Bono was born as Paul Hewson to a Protestant mother and Roman Catholic father. He acquired his nickname as a youth, allegedly from a hearing aid brand, Bona Vox, due to his loud singing. As a 16 year old he responded to an ad to join a band that eventually became U2 - one of the biggest bands in history.

With the increasing popularity of U2, Bono has been granted a powerful voice that he has used to promote his humanitarian work worldwide. He and U2 have been involved in Band Aid, Live Aid, and Live 8, often working closely with Bob Geldof. Bono's main emphasis has been on helping the Third World, particularly Africa. He has had audiences with many world leaders and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, 2005, and 2006.

Bono is known for his stage presence with U2 and also for his work campaigning for the care of underprivileged people. His ability to stay in the public eye has been beneficial to his band and to the world's poor.