The Powerful: The World's Most Influential People

Forbes magazine annually publishes a list of the most influential people. Politicians and representatives of big business are always at the top of the list. Sometimes over a long period the top three do not change. It is no secret that big politics takes place behind the scenes. Strategic decisions and the geopolitical game that has always been conducted in the world are also important.

Consider the rating of the most influential people in the world at the end of 2018, learn what achievements allowed them to get into the review of the authoritative edition.

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Forbes analytics are not only based on politically important decisions and reshuffles in the political arena, they also study the ranking list of the American magazine Time, which every spring publishes a list of the 100 most influential people in the world in order to answer the question of who makes history today.

1. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China

China's leader comes from a complicated family. His father was an associate of Mao Zedong and held important positions, so Xi Jinping formally belongs to the inner-party clan of princes called Tai Zidang. In the 1960s, the family was repressed and deported from the capital. Knowing what deprivation and poverty were, the future Chinese leader was able to rally people around him.

He has managed to change life in his own country in many ways. On the wave of economic and income growth, the PRC President is skillfully carrying out reforms; the specifics of the Communist Party's domestic policy are officially written into the Constitution.

2. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia

From 2013 to 2016, Vladimir Putin was number one in the rating. The period from the beginning of 2000 to the present is called the Putin era in Russia. He significantly strengthened the country's role in the foreign policy arena, strengthened the army and increased the weaponry. Under him, the borders of Russia expanded due to the annexation of Crimea.

Western politicians consider him one of the most influential persons on the political arena, and there is an active rivalry for Russia's zones of influence. Speaking of Vladimir Putin, it is impossible not to mention the topic of interference in the U.S. presidential election, which is being actively discussed.

3. Donald Trump, President of the United States

No one believed that Donald Trump, one of the richest men in the U.S., would become president. Rumor has it that outside interference was involved, but no one has voiced direct evidence. Running the richest and most powerful country in the world obliges Trump to take decisive steps.

Despite the difficulties, he pursues an active economic policy and tries to improve the lives of ordinary Americans.

4. Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany

Today many have begun to forget that Mrs. Merkel is the first female chancellor in the history of Germany. She received approval for her job and in 2012 she was re-elected for 4 lines. Today it is obvious that the popularity of Angela Merkel among politicians and citizens is falling. The reason is the unstable situation with migrants and dual foreign policy, which not everyone agrees with.

Nevertheless, the period of her rule came with the strengthening of Germany's position in Europe.

5. Jeff Bezos, head of Amazon USA

In 2018, Forbes called the Amazon founder the richest man on the planet, his fortune is estimated at $135 billion. Bloomberg calls the figure at $150 billion. Bezos is actively expanding the sphere of his economic interests, increasing the zone of influence not only in the United States, but also in the world.

6. pope Francis

Since becoming the new pope, Francis has launched a process of reform of the Catholic Church. He believes that the community lives too conservatively. He is actively involved in political life, meeting with prominent figures and supporting campaigns to reduce violence in the world.

Strongly opposed euthanasia, abortion, legalization of same-sex relationships. Criticized clergymen who denied single mothers the baptism of their children.

7. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft

Philanthropist Bill Gates actively helps those in need and has earned respect in American society. His entourage speaks of him as a modest man, but the entrepreneur lives in a huge house worth over $125 million without land value.

Considered to be the most respected person on the planet.

8. Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

The de facto ruler of the largest country in the Arabian Peninsula and the youngest Minister of Defense in the world. In politics, he actively supports the U.S. position on most issues.

At present, the issue of power change in Saudi Arabia is acute. Some of the elite are in favor of removing the crown prince, but this can only be done after the death of the king. Time will tell whether Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud will retain power in his hands.

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India

The seventh place in the top is taken by the leader of India. It is noted that he is a controversial figure in politics. Despite the kinks, he is supported because of the rapid economic growth of the country.

In foreign policy he is cautious, and India is steadily building up its armaments and navy.

10. Larry Page, co-founder of Google

As a scientist and entrepreneur, Page has earned a fortune of $40.7 billion. Previously, he held higher positions on the Forbes list for several years in a row. Larry Page is not just a rich man, he returned to his influential position as CEO of Alphabet, the holding company that controls Google platforms.

Top 10 most influential people in Russia

In addition to the above rating, the publication presents a list of the most important people in Russian business and domestic politics. Let's see who made it to the top in 2018.

1. Vladimir Putin

The first line is undoubtedly taken by the president himself. Both foreign and domestic policies depend on him. Recently, he has often been criticized for raising taxes, the retirement age, and other unpopular reforms.

2. Herman Gref

The head of the largest commercial bank in the country is an influential businessman. He is very careful in his actions, so the bank successfully operates both in the CIS and in Europe.

3. Alex Miller

Mr. Miller's annual income exceeds $17 million. The chairman of PJSC Gazprom's management board actively influences the position of the domestic market and the country's foreign position.

4. Igor Sechin

The list of "most influential people" also includes the executive director of Rosneft. For a long time he worked in the presidential administration and was the only representative of Russia in the list of 100 most influential people on the planet according to Time magazine.

5. Dmitry Medvedev

Prime Minister of Russia is in fifth position. From 2008 to 2012, he served as president of the country. He is credited with unpopular reforms in the country, including the latest increase in VAT to 20%.

6. Vladimir Bogdanov

Vladimir Leonidovich has been on his way to this position for a long time, he has been involved in drilling all his life and he knows the specifics of managing an oil and gas company very well. He controls Surgutneftegaz.

