14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is among the members of an extremely select club, the world’s most powerful people.
Moreover, the man that dreamed of putting a Windows PC on every desk and in every home is in an even more select list, the top 10 most powerful figures of the globe according to Forbes, including heads of state, major religious figures, entrepreneurs and even outlaws.
Number 1 on Forbes’ list is Chinese President Hu Jintao, followed by US President Barack Obama, and by Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, Saudi Arabia’s King.
Next in line is Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President, with Pope Benedict XVI in fifth place, German Chancellor Angela Merkel in sixth place, followed by David Cameron, UK’s Prime Minister, and by Sonia Gandhi President of the Indian National Congress Party.
Bill Gates is the first non-politician on the list, coming in the 10th place. But even if barely making the top 10, this position still speaks eloquently about the influence that the richest man in the world still has, despite the fact that his focus is placed with predilection on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and philanthropy work.
Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO is 17th most powerful in the world, sandwiched between Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil and Manmohan Singh, India’s Prime Minister.
Just as they are inseparable in the world’s richest people top, Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin share the 22nd position on the list of most powerful people around the world.
Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder and CEO is at number 40, slightly less powerful than the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Tenzin Gyatso.
Microsoft’s Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer hasn’t made the list, just as it is the case for Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google.