Joe Biden, the US president-elect: A profile in pictures

A stalwart of American political life for decades, Joe Biden, 77, has experienced many ups and downs during his long career in Washington. But in the end he won the biggest prize of all - the presidency - after edging out President Donald Trump.

After four full days of waiting patiently for the slow march of vote counting to work itself out, Biden pulled off one of the great political turnarounds in America by defeating Trump and is now effectively the country's President-elect. At this glorious occasion we take a look at his life over the years through pictures:

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Barack Obama (2nd L) and Vice President Joe Biden (L), along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, May 1, 2011.

In this file photo taken on January 10, 2017, US President Barack Obama hugs US Vice President Joe Biden after the President delivered his farewell address in Chicago, Illinois.

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis meets U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (R) in Paul VI hall at the Vatican, on April 29, 2016

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., holds his daughter Ashley while taking a mock oath of office from Vice President George Bush during a ceremony on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Jan. 3, 1985. Biden's sons Beau and Hunter hold the bible during the ceremony.

FILE PHOTO: Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., right, walks with his wife Jill after announcing his candidacy for president June 9, 1987, in Wilmington, Del.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden (R) talks with soldiers as he travels in a military vehicle to Iraq from Kuwait in this September 6, 2007 handout photo.

FILE PHOTO: Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., left, and other family members watch Biden's grandson Hunter wave from the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008.

FILE PHOTO: Vice President Joseph Biden places his hand on his heart as the casket of his son is carried into the church before a funeral mass for former Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., June 6, 2015.

FILE PHOTO: Presidential hopeful Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., gestures during a speech to students on the University of Iowa campus, April 13, 1987, Iowa City, Iowa.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden is sworn in as his wife Jill watches during the inauguration ceremony for President Barack Obama in Washington January 20, 2009.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Barack Obama wipes tears while delivering a statement on steps the administration is taking to reduce gun violence in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 5, 2016. Vice President Joe Biden is at right.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., Chairman of the U.S Senate's Foreign Relations Committee, waves as he talks to Afghan children during a visit to the Ariana primary school in Kabul, Jan. 12, 2002. Biden was on a two-day visit to the Afghan capital.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (C) helps President Barack Obama (R) pick out a pack of cookies as they buy lunch at a sandwich shop near the White House in Washington, U.S., October 4, 2013.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (R) share a laugh during the Lilly Ledbetter sex discrimination bill signing ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, January 29, 2009.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Vice President Joe Biden in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 12, 2017.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden talks with soldiers at Camp Victory on the outskirts of Baghdad, Iraq July 4, 2009.

FILE PHOTO: US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) holds a child, as his vice presidential running mate Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) (R) smiles at a campaign event at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, U.S., August 23, 2008.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden acknowledges the crowd as he appears on the stage at an event to discuss the economy at the Javitz Convention Center in New York, September 10, 2015.

FILE PHOTO: With Vice President Joe Biden and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi looking on, U.S. President Barack Obama addresses a joint session of Congress in Washington, February 24, 2009.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President-elect Joe Biden acknowledges the crowd with Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter (L) at the Philadephia Eagles vs. New York Giants NFL football game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., November 9, 2008.

FILE PHOTO: Senators Hillary Clinton (D-NY) (R) with Joe Lieberman (D-CT) (2nd R) watches as Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) gestures during a joint news conference on protecting the U.S. from terrorism on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 12, 2005.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) (R) and his vice presidential running mate Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) (2nd R) wave at a campaign rally in Beaver, Pennsylvania, U.S., August 29, 2008. They are joined by their wives Jill Biden (2nd L) and Michelle Obama.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden kisses his wife Jill as they dance at the Commander-In-Chief Ball in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2009.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (rear) awards a Medal of Valor to Watertown, Massachusetts police officer John MacLellan during a ceremony for public safety officers in Washington February 11, 2015.

FILE PHOTO: Democratic presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) (L) talks with fellow candidates Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) at the South Carolina Democratic party's presidential candidates debate at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S., April 26, 2007.

FILE PHOTO: US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) (L) and his wife Michelle wave together with Obama's vice presidential running mate Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) (R) and his wife Jill during a campaign event at the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, U.S., August 23, 2008.