How Many People Can A C-17 Globemaster Carry?

When most people picture the BoeingC-17 Globemaster III, they think of cargo: tanks, helicopters, and pallets of supplies rolling up a rear ramp. But the aircraft is just as much a people mover. It drops paratroopers, evacuates the wounded, and has airlifted hundreds of civilians out of danger. So how many people can a C-17 actually carry? The answer depends on whether you mean the standard published figure or the extraordinary numbers seen during emergencies.