Orgies! A teenage girlfriend for a grandfather-aged man! Expensive divorce!

And that's just for one world leader.

Here's a guide to some of the most buffoonish and outlandish behaviour by leaders on the world stage in 2009.

Silvio Berlusconi

The 2008 version of this report had this as its final sub-headline: "Silvio's back!"

But who could have imagined the many tabloid splendours that were to follow the rejuvenated political career of Italy's prime minister?

Veronica Lario, his 53-year-old second wife, announced she would be seeking a divorce after stories emerged Berlusconi, 73, had attended the 18th birthday party of model Noemi Letizia. He reportedly bought her a gold necklace studded with diamonds.

Lario said she couldn't stay with someone who "consorts with minors." Berlusconi demanded an apology.

That was followed by photos, published in Spain, of topless women and a naked man at the billionaire's villa in Sardinia during a New Year's party for a Czech delegation. One of the guests was Letizia.

Call girl turned actress and model Patrizia D'Addario claimed to have slept with Berlusconi. It should be known she was promoting a book -- "Enjoy, Prime Minister." He denied ever paying for sexual services, claiming it "takes away from the thrill of the conquest."

The Italian edition of Rolling Stone named Berlusconi the country's "rock star of the year. Carlo Antonelli, the magazine's editor, had this to say: "Rod Stewart, Brian Jones, Keith Richards in their prime were schoolboys compared to him."

Legal troubles are hanging over his head, including charges of bribery and corruption. The country's top court struck down a law that granted him immunity while in office.

Berlusconi described himself as "the most persecuted person in the world."

Nicolas Sarkozy

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy fell ill while jogging in July, resulting in an overnight hospitalization.

Some mean-spirited gossips said he had been pushing himself too hard to keep up with his glamorous wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, the singer and ex-model who is 13 years younger.

That wasn't the only source of woe for Sarkozy.

Some attacked Sarkozy -- who, at 5'5", is one inch shorter than Napoleon Bonaparte -- for stage-managing public appearances to make himself look taller.

A height-challenged employee at a Sarkozy factory appearance told news media she was invited on stage with the president because she was no taller than he was.

French media report that Carla wears flat-soled shoes around her husband.

Sarkozy was accused of interfering with the administration of justice when he suggested former political rival Dominique de Villepin was guilty in what's known as the Clearstream trial.

De Villepin was on trial for allegedly conspiring to damage Sarkozy's 2007 presidential bid. A verdict is expected Jan. 28.

Barack Obama

Barack Hussein Obama became the United States' first black president, when he was sworn in on Jan. 20.

There are many ways to make news as president, but Obama found a new one in June, swatting and killing a fly with casual aplomb during a television interview. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals issued a statement calling the act "an execution" -- in response to media requests for comment.

Obama would also periodically come into the news when Berlusconi would refer to him as "tanned." Michelle Obama refused to kiss Berlusconi at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, offering to shake hands instead.

Obama did trigger a controversy when he said police in Cambridge, Mass. "acted stupidly" in arresting Henry Louis Gates, Jr. -- a prominent black Harvard University professor who was breaking into his own home.

The blowback caused Obama to backtrack. He invited Gates, a friend, and arresting officer Sgt. James Crowley, who is white, to the White House for a beer.

Obama also got scolded by his conservative adversaries for bowing too deeply before the Emperor of Japan -- and for having Dijon mustard spread on a hamburger.

And he's been accused of being too precise, logical, too -- Spock-like. However, Leonard Nimoy, who played the original Mr. Spock character on Star Trek, saw that as a compliment to both Obama and the character.

On the bright side, Obama did get to meet the Salahis.

In a bizarre breakdown of White House security, Virginia couple and reality TV wannabes Michaele and Tareq Salahi managed to crash a Nov. 24 state dinner being held for the India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The White House released a photo of Michaele Salahi shaking hands with Obama in the receiving lines.

Three Secret Service agents were placed on leave.

Vladimir Putin

The prime minister (and former -- and future? -- president) of Russia released photos of another excellent summer adventure in Siberia. There's Vladimir swimming a river! There's Vladimir sitting in a tree in military-style clothing! There's Vladimir riding a horse bare-chested!

But Putin is more than just a he-man. He is also an art critic.

During a visit with 79-year-old Ilya Glazunov, one of Russia's most famous artists, Putin was reported to have said this about a painting of a medieval knight: "The sword is too short. It's only good enough for cutting sausage."

In a reality-TV moment, he ordered a billionaire -- in a televised confrontation -- to re-open a shuttered aluminum plant following protests by workers.

Putin in 2012?

Sarah Palin

OK, she's not really a world leader. After all, she did step down as governor of Alaska in order to plug her ghost-written book "Going Rogue."

But Palin remains a player in U.S. politics -- and seems to be positioning herself for a run for the Republican party's nomination in 2012.

She inserted herself into the U.S. health-reform debate when she released a statement on her website that health reform would create "death panels" -- panels of government bureaucrats who would decide whether people would get care or not.

Nothing of the sort, sputtered the bill's proponents, who said the clause in question talks about end-of life consultations for seniors on Medicare.

In her farewell-to-the-governor's office speech, Palin asked the media to "stop makin' things up."

She then complained about the media checking the "facts" in "Going Rogue." Many discrepancies were found.

Truthiness aside, polls found Palin to be a popular if polarizing figure on the U.S. political stage. Stay tuned.