To his supporters, Julian Assange is a valiant campaigner for truth. To his critics, he is a publicity seeker who has endangered lives by putting a mass of sensitive information into the public domain.
Assange is described by those who have worked with him as intense, driven and highly intelligent, with an exceptional ability to crack computer codes.
He set up Wikileaks, which publishes confidential documents and images, in 2006, making headlines around the world in April 2010 when it released footage showing US soldiers shooting dead 18 civilians from a helicopter in Iraq.
But later that year the Australian was detained in the UK – and later bailed – after Sweden issued an international arrest warrant over allegations of sexual assault.
Assange argued it was a ploy to ultimately extradite to the US to face espionage charges – kicking off a legal saga which has now spanned 14 years, embroiled five countries and reached some of the world’s highest courts.
But the 52-year-old is now free – bailed and on his way to the Northern Mariana Islands – where he is on Wednesday expected to plead guilty to a single charge after reaching a deal with US authorities.
He is expected to be released immediately, given the time he has already served in prison in the UK, and will return to Australia.
Follow live reaction to the Assange plea deal.
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange freed after US plea deal.
A timeline of the Julian Assange saga.
