environmentally friendly way to create garments that can be sold at a fair price.

As well as illustrating Bono’s staggering amount of energy and commitment, these initiatives have earned Bono numerous honors and awards. He was presented with the Free Your Mind Award at the MTV Europe Awards in Dublin, in acknowledgement of his work on behalf of the Jubilee 2000 project; he received a knighthood in Britain, the Légion d’honneur in France, and at least two nominations on separate occasions for the Nobel Peace Prize. He has also had various degrees bestowed on him from some of the world’s top universities, and has sat as the editor for the publications Vanity Fair and the Independent newspaper.

Beyond politics, Bono’s activities outside of U2 have included dabbling in the film industry. In 1999 he composed and performed the music for the Wim Wenders film The Million Dollar Hotel, which he co-wrote with screenwriter Nicholas Klein. Bono also made a brief appearance in the movie, his second film role after having previously appeared as himself in Entropy, an indie flick. He also appeared in Julie Taymor’s 2007 film Across the Universe, playing Dr. Robert, a psychedelic guru from the Beatles song of the same name.

On top of this, Bono has dipped his toe into the literary world, writing the intros for American economist Jeffrey Sachs’s 2005 book The End of Poverty, Irish Christian author Adam Harbinson’s 2002 critique of the established church They’ve Hijacked God and an edition of the Psalms for the 1998 Pocket Canons series. He has also had a book published, 2007’s On the Move.