This profile is part of the 2016 Global Citizen March Madness Challenge. The challenge asks you to vote for your favorite global citizens, as we match them up “tournament style” from a “Sweet 16” starting round, all the way down to a champion on April 4th.
Vote now in the Sweet 16 Round for all of your favorites HERE
Name: Leonardo DiCaprio
Hometown: Hollywood, California, US
Profession: Actor
Issue division: Environment
Quick facts:
- Won an Oscar for Best Actor
- Starred in dozens of Hollywood movies
- Foundation pledged more than $30 million USD to environmental causes since 2010
- Owns a fair trade coffee blend
Leonardo DiCaprio is best known for roles in movies like “Inception” or “The Wolf of Wall Street,” but his role as an environmental activist has begun to take precedence. In fact, his activism might have eclipsed his acting career when he finally won an Oscar last month and used his speech to advocate for climate action.
He became a UN Messenger of Peace with a special focus on the environment in 2014 and stopped by the Global Citizen Festival stage in 2015. He regularly denounces fossil fuel interests, champions indigenous rights and calls for ambitious conservation efforts in precious ecosystems around the world.
One of his recent focuses has been the preservation of the oceans. As Leo’s foundation notes, just 3% of global philanthropy goes to environmental causes and only a fraction of this goes toward protecting the oceans. So he’s used his visibility to bring awareness to crucial causes around the world’s oceans. Through his foundation he’s helped to build marine sanctuaries and revive marine populations.
20 years ago, Leo played an aspiring basketball player in “Basketball Diaries.” Although the character’s life bleakly unraveled, Leo’s time on the court might give him an edge in this crowded field.
First round match-up
