Albert II, Prince of Monaco

Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi was born 14 March 1958 at the Prince's Palace, second child and only son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. He studied political science at Amherst College, then competed in bobsleigh from the 1988 Games through 2002. Appointed regent in March 2005 when his father fell ill, he became sovereign prince a week later. He founded the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in 2006, pushing ocean conservation and renewable energy with the fervor of someone trying to prove a hereditary title can mean more than ceremony. In July 2011 he married South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock; they have twins, Gabriella and Jacques, the latter his heir. He recognizes four children in total - two from earlier relationships - though paternity claims have trailed him, the price of reigning over a place where privacy is a scarce resource and the casino always wins.