Business And Leadership: Obama most powerful person in the world - Forbes

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Obama most powerful person in the world - Forbes

12.11.2009
US President Barack Obama has topped the poll of the world’s most powerful people compiled by Forbes Magazine.

Obama, Forbes says, is head of state of the world’s sole superpower, noting that he was also recently awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, “apparently for general awesomeness”.

Hot on his heels is the Chinese Premier Hu Jintao, followed by the former Russian President and now Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

A notable figure throughout the global financial crisis, US Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is the fourth most powerful person in the world, according to Forbes, followed by a dual entry at No 5 for Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the billionaire founders of search engine giant Google.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, however, plays second fiddle to the Google guys down in 10^th position.

Meanwhile, evening out the top 10 is the Mexican telecommunications mogul and the world’s third richest persons Carlos Slim Helu in sixth position, followed by Rupert Murdoch at No 7, the President and CEO of the world’s largest retailer Wal-Mart Mike Duke at No 8, with the King of Saudi Arabia Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud in ninth position.

The first female entry on the list is recently re-elected German Chancellor Angela Merkel at No 15, who is followed swiftly by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at No 17.

And just as if the world needed further confirmation of the might of Goldman Sachs, its CEO Lloyd Blankfein makes it into the top 20 most powerful people in the world at No 18.

Forbes ranks the President of the European Central Bank Jean-Claude Trichet in 25^th position, while Silvio Berlusconi defers to the Pope to rank at No 12. Pope Benedict XVI is one step above Berlusconi at No 11.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown languishes down in 29^th place, just two places above former US President Bill Clinton.

The continued influence of Osama Bin Laden alive or dead is also clear from the list, which places him at No 37.

Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Apple CEO Steve Jobs tussle it out for 56^th and 57^th position respectively.