José Mujica

Uruguayan president who donated 90% of salary to charity, redefining political leadership

José 'Pepe' Mujica (b. 1935), the 'world's poorest president', transformed Uruguay's socio-political landscape. A former Tupamaro guerrilla imprisoned for 14 years, he became president in 2010 and governed from his rustic farm. Mujica's radical simplicity – donating 90% of his $12,000 monthly salary to housing projects – made global headlines.

Key policies included:

• Legalizing cannabis (2013) to combat drug trafficking
• Pioneering same-sex marriage legislation in Latin America
• Providing free laptops to all primary school children

His 2013 UN speech criticizing consumerism went viral: We invented a mountain of superfluous needs... You have to fight to be free. Post-presidency, he continues advocating for climate action through his Rural Mujica organic farm.