4 Most Powerful People in 2012

In a world that looks up to the magnitude of power and possessions as a mark of achievement, it can also intimidate or influence the mass, depending on how it’s negotiated. Here are the top ten extraordinary men and women who possess the element of supremacy to be most powerful people in the world, as listed by Forbes.

1 Barack Obama

Barack Obama is in the second running as the U.S. President this year, which allows him another four years to shower his power in and around the world. However, he is up against many challenges which include the unsettled budget crisis, the unfortunate high unemployment rate in U.S. and adding to this is the rekindled turbulence in Middle East. Obama still remains the Commander in Chief of the greatest military in the world and the head of the only economic and cultural superpower, which makes him the most powerful person in the world. 

2 Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel is the second person and first women on the power list. She is the appointed Chancellor of Germany and leader of the Christian Democratic Union party. She forms the foundation of the 27 member European Union. In the recent past she undertook the challenge with severe steps to ease the European debt crisis, while pitted against the hard hit southern countries and the wealthy north. Yet she stands tall. She has held her post as chancellor since 2005. The challenges that lie ahead for her is the 2013 German elections where she needs to boost the sagging popularity of her government.
3 Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin is the President of Russia since May 2012. He has juggled between the position of Prime Minister and President of Russia over the years. Putin has earned the credit for establishing political stability and economic progress in Russia, which ended the crisis of the 1990s. During his first Presidency in 1999 to 2008, his dynamic leadership showed a high economic growth. In his term the real wages have tripled, unemployment and poverty reduced by half. In 2010 when the wildfires wrecked the Ryazan region, instead of appearing in front of the camera, speaking of the situation, Putin chose to handle the situation and took the captain’s seat in the Beriev BE-200 amphibious aircraft prepared to save the day.

4 Bill Gates

Bill Gates, the present chairman of Microsoft is the fourth most powerful person in the world. He is also the second richest man in the world with $65 billion net worth. Gates has given away over $28 billion in charity to fight and eliminate many infectious and fatal diseases. Gates has superseded all levels of generosity when he persuaded his friends and colleagues to join the ‘Giving Pledge.’ They vowed to give away half their riches or maybe more to the world’s needy. The total number of Richie Riches’ who signed the Giving Pledge is 92 as of 2012.