5 People from Washington Who Made Time Magazine's Cover

Being on the cover of TIME magazine has always been a prestigious honor. This week Spokane-born Euphoria actress Sydney Sweeney graced the cover, looking as glamorous as the most iconic stars of any era.

Sweeney's appearance got me wondering... Who else from Washington has made the cover of TIME? A quick Google search brought up six well known Washingtonians. Let's take a look.

Bing Crosby's Time Magazine Cover

Time, Inc.

Bing Crosby was born in Tacoma and graduated from Gonzaga University in Spokane.

Bing appeared on the cover of TIME magazine in April of 1941. This is the year Road to Zanzibar was released, his 2nd film with Bob Hope.

He is a law student who turned to singing as a gag, and while making fortunes in cinema, the radio and the phonograph record business, has operated a racetrack, a horse farm, had an interest in two prize fighters and a girls' baseball team. -Time

Bill Gates' TIME Magazine Cover

Time, Inc.

Microsoft Giant Bill Gates was born in Seattle.

He appeared on TIME's cover in April of 1984. Gates has appeared on the magazine's cover at least 9 times, if you include his caricature. He and then-wife Melinda appeared with U2's Bono on an issue (see below). And he became the magazine's first-ever "guest editor" in 2018.

Pearl Jam's TIME Magazine Cover

Time, Inc.

Okay, so Eddie Vedder wasn't born in Washington. He was born in Illinois. Chicago, to be exact.

Vedder's band Pearl Jam, however, is about as Seattle as it gets. And on this TIME magazine cover from October of 1993, he is representing them. In fact, he's representing all of Grunge, at least in the eyes of the magazine.

Paul Allen's TIME Magazine Cover

Time, Inc., eBay

Paul Allen was born in Seattle.

Allen transformed the culture and landscape of Seattle more than anyone (think Seahawks golden era, MoPop, and any number of Vulcan projects) before Amazon changed it further. That's him in that tiny square in the upper right-hand corner of this issue from July of 2000.

Oh, look - in the upper left corner - there's Bill Gates! Again.

I realize when we think of someone on the cover of time, this isn't what we imagine. We image a full-page headshot. Maybe a profile. Or a dramatic, arms crossed, full-body image. But this is all I could find.

Melinda French Gates' TIME Magazine Cover

Time, Inc.

Melinda French Gates was born in Texas, not Washington.

She has called Seattle home, of course. And its where the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Discovery Center is located.

Gates appeared on the cover of TIME in January of 2006.

Sydney Sweeney's TIME Magazine Cover

Time, Inc.

Sydney Sweeney was born in Spokane.

Sweeney is on the October 10th-17th, 2022 issue.

She's among the "Next 100", an annual list of emerging leaders and rising stars, across industries, who will "shape the future" and "make history."

Maude Apatow (yes, that Apatow), Sweeney's Euphoria co-star, wrote some lovely words in honor of her friend, which included the endorsement below.