In November, Forbes published an annual list of 72 people, which included the most influential people in the world 2014... For the second time, the Russian president topped the list.
Among the factors by which the rating participants are selected are the financial flows controlled by the leader, the number of people who can be influenced by his decisions, as well as the area of the Earth's territory, over which his influence extends.
10. Larry Page
The CEO and co-founder of Google is responsible for the company's biggest deals. Hardly anyone will challenge the influence of one of the two owners of the Internet giant. In the Internet search market, it is Google that holds 65%, while developing areas such as mobile electronics, innovative technologies and software.
9.Sergey Brin
The co-founder of Google moved with his parents to the United States from Moscow at the age of six. It is Brin in the corporation who is responsible for technological innovations like augmented reality glasses or an unmanned "Google mobile".
8. Mario Draghi
It is under pressure from the chairman of the European Central Bank that EU leaders are forced to carry out unpopular reforms aimed at cutting costs. Draghi has influenced 18 national economies, each of which is far from being in its best condition.
7. Bill Gates
Gates is actively using his huge fortune of $ 81.5 billion to expand charitable programs. He helps a lot in healthcare and education, both in the United States and in third world countries.
6. Janet Yellen
Led by Yellen, $ 4.5 trillion. funds of the US Federal Reserve System. Janet's arrival as chairman coincided with the emergence of the American economy from a protracted crisis, now Yellen's task is to keep the chosen course.
5. Angela Merkel
Under the influence of Merkel - the strongest among the EU economies. At the end of last year, voters voted for the permanent chancellor for the third time in a row - demonstrating their confidence in Merkel.
4. Pope Francis
The flock of the Great Pontiff totals 1.2 billion people - this is 1/6 of the world's population. Francis gained wide popularity thanks to his liberal views - it is he who recognizes the theory of the big bang and evolution, and also pays active attention to the problems of gender equality and poverty.
3. Xi Jinping
The popularity of the Chinese leader is so high that during his two years in power, Xi was compared with Mao Zedong. By systematically carrying out reforms in the country, the President of the PRC manages to masterfully balance between pressure from the West and the desire to strengthen partnerships with both Asian countries and Russia.
2. Barack Obama
The American leader has been heavily criticized for being overly cautious. Although it was he who managed to reduce unemployment in the country to a record level and reverse the crisis in the American economy. However, the riots in Ferguson and active threats from the Islamists do not go unnoticed by the public. Obama's rating today would definitely not allow him to take the presidency.
1. Vladimir Putin
Despite the fact that the attitude towards Putin in the West is hopelessly spoiled, no expert will deny the power of the Russian leader's influence.Forbes emphasizes that Putin can afford to conduct his own policy without regard to other people's opinions.