FW de Klerk
World Leader
South African president from 1989 to 1994 who, despite being a conservative with a past of supporting racial segregation, brokered the end of apartheid and helped lead South Africa to becoming a multi-racial democracy. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his revolutionary efforts.
He rose up in the white-only government through contacts from his father.
It was he who decided to release Nelson Mandela from jail after he had spent 27 years there for fighting apartheid.
He was married to his first wife, Marike de Klerk for 38 years before divorcing her.
He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 along with Nelson Mandela for their work ending the apartheid.