Helmut Kohl

German politician

The man who literally stitched Germany back together after the Wall came tumbling down, Helmut Kohl spent 16 years as Chancellor—longer than any post-war leader—and essentially architected the European Union while he was at it. At 87, the "Unity Chancellor" has already survived a wheelchair-bound retirement and the loss of his wife, yet remains a towering figure in European history. Whether his legendary appetite for Saumagen (stuffed pig's stomach) was a health strategy or not, he's certainly played the long game better than most politicians.