Ten Most Powerful People on Earth

1. Hu Jintao
Age: 67
Title: President
Organization: People’s Republic of China
Hu Jintao is the political leader of 3.2 billion people, more than anyone else on the planet. He also has dictatorial control, and can do what he wants without worrying about the bickering of a split party system. China also recently surpassed Japan to become the second largest economy.



2. Barack Obama
Age: 49
Title: President
Organization: United States of America
President Obama was last year’s most powerful man, but with a devastating midterm election, Obama could find it hard to enforce his policies in the next two years.



3. King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud
Age: 86
Title: King
Organization: Saudi Arabia
Not only is Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud the king and absolute ruler of land that hosts two holiest sites in Islam. He is also in control of the world’s largest crude oil reserves. Forbes estimates that he rules over one-fifth of the planets oil supply.



4. Vladimir Putin
Age: 58
Title: Prime Minister
Organization: Russia
The Prime Minister over one-ninth of the world’s land.



5. Pope Benedict XVI
Age: 83
Title: Pope
Organization: Roman Catholic Church
The pope rules over more than 1.1 billion souls, or one-sixth of the population.




6. Angela Merkel
Age: 56
Title: Chancellor
Organization: Germany
The most powerful woman on the planet overseas Europe’s largest economy.



7. David Cameron
Age: 44
Title: Prime Minister
Organization: United Kingdom
David Cameron is the youngest Prime Minister in nearly 200 years.



8. Ben Bernake
Age: 56
Title: Chairman
Organization: Federal Reserve
The Fed’s influence is at an all-time high, and the man in charge is Ben Bernake.




9. Sonia Gandhi
Age: 63
Title: President
Organization: Indian National Congress
Ghandi has influence over 1.2 billion people in India, and was just elected to her fourth term.



10. Bill Gates
Age: 55
Title: Co-Chair
Organization: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Bill Gates earned his money with Microsoft, but he earned his power by giving it away. Gates encouraged 40 of the world’s richest people to sign his “giving pledge” this year.