Steve Jobs was denied a knighthood in 2009, after it 'reached the final stages of approval,' because he refused to do political favors for the U.K.'s then-governing Labour party.

The former MP was told by Downing Street that the decision was related to a failed attempt to attract Mr Jobs to Labour's annual conference. Given his status as a superstar of business and technology, such an appearance would have been viewed as a coup for Mr Brown.

Given Grand Moff Blairbrown's attitude toward the British honors system, it's hardly a surprise. Bill Gates was knighted in 2005. [Telegraph]