Russia's President Vladimir Putin has secured his leading position in the country, which is the main reason why he ranks first among the most influential people in the world, according to Forbes. Putin is followed by US President Barack Obama, who ran for a second term despite the US budget crisis. Here's what the ranking of the ten most influential people in the world looks like:
- Vladimir Putin. Putin has shown his influence in the political struggle for Syria by stopping the Western world from striking the country. The former KGB officer has control of one of the world's most powerful nuclear-armed armies, as well as control of some of the world's largest oil and gas reserves. He is entitled to two more terms, which could keep him at the top of Russian politics until 2024;
- Barack Obama. President Obama's health care reform has been widely criticized. Additional tensions are mounting around the US president and the scandals of wiretapping world leaders and the temporary closure of the US administration. However, Obama is in second place thanks to his re-election for a second term, at the top of one of the most developed and powerful countries in the world;
- Xi Jingping. Elected in March, the 60-year-old politician exercises almost dictatorial power over the country's nearly 1.3 billion people (about 20% of the world's population). China has the largest central bank with $ 3.5 billion in assets, holding $ 1.3 trillion in US debt. This makes China the largest owner of US debt. There are 122 billionaires in the country, compared to zero a decade ago. Xi is also president of the Chinese Communist Party and commander-in-chief of the country's armed forces;
- Pope Francis. Elected in March, Pope Francis gave new impetus to the world's largest Christian denomination, with 1.2 billion followers. This is the first spiritual leader from South America and the first Jesuit pope. Pope Francis preaches compassion for the poor and a more significant role for women. He often uses social networks;
- Angela Merkel. She is the most influential woman in the world for eight of the last ten years. Angela Merkel is responsible for the development and representation of all EU countries. Merkel's firm stance on helping troubled European members has drawn significant criticism, but Merkel, Germany's chancellor since 2005, has once again won the German election;
- Bill Gates. Gates is the richest man in the United States, although he has donated more than $ 28 billion to his charity. Shares of Microsoft rose in August after the news of the withdrawal of current CEO Steve Ballmer, which increased the state of Gates;
- Ben Bernanke. Bernanke will step down as head of the Fed on January 31 next year, to be replaced by Janet Yellen. He served in some of the most critical years in US history during a decades-long financial crisis. Bernanke's decisive measures allowed the US economy to cope with the difficult situation;
- Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud. The elderly monarch of Saudi Arabia holds the key to the world's largest oil reserves of 265 billion barrels, or 20% of the world's oil reserves. The kingdom has a GDP of 727 billion dollars, which makes it among the 20 richest countries in the world. However, unemployment in the country is significant at 12%, as well as 25% among young people under 25. This makes the country set aside significant funds to support the unemployed;
- Mario Draghi. The head of the European Central Bank logically fills the top 10 of the most influential people in the world. The eurozone's GDP is $ 17 trillion, and Draghi's efforts have helped rebuild the troubled eurozone members in recent years;
- Michael Duke. Duke runs the world's largest chain of stores, which is also the world's largest private employer.
Source: profit.bg