Forbes World's Most Powerful People: Vladimir Putin trumps Barack Obama, again

For a second year in a row, Russian President Vladimir Putin has beaten Barack Obama to the title of world's most powerful leader as ranked by Forbes. Source: AFP

 

RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has been named the world’s most powerful person for the second year in a row by Forbes magazine. 

The controversial Russian strongman beat out Barack Obama for the top spot, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping coming in third place.

Media magnate Rupert Murdoch and family came in at 32 on the list of 72 powerbrokers, while Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart came in at 66, but Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott did not make the cut.

Forbes senior editor Caroline Howard writes: “Power has been called many things. Pretty isn’t one of them. No one would call Vladimir Putin a good guy.

“In 2014, he strongarmed his way into possession of Crimea and waged an ugly proxy war in neighbouring Ukraine, during which an almost certainly Russian-supplied surface-to-air missile downed a civilian jetliner.
“So who’s more powerful: the omnipotent head of corroding but still feisty power or the handcuffed head of the most dominant country in the world?”

According to the collective wisdom of Forbes editors and advisers, the answer was clear.

The rankings measure power based on four criteria: whether the candidate has power over lots of people; the financial resources controlled by each person; if the candidate is powerful in multiple spheres; and whether the candidates actively use their power.

“Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin scores the highest points in 2014. He is the undisputed and unaccountable head of an energy-rich, nuclear-tipped state,” Howard writes.

While Barack Obama is the commander-in-chief of the undisputed most dominant country in the world, he has been “stymied by Russian expansionism, the West African Ebola outbreak and a bloodthirsty ISIS abroad, racial unrest and the Republican gains in Congress at home”.

THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE

1. VLADIMIR PUTIN — Russia

He’s the all-powerful, unpredictable leader of an energy-rich, nuclear-armed state. Enough said. Source: AFP

 

2. BARACK OBAMA — United States

He has power but has been too cautious to fully exercise it, says Forbes. Source: AFP

 

3. XI JINPING — China

The reformist head of the world’s largest economy, valued at $A20.5 trillion. Source: Supplied

 

4.POPE FRANCIS — Roman Catholic Church

The spiritual leader to 1.2 billion souls — now that’s power. Source: AP

 

5.ANGELA MERKEL — Germany

The first female German chancellor is Europe’s longest-serving head of state. Source: AP

 

6. JANET YELLEN — Washington, United States

She’s the head of the most influential central bank in the world, the US Federal Reserve. Source: AP

 

7. BILL GATES — Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

America’s richest man is using his wealth to effect major social change around the world. Source: AP

 

8. MARIO DRAGHI — European Central Bank

As president of the European Central Brank, “Super Mario” oversees 18 countries. Source: AFP

 

9. SERGEY BRIN — Google

He’s the co-founder of the world’s most influential technology company. Source: AFP

 

9. LARRY PAGE — Google

With a net worth of $A35.3 billion, Larry Page now focuses on Google’s long-term strategy. Source: AP

 

10. DAVID CAMERON — United Kingdom

The UK prime minister nearly lost Scotland — and a sizeable chunk of his power — this year. Source: Getty Images

 

11. ABDULLAH BIN ABDUL AZIZ AL SAUD — Saudi Arabia

Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. The Saudi ruler is absolute monarch and custodian of Islam’s two holiest sites. Source: AP

 

12. WARREN BUFFETT — Berkshire Hathaway

The 84-year-old philanthropist’s wealth continues to grow, despite giving away billions. Source: AP

 

13. LI KEQIANG — China

The Chinese Premier has overseen modest improvements to the country’s economy. Source: AP

 

14. CARLOS SLIM HELU & FAMILY — América Móvil

The world’s second richest man has fingers in the telco, retail, financial and industrial sectors. Source: News Limited

 

15. NARENDRA MODI — India

India’s newly elected conservative prime minster has promised economic rejuvenation. Source: AFP

 

16. JEFF BEZOS — Amazon.com

Amazon’s founder is dedicated to investing cash from operations into new endeavours. Source: AP

 

17. FRANCOIS HOLLANDE — France

With approval ratings as low as 17 per cent, the French president is facing an uphill battle. Source: AFP

 

18. JAMIE DIMON — JPMorgan Chase

Since taking over in 2005, Jamie Dimon has led JPMorgan Chase to profits of $A24.83 billion. Source: Supplied

 

19. ALI HOSEINI-KHAMENEI — Iran

Iran’s supreme leader remains focused on establishing the country as a nuclear player. Source: Supplied

 

20. REX TILLERSON — Exxon Mobil

Under Rex Tillerson’s leadership, ExxonMobil struck oil this summer in Russia’s Arctic region. Source: AP

 

21. JEFFREY IMMELT — General Electric

Jeffrey Immelt oversees one of the most diverse businesses on the planet. Source: Supplied

 

22. MARK ZUCKERBERG — Facebook

Facebook’s founder has been betting big on new acquisitions this year. Source: AP

 

23. MICHAEL BLOOMBERG — Bloomberg

The former mayor of New York has returned to the helm of his namesake company. Source: AAP

 

24. CHARLES KOCH — Koch Industries

He’s the chair of America’s second largest private company and major political donor. Source: Supplied

 

24. DAVID KOCH — Koch Industries

The lightning-rod capitalist brothers splashed out than $A5.8 billion on acquisitions this year. Source: AP

 

25. TIMOTHY COOK — Apple

He’s the man behind the most valuable company in the world, valued at $A137.5 billion. Source: AFP

news.com.au 6 Nov 2014

Another piece of mass media misinformation.

The queen (Queen Elizabeth II - and the people of her realms) is subservient to the pope.

The pope is more powerful than any of the leaders mentioned above him, but this is not common knowledge, and no doubt can be labelled as a 'conspiracy theory' by the mainstream media.