TIME Person Of The Year Odds: Can Trump Go Back-to-Back?

As we near the final stretch of 2017, let’s take a moment to reflect on the chaotic year we’ve all endured. From election meddling to natural disasters to the threat of nuclear war, 2017 has been an eventful year to say the least.

TIME Magazine’s “Person of the Year” honor is awarded to the person who has done the most to influence the events of the year … for better or worse. With so much happening in 2017, who will be featured this year?

The frontrunner is, of course, Donald Trump. The 45th President of the United States was given the title last year and will likely claim it again in 2017. He remains at the center of almost every notable story, scandal, and crisis. And now that he’s President, he has even more influence on world events compared to last year.

Vladimir Putin has also done his fair share of “influencing.” The Kremlin’s alleged election meddling and his possible ties to the Trump campaign and administration have made Putin a central figure in world events this year.

The nuclear standoff against Kim Jong-un is also a major theme of 2017, and it doesn’t look like the issue is going to resolve itself. Trump may belittle the North Korean dictator by calling him “Rocket Man,” but that doesn’t diminish the role Kim has played in shaping world events this year.

With the West in turmoil, some have crowned Angela Merkel as the new unofficial “leader of the free world.” She’s undoubtedly the European Union’s Person of the Year and her growing influence on the world stage is undeniable.

TIME is known to stretch the definition of “person.” In 1950, it awarded the title to “the American fighting-man” and, in 1966, they gave the award to “the Inheritor,” which included all Americans aged 25 and under. “The Computer” was honored in 1982 and “the Endangered Earth” in 1988. In 2006, they cast their net as broadly as they could, granting the award to … “You.” Congratulations!

TIME may choose to honor groups like “Black Lives Matter” or the “Women’s March Protesters,” who played a significant role this year. Or, like with “the Endangered Earth,” they could recognize the role Climate Change has played in recent natural disasters.

If you’re thinking of putting money down, remember that the award is not necessarily a positive. It simply goes to the person (or persons or thing) that had the most influence over the events of the year. Adolf Hitler received the title in 1938 and Joseph Stalin was named Person of the Year twice!

Whatever your opinion of Donald Trump, he’s been central to almost every major event in 2017. Unless something huge and non-Trump related happens before the end of the year, we should expect him to be named 2017’s TIME Person of the Year.

Odds to be 2017 TIME “Person of the Year”

Donald Trump: 2/1

Angela Merkel: 7/1

Vladimir Putin: 8/1

Pope Francis: 10/1

Kim Jong-Un: 15/1

Robert Mueller: 20/1

James Comey: 25/1

Black Lives Matter: 30/1

Women’s March Protesters: 35/1

Climate Change: 50/1