It's one thing to fall asleep at work, quite another to snooze in front of the President. But that's what former Obama economic adviser Larry Summers appeared to be doing during this press conference in April 2009 at the White House.
It's one thing to fall asleep at work, quite another to snooze in front of the President. But that's what former Obama economic adviser Larry Summers appeared to be doing during this press conference in April 2009 at the White House.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The pomp! The circumstance! The ... drowsiness? Being rich and powerful can really take it out of you -- and when your days are packed to the gills with a seemingly endless list of official obligations, political summits, and glamorous state dinners with other powerful people, it's tempting to catch a little shut-eye when you can. <br /><br />Here's an inexhaustive list of foreign dignitaries and world leaders who appear to be snoozing in public. <br /><br />As Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke at a banquet in London on Wednesday, October 21 during his state visit to the UK, nearby attendees -- including Britain's Prince Andrew -- could be seen nodding off.
The pomp! The circumstance! The ... drowsiness? Being rich and powerful can really take it out of you -- and when your days are packed to the gills with a seemingly endless list of official obligations, political summits, and glamorous state dinners with other powerful people, it's tempting to catch a little shut-eye when you can.

Here's an inexhaustive list of foreign dignitaries and world leaders who appear to be snoozing in public.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke at a banquet in London on Wednesday, October 21 during his state visit to the UK, nearby attendees -- including Britain's Prince Andrew -- could be seen nodding off.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (C) fell asleep during Barack Obama's State of the Union speech in January 2015. It wasn't the first time, she says. The reason? "I was not 100% sober," Ginsburg said, blaming fellow Justice Anthony Kennedy for bringing a bottle of red wine to their pre-speech dinner.
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (C) fell asleep during Barack Obama's State of the Union speech in January 2015. It wasn't the first time, she says. The reason? "I was not 100% sober," Ginsburg said, blaming fellow Justice Anthony Kennedy for bringing a bottle of red wine to their pre-speech dinner.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Pope Benedict XVI (C), 83 at the time, falls asleep during the celebration of a Pontifical Mass on the Granaries in April 2010 in Floriana.
Pope Benedict XVI (C), 83 at the time, falls asleep during the celebration of a Pontifical Mass on the Granaries in April 2010 in Floriana.
BEN BORG CARDONA/AFP/Getty Images
Then-British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) "rests his eyes" during a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York in April 2008.
Then-British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (L) "rests his eyes" during a U.N. Security Council meeting in New York in April 2008.
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (C) takes a nap during a military parade to mark the the 150th anniversary of Italian unification in Rome in June 2011.
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (C) takes a nap during a military parade to mark the the 150th anniversary of Italian unification in Rome in June 2011.
Giorgio Cosulich/Getty Images
Berlusconi also found time to catch a few winks during the opening session at the Arab Summit in Libya in March 2010.
Berlusconi also found time to catch a few winks during the opening session at the Arab Summit in Libya in March 2010.
JOSEPH EID/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
It seems there were few places that the former Italian Premier didn't see as potential nap spots. Here, Berlusconi rests his heavy eyelids at a press conference in Jerusalem in January 2009.
It seems there were few places that the former Italian Premier didn't see as potential nap spots. Here, Berlusconi rests his heavy eyelids at a press conference in Jerusalem in January 2009.
AFP/Getty Images
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and Finance Minister Taro Aso "listen" to a question from an opposition lawmaker during a budget session at the National Diet in Tokyo in February 2013.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (L) and Finance Minister Taro Aso "listen" to a question from an opposition lawmaker during a budget session at the National Diet in Tokyo in February 2013.
YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the opening (with her eyes closed) of the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting in Beijing in October 2008.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends the opening (with her eyes closed) of the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting in Beijing in October 2008.
MICHAEL REYNOLDS/AFP/Getty Images
Former Cuban president Fidel Castro takes a nap during the final session of the 6th Cuban Communist Party Congress in April 2011 in Havana.
Former Cuban president Fidel Castro takes a nap during the final session of the 6th Cuban Communist Party Congress in April 2011 in Havana.
ADALBERTO ROQUE/AFP/Getty Images
Austrian President Heinz Fischer conserves his energy during a commemoration ceremony against violence and racism in Parliament in May 2012.
Austrian President Heinz Fischer conserves his energy during a commemoration ceremony against violence and racism in Parliament in May 2012.
DIETER NAGL/AFP/Getty Images
Alberto Fujimori, the former president of Peru, appeared to nod off at a hearing during his trial over alleged human rights violations in Lima in May 2008.
Alberto Fujimori, the former president of Peru, appeared to nod off at a hearing during his trial over alleged human rights violations in Lima in May 2008.
AFP/Getty Images
It's one thing to fall asleep at work, quite another to snooze in front of the President. But that's what former Obama economic adviser Larry Summers appeared to be doing during this press conference in April 2009 at the White House.
It's one thing to fall asleep at work, quite another to snooze in front of the President. But that's what former Obama economic adviser Larry Summers appeared to be doing during this press conference in April 2009 at the White House.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
It's one thing to fall asleep at work, quite another to snooze in front of the President. But that's what former Obama economic adviser Larry Summers appeared to be doing during this press conference in April 2009 at the White House.
It's one thing to fall asleep at work, quite another to snooze in front of the President. But that's what former Obama economic adviser Larry Summers appeared to be doing during this press conference in April 2009 at the White House.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images