Madiba’s Famous Friends

Bill Clinton

Former U.S. President Clinton leans down to whisper to former South African President Nelson Mandela during a visit to the Nelson Mandela Foundation July 19, 2007, in Johannesburg.

Whitney Houston

Mandela wipes the tears of a very emotional Houston when she meets him on the steps of the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

Charlize Theron

Oscar-winning actress Theron brushes tears away as she meets former Mandela at Mandela House, on March 11, 2004, in Johannesburg.

Michael Jackson

Mandela stands with Jackson, who was given a lifetime achievement award during the Kora All Africa Music Awards in Sun City on Sept. 4, 1999.

Another One With M.J.

Jackson poses with Mandela in Kwazulu-Natal on July 20, 1996.

Morgan Freeman

Actor Freeman and Mandela attend the Unite for a Better World Gala Dinner Sept. 2, 2007, at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, Monaco. 

Queen Elizabeth

He should be dubbed the People's King as Mandela rides in high-royalty fashion in a horse-and-carriage buggy with Queen Elizabeth at his side in 1996. 

Jimmy Cliff, Bono and Wyclef Jean

Cliff, Bono, Jean and Mandela attend the Unite for a Better World Gala Dinner Sept. 2, 2007, at the Hotel de Paris in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Bono

U2 Lead Singer Bono and Mandela wave to the audience at the Nelson Mandela Foundation's '46664 Give One minute to Aids' concert at the Greenpoint Stadium on November 29, 2003 in Cape Town. 

Oprah Winfrey

Winfrey and Mandela take part in a ceremony Dec. 6, 2002, marking the start of construction of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in Johannesburg.

More Oprah

Winfrey smiles at Mandela as he performs the Madiba jive dance at a ceremony where she handed out Christmas gifts to underprivileged school children in December 2011.

Prince Charles

Mandela talks with Prince Charles on the last day of Mandela's four-day state visit to the United Kingdom. Media reports in Britain said Prince Charles' wife, Princess Diana, had accepted divorce terms the previous week, but that Buckingham Palace wanted to wait until Mandela finished his visit before making an announcement.

Prince Charles and the Spice Girls

Mandela shares a joke with Prince Charles, his grandchildren and the Spice Girls at his residence in Pretoria, Nov. 1, 1997.

Prince Andrew

Prince Charles' younger brother Prince Andrew also got a chance to meet Mandela when the anti-apartheid icon welcomed the prince to his office in Houghton, South Africa in 2007.

Will Smith

Mandela appears onstage with Smith during the 46664 concert in celebration of Mandela's life at Hyde Park on June 27, 2008, in London.

David Beckham

Football superstar David Beckham gave his jersey to Mandela during an event hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation on May 21, 2003 in Johannesburg.  

President George H. W. Bush

President George H. W. Bush and Mandela shake hands in front of the White House in 1990 — the same year he was released from prison. 

President Jimmy Carter and Bill Gates Sr.

President Jimmy Carter and Bill Gates Sr. — the father of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates — cradled babies alongside Mandela during a visit to the Zola clinic on March 7, 2002 in Soweto.

Princess Diana

Princess Diana gazes admiringly at Mandela while on a trip to Cape Town in 1997, five months before her death. 

Stevie Wonder

Mandela congratulates Wonder at the Gift to the Nation concert in honor of Mandela's 80th birthday, July 25, 1998.

Queen Noor

Queen Noor of Jordan and Nelson Mandela smile at one another at the opening of the fifth World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa on September 8, 2003. 

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

Mandela shakes hands with Queen Beatrix at a Netherlands banquet in her honour.

Black Eyed Peas

Mandela poses for a picture with members of the Black Eyed Peas band in Johannesburg May 29, 2006.

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Gordon Ramsay

Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsay shakes hands with Nelson Mandela during a lunch to benefit the Mandela Children's Foundation on April 3, 2009 in Cape Town.

Naomi Campbell

Mandela hugs the British supermodel at Genadendal, his Cape Town home.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

Mandela sits with Hillary Rodham Clinton during a meeting in Johannesburg on August 7, 2009 to discuss Zimbabwe's efforts to democratize. 

Chelsea Clinton

Chelsea Clinton kneels to speak to Mandela during a dinner to raise money for Mandela's global charity projects on June 25, 2008 in London.

Bill and Melinda Gates

Mandela and philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates address a youth forum on HIV/AIDS at the University of Witwatersrand on September 22, 2003 in Johannesburg. 

Beyoncé

Mandela with Beyoncé at a press conference for the 46664 concert Nov. 28, 2003, on Robben Island, off the coast of Cape Town.

Roger Taylor, Annie Lennox, Sir Richard Branson and Peter Gabriel

Musician Roger Taylor, singer Annie Lennox, Mandela, Sir Richard Branson and musician Peter Gabriel attend a book-launching event for '46664 The Concert' at The Dorchester Hotel on November 25, 2004 in London.

Samuel L. Jackson

Mandela and Jackson are pictured during the prize-giving ceremony at the end of the Nelson Mandela Invitational Golf Tournament at the Arabella Country Estate outside of Cape Town in November 2003.

President George W. Bush

Mandela and President George W. Bush sit in the Oval Office on May 17, 2005 to bring awareness and raise money for the Nelson Mandela Legacy Trust which supports African-based charities. 

Elton John and Lily Safra

Sir Elton John and Brazilian philanthropist Lily Safra hover over Mandela during a dinner to celebrate his 90th birthday on June 25, 2008 in London.