Who are the recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

President Biden on Saturday honored a large number of public figures, celebrities and cultural figures with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in his final ceremony as president, which includes a list of well-known names.

The 18 honorees included some of the Democratic Party’s most prominent leaders and supporters: Hillary Clinton, philanthropist and major Democratic donor George Soros, and Robert F. Kennedy, who received the award posthumously.

The list drawn up by Mr Biden also included famous personalities from sports, entertainment, fashion and film. Here are all the award winners.

Jose Andres

Aside from his fame as a celebrity chef, Mr. Andrés’s philanthropic work became a highly visible element of the war in Gaza during Mr. Biden’s presidency, as his aid organization World Central Kitchen took on a dangerous role in providing food to the region after the war The majority of the 2.2 million inhabitants were displaced. Last year, seven people who worked for World Central Kitchen were killed by Israeli airstrikes while working in Gaza, drawing attention to the threat of wartime famine and the dangers to aid workers.

Bono

The Irish singer-songwriter, whose band U2 the president has called a “bridge between Ireland and America,” maintained a close friendship with Mr. Biden during his time in office. Mr. Biden personally introduced the band at the 2022 Kennedy Center Honors and hosted Bono at his 2023 State of the Union address.

Ashton B. Carter (posthumously)

Mr. Carter, a Rhodes scholar and trained physicist, served as defense secretary under President Barack Obama. He took the post after a long career at the Pentagon and used his influence as defense secretary to expand military eligibility for women and transgender soldiers. He died in 2022 at the age of 68.

Hillary Clinton

A former first lady and senator from New York, Ms. Clinton served as secretary of state under Mr. Obama, with whom she competed for the Democratic nomination in 2008. She ran for president again in 2016 and received the party’s nomination, but lost the general election to Donald J. Trump.

Michael J Fox

Mr. Fox is known for roles in the film “Back to the Future” and the 1980s sitcom “Family Ties.” He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 29 and, through his foundation, has become a leading voice in research into the disease.

Tim Gill

After founding the technology company Quark, which made novel layout and design software in the 1980s and 1990s, Mr. Gill sold his stake to focus on charity work promoting LGBTQ rights and advocacy. His foundation has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in campaigns to change policy on issues such as marriage equality and bullying in schools.

Jane Goodall

The scientist and activist, who turned 90 this year, is known for her groundbreaking work on primate and human evolution.

Fannie Lou Hamer (posthumously)

Ms. Hamer, a civil rights activist and co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, fought for equal representation in politics after being born into the sharecropping economy in the Jim Crow era. She died in 1977 at the age of 60.

Earvin Johnson

Mr. Johnson, a five-time NBA champion and basketball star known as Magic, became an influential voice off the court after publicly announcing an HIV diagnosis in the early 1990s and helping to destigmatize living with the virus. He was also a close supporter of Mr. Biden during his presidential campaign, when he ran for president in Michigan.

Robert F Kennedy (posthumously)

Robert F. Kennedy had an eventful career in Democratic politics as a senator and U.S. attorney general before his assassination in 1968. His son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has joined the Republican Party and President-elect Donald J. Trump and is Mr. Trump’s choice for health secretary.

Ralph Lauren

The 85-year-old, whose clothing was Jill Biden’s favorite throughout her time as first lady, is the first fashion designer to receive the Medal of Freedom.

Bill Nye

Mr. Nye was implanted into the psyche of millions of children through his role as host of “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” and reemerged after the show ended in 1999 as a popular personality on TikTok and an advocate for science and climate policy.

George W Romney (posthumously)

The former chairman of American Motors Corporation, Mr. Romney, a Republican, later served three times as governor of Michigan and as President Richard M. Nixon’s housing secretary. As governor, he took a number of progressive political positions, including support for civil rights initiatives and opposition to the Vietnam War. He died in 1995 at the age of 88.

David M. Rubenstein

The billionaire co-founder of the Carlyle Group has donated to fund work on some of Washington’s most iconic sites, including the Washington Monument and the National Zoo.

George Soros

An ally of Mr. Biden and an ardent supporter of liberal causes, Mr. Soros is among several prominent Democratic figures to receive the award during Mr. Biden’s presidency. A billionaire and Democratic megadonor, Mr. Soros has become a polarizing figure in American politics, often vilified by conservative commentators.

George Stevens Jr.

Mr. Stevens is a filmmaker, producer and founder of the American Film Institute and the Kennedy Center Honors. His writing and producing credits include the 1998 film “The Thin Red Line” and a play about the life of Thurgood Marshall. Outside of film and stage, his work focused on preserving America’s cinematic heritage.

Denzel Washington

Mr. Washington, an acclaimed actor and national spokesman for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America for more than 30 years, was selected by Mr. Biden to receive the award in 2022 but missed the ceremony after testing positive for the coronavirus.

Anna Wintour

Ms. Wintour is editor-in-chief of Vogue, a position she has held since 1988. She is a major fundraiser at the center of Democratic celebrity circles and also served as co-chair of the annual Met Gala.

Lionel Messi

The Argentine soccer superstar was originally on the list but was unable to accept the award on Saturday due to a scheduling conflict.