USA (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Betting markets place Artificial Intelligence as the frontrunner at 47% on Polymarket for Time’s 2025 Person of the Year, with Donald Trump fifth at 3%, amid shifting odds from Ladbrokes and BetUS favouring AI over the US President. Trump seeks a third win after 2016 and 2024 victories, but Nvidia’s Jensen Huang leads challengers at 18% as announcement nears.
Current Betting Odds Landscape
Betting sites reflect dynamic shifts in Time Person of the Year predictions. As detailed by OLBG betting expert in their 19 November 2025 article, Ladbrokes lists Artificial Intelligence at 7/4 (36.4% implied probability), Donald Trump at 3/1 (25%), Pope Leo XIV at 6/1 (14.3%), Benjamin Netanyahu at 10/1 (9.1%), Xi Jinping at 14/1 (6.7%), and Elon Musk at 16/1 (5.9%).
Bookmakers Review, reporting on 16 November 2025 BetOnline odds, positions AI at +200, Pope Leo XIV at +250, Donald Trump at +300, Pope Francis at +300, Jensen Huang at +500, Elon Musk at +600, MrBeast at +800, Jerome Powell at +1000, Joe Rogan at +1200, Xi Jinping at +1600, and JD Vance at +1800.
USA Today highlighted Polymarket’s 9 December standings: AI at 47%, Jensen Huang (Nvidia CEO) at 18%, with Trump fifth at 3%, underscoring AI’s surge. BetUS, in their 14 April 2025 odds drop covered by their press team, earlier pegged Donald Trump Sr at -300 (favourite), Elon Musk at +200, Taylor Swift at +2000, and Beyoncé at +2800, among over 30 candidates including Jane Goodall and Robert Iger at +8000 each.
The Punters Page on 30 July 2025 quoted Trump at 6/4, noting his bid for a second three-time win as Leader of the Free World dominating headlines.
Trump’s Path to a Historic Third Win
Donald Trump remains a formidable contender despite trailing. As noted by USA Today’s Josh Duboff, a third honour would equal FDR’s record, following Trump’s 2016 victory after his initial presidential triumph and 2024 post-reelection. OLBG’s expert analysis states:
“Donald Trump sits second in the market at 3/1, having won the award twice before… Given the media coverage surrounding his second presidential term, as well as his continued influence on international politics, he remains a strong contender.”
BetUS press emphasised:
“Love him or hate him, Donald Trump Sr. is the oddsmakers’ choice at -300 to win the award again,”
highlighting his spotlight dominance since November 2024 reelection.
Convochat’s 14 November blog positioned Trump at +500:
“There’s really nobody else you could put in the pole position… Trump has been front and center in the news cycle since being elected to a second non-consecutive term last November.”
Earlier OLBG coverage from 10 December 2024 had Trump at 1/5 (83.3%) post-shortlist including Yulia Navalnaya, Elon Musk, Jerome Powell, and Joe Rogan, but 2025 markets evolved with AI’s rise.
Rise of Artificial Intelligence as Frontrunner
AI’s ascent dominates current markets. OLBG explained:
“Artificial Intelligence is now the frontrunner… with Ladbrokes slashing odds on AI into 7/4 favourite amid growing global impact… The rise of tools like ChatGPT, AI in business operations, creative industries, healthcare, and political discourse has catapulted Artificial Intelligence into everyday life.”
They added: “With AI shaping everything from policymaking to pop culture… Public discourse around AI ethics, regulation, automation, and misinformation has dominated headlines.”
USA Today reported Polymarket’s 47% for AI, noting Time’s precedent for non-persons like “The Computer” in 1982. Bookmakers Review listed AI at +200, ahead of popes and leaders. OLBG speculated: “We may well see a fully AI produced TIME Magazine for the Person of the Year edition to prove why they’ve voted AI as the winner.”
Key Challengers and Underdogs
Other notables vie strongly. USA Today listed Jensen Huang second at 18% on Polymarket. OLBG included Pope Leo XIV at 6/1, Netanyahu at 10/1, Xi at 14/1, Musk at 16/1. Bookmakers Review highlighted underdogs: MrBeast at +800, Jerome Powell at +1000, Joe Rogan at +1200, JD Vance at +1800. BetUS featured Taylor Swift (+2000), Beyoncé (+2800), tying into Time’s history of movements like #MeToo (2017) or Whistleblowers (2002).
OLBG’s prior shortlist encompassed Kamala Harris, Kate Middleton, Yulia Navalnaya, Claudia Sheinbaum, and Mark Zuckerberg. The Punters Page praised Trump’s headline power but noted broader fields.
Time’s Selection Process and History
Time selects based on influence, not approval. Wikipedia chronicles origins from 1927’s Charles Lindbergh, through FDR’s three wins, Pope Francis (2013), to concepts like “The Endangered Earth” (1988). USA Today clarified: “Time’s Person of the Year is not a popularity contest… traditionally someone who dominated the year or caused the most cultural, scientific or geopolitical change for good or bad.” BetUS noted Time’s 26 million readership focused on global affairs.
OLBG affirmed precedents for entities: “Time Magazine has previously awarded its prestigious title to groups, concepts, and technologies.” Polymarket tracks shortlist odds via their 4 December 2025 market.
Betting Sites and Market Dynamics
UK sites like Ladbrokes offer Bet £10, Get £40 promotions, per OLBG. BetUS pioneers novelty props, from politics to egg prices. Bookmakers Review guides legal betting via BetOnline. Odds fluctuate: Trump’s early dominance waned as AI surged by late 2025.