7. Elvira Nabiullina

Honored Economist of Russia, prior to joining the Bank of Russia, she worked for a year as Putin's aide. She advocates an economic model based on private investment in competitive areas.

8. Alexander Bortnikov

The general and head of the FSB is an influential person in any country. He was not on the U.S. sanctions list and has visited the country several times.

9. Oleg Belozerov

The statesman, head of Russian Railways, succeeded Vladimir Yakunin. With his arrival, the company began to actively combat corruption. He was recommended as a candidate for the post of Minister of Transport.

10. Vagit Alekperov

The co-owner of the Lukoil oil company is engaged in social and scientific activities, is considered the main tycoon of the industry in the country. He is a collector of rare coins.

Rating of the 100 most influential people in history

The book by American-born astrophysicist M. Hart presents his own version of the hundred most influential figures in world history of mankind. From the writer's point of view, it looks like this:

1. the prophet and central figure of Islam, Muhammad;
2. scientist Isaac Newton;
3. the central figure in Christianity, Jesus Christ;
4. the spiritual teacher in Buddhism, the Buddha;
5. the Chinese philosopher Confucius;
6. the chief apostle Paul;
7. Chinese dignitary Cai Lun, who may have invented paper;
8. German pioneer Johannes Gutenberg;
9. Christopher Columbus, explorer and navigator who discovered America for Europe;
10. physicist A. Einstein;
11. microbiologist Louis Pasteur;
12. the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei;
13. the philosopher of ancient Greece, Aristotle;
14. the mathematician Euclid;
15. Jewish prophet Moses;
16. naturalist and traveler from England, Charles Darwin;
17. the first emperor of China, the founder of the Qin Dynasty, Shi Huangdi;
18. the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus;
19. Polish scientist Nicolaus Copernicus;
20. Antoine Lavoisier, the first chemist;
21. Roman Emperor Constantine I;
22. engineer and mechanic James Watt;
23. physicist Michael Faraday;
24. scientist J. Maxwell;
25. the theologian in Christianity, Martin Luther;
26. George Washington, the first president of the United States;
27. the German sociologist and economist Karl Marx;
28. aircraft designers Orville and Wilbur Wright;
29. Mongolian Khan Genghis Khan;
30. economist Adam Smith;
31. poet William Shakespeare;
32. naturalist John Dalton;
33. the commander Alexander the Great;
34. Emperor Napoleon I of France;
35. inventor Thomas Edison;
36. the founder of microscopy, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek;
37. dentist William Morton;
38. the radio engineer Gugliermo Marconi;
39. The Fuhrer of the Third Reich, Adolf Hitler;
40. the philosopher Plato;
41. revolutionary Oliver Cromwell;
42. scientist Alexander Bell;
43. Alexander Fleming, the inventor of penicillin;
44. philosopher John Locke;
45. pianist and composer of his own works, Ludwig van Beethoven;
46. one of the founders of quantum mechanics, Werner Heisenberg;
47. chemist Louis Daguerre;
48. Simon Bolivar, the fighter for independence;
49. the mathematician René Descartes;
50. Michelangelo the sculptor;
51. Pope Urban II;
52. The Prophet's companion Umar ibn al-Khattab;
53. Indian ruler Ashoka;
54. Christian Aurelius Augustinus;
55. physician William Garvey;
56. the creator of nuclear physics, E. Rutherford;
57. Reformer and theologian Jean Calvin;
58. a monk who was active in botany and studied heredity, H. Mendel;
59. the leader of German science, Max Planck;
60. English surgeon Joseph Lister;
61. inventor Nikolaus Otto;
62. Conquistador F. Pizarro;
63. conquistador Hernan Cortez;
64. U.S. President Thomas Jefferson;
65. Queen Isabella I of Spain;
66. Joseph Stalin, the leader of the USSR;
67. commander Julius Caesar;
68. William I the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy;
69. psychologist Sigmund Freud;
70. Edward Jenner, the physician who created the smallpox vaccine;
71. physicist W. Roentgen;
72. composer Johann Bach;
73. Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism;
74. the poet and educator Voltaire;
75. astronomer Johannes Kepler;
76. physicist E. Fermi;
77. the Swiss mathematician L. Euler;
78. thinker Jean-Jacques Rousseau;
79. the philosopher Nicolo Machiavelli;
80. economist Thomas Malthus;
81. U.S. President John F. Kennedy;
82. researcher Gregory Pincus, creator of oral contraceptives;
83. the founder of Manichaeism, Mani;
84. the man who made the world believe in the power of revolution, Vladimir Lenin;
85. Chinese Emperor Sun Wen-di;
86. the navigator Vasco da Gama;
87. the Persian king Cyrus II;
88. Emperor Peter the Great;
89. Chinese politician Mao Zedong;
90. the philosopher Francis Bacon;
91. industrialist Henry Ford;
92. the philosopher Meng Tzu;
93. the founder of the ancient religion Zarathustra;
94. Queen Elizabeth I of England;
95. the first president of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev;
96. Menes, the unifier of Egypt;
97. King of the Franks, Charlemagne the First, who received his nickname during his lifetime;
98. the poet Homer;
99. Emperor Justinian I of Byzantium;
100. preacher Mahavira.

Conclusions

1. The most influential people in the world according to Forbes are Xi Qinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. billionaire Donald Trump.
2. The list of the most influential people in Russia is headed by President Vladimir Putin, Herman Gref and Alexei Miller.
3. According to the twice-published book of the same name, the top three of the 100 most influential people in the history of the world are Muhammad, Isaac Newton and Jesus Christ. These people turned the world upside down.