Main Characters:
* Artemis Fowl: The titular character, a 12-year-old criminal mastermind who plans to ransom a fairy for gold. He's intelligent, cunning, and ruthless, but also has a certain amount of charisma and charm.
* Holly Short: A fairy officer in the LEPrecon (Lower Elements Police Recon) who is captured by Artemis. She is brave, determined, and skilled in combat and technology.
* Butler: Artemis's loyal and highly trained bodyguard. He is a former Special Forces soldier with a strong moral compass and a fierce dedication to protecting Artemis.
Supporting Characters:
* Foaly: A centaur who serves as the LEPrecon's tech expert and Holly's mentor. He is brilliant but often grumpy and sarcastic.
* Mulch Diggums: A dwarf criminal who Artemis hires to help him. He is greedy, cowardly, and surprisingly resourceful.
* Juliet Butler: Butler's sister, who is Artemis's nanny and a source of stability in his life.
* Artemis Fowl Sr.: Artemis's father, a wealthy businessman who is initially unaware of his son's criminal activities.
* Domovoi Butler: A house elf who serves the Fowl family and is secretly a spy for the fairies.
There are also many other fairy characters who play a role in the story, such as the fairy queen, Commander Root, and the fairies who live in the fairy city of Haven.