Ranked: Most Powerful People In The World, 2020

The variables to decide the powerfulness of individuals change with time depending on the dynamism of socio-economic and geopolitical factors. Ultimately, it is all about control over the resources that drive the world in some direction for a time being. In the contemporary digital era, if we discount momentary propaganda-driven popularity, knowledge, and information are the most valuable resources and people who are managing the balance of quality, speed, and effectiveness of these two resources are the real powerful people.

US President Donald Trump has been named the most powerful person on the planet, that’s according to the CEOWORLD magazine ranking of the people shaping global politics and policy.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ranks second on the CEOWORLD magazine 2020 list of the World’s Most Powerful People. Rounding up the top five on the list are Chinese President Xi Jinping, followed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel (No. 4) and Amazon chief Jeff Bezos (No 5).

The list also includes Pope Francis (No. 6), Narendra Modi (No. 7), Cofounder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates (No. 8), Mark Zuckerberg (No. 9), and Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud (No. 10).

This time around, we’re out for bigger fish. To assemble and rank this list of the most powerful people in the world, CEOWORLD magazine consulted numerous roundups from a wide range of foreign and defense policy specialists; international relations experts; individual researchers, and the members of the world’s leading think tanks on economic and policy issues. Based on a consensus from these experts, the final choice of the world’s most powerful people was judged editorially, as was their position on the list. That doesn’t mean the list doesn’t contain any surprises. Few will spend much time protesting Donald Trump’s spot at the top of the list. The US president has shown every inclination to use the power of his office — and then some.

The rankings are based on three major categories of power and influence. Overall Score (100%) is the sum of each representing a different type of power: “exceptionals” with the greatest ability to exert influence; “champions” most likely to overturn the status quo; and the nine “idealists” whose ideas are driving global politics and policies. We hope you’ll enjoy reading and look forward to hearing what you think of this year’s ranking. Here are some of the world’s most powerful people who are currently shaping the world:

Most Powerful People In The World, 2020

The powerfulness is definitely much more than just, it is more about being in the control of the narrative and the ability to change the perception smoothly. Of course, money is at the core but powerfulness is about the effective utilization of available resources to help people shape the world. It is beyond right or wrong. It is all about the authority and control over the decision making that sets and rests the course of history. In the current scenario, the four major variables of powerfulness are economic power, impact, command, and of course news-worthiness.

Donald J. Trump (No. 1): The scale, control, and impact of the power of the U.S. president make the person on the chair the most powerful person by default. The 45^th president of the U.S., Donald Trump is no exception. Coming from the ultra-rich elite background with vast real-estate business makes him unique as he is the first billionaire president. Trump, with net-worth of $3.9 billion, is all about open-mouth controversies.

Despite low media ratings, the Republican man is doing something miraculous in transforming the job market and global trade equations. On the military front, he is redefining the global strategy be it troops withdrawal, NATO, or China Sea engagements. It would be interesting to watch his approval rating post corona crisis.

Vladimir Putin (No. 2): This man epitomizes total control over the nationalist narrative, and he is playing the art of information war very effectively. The 63-year-old super-fit man does what he wants and effectively passes the message that all is done for the welfare of the citizen.  The law graduate and retired Lt. Colonel with vast experience of covert operations rose to prominence during the Russian disintegration era of Boris Yeltsin. He joined the administration in 1996 and soon became acting president in 1999. He was the prime minister between 1999 and 2000 and again became prime minister between 2008 and 2012 and since then he is leading as president of Russia.

The revivalist believes in the classic Russian superiority and he is successfully transforming the economy and the Russian nationality with absolute control. Visualizing the heavy dependency of crude oil, he is aggressively diversifying the economy and trying all geopolitical means to keep oil bomb ticking. Despite economic sanctions after the Crimean and Ukrainian maneuvers, his popularity rating is at an all-time high. Name any global issue, you will find his effective presence in shaping the reshaping the outcome.

Xi Jinping (No. 3): Starting as Governor of Fujian in 1999, 1953 born Xi Jinping is currently the President of China. After Fujian, he became the Party Committee Secretary in 2002 with the additional charge of the Governor of Zhejiang. Known for his anti-corruption measures, he rose in party ranks and ultimately became the President of China. Name any organization, he is there at the helm of decision making by default. Being the head of the second-largest and fastest-growing economy he leaves a deep impact on global trade and peace dynamics.

With a reformist tag, he is the man who is taken very seriously on global stages. Although the totalitarian approach attracts criticism, he is using this approach effectively to build an alternative pole of power. However, the Wuhan Virus is going to be a black spot on his image as global leaders are gearing up to make him pay for the alleged mistake that caused unprecedented dame to the global economy.

Pope Francis (No. 6): This is another chair-linked power that makes the current Pope of The Roman Catholic Church. 1936 born Argentinean become the 266^th  Pope in 2013 replacing Pope Benedict XVI and leading the largest religious group towards the betterment of the world. The Sovereign Head of the Vatican City is very proactive about war and inter-faith harmony along with climate change and migration issues. Although facing challenges of declining acceptance following the rampant sexual abuse cases across the world, he is trying to regain the ground with compassion and forgiveness.

Narendra Modi (No. 7): The Prime Minister of India, the largest and most vibrant democracy of the world, is currently at the top of approval rating. His life is a perfect story of the democratic rise of a man from nothing to everything.

The 1950 born man, a son of a tea seller, is leading from the front to build New India of inclusive and participative development. Starting as a member of the Bhartiya Janta Party, he soon rose to prominence as and ultimately become the Chief Minister of the state of Gujarat. His dedicated approach to revive the cultural glory through economic empowerment helped him gain national traction and he became the Prime Minister in 2014 when his party BJP clichéd majority in the lower house of the Parliament. The reformist agenda with a focus on inclusive development helped him win the second term in 2019. Known for his excellent communication skill and strong decision making, he is currently one of the most admired leaders globally. His visionary approach in handling the corona crisis and saving millions of people is helping him win hearts.

Bill Gates (No. 8): The Seattle man who made computing simple and user-friendly continues to remain among the most powerful people in the world. The 1955 born founder of Microsoft, although active in the company anymore, continues to remain in news for his multi-billion dollar philanthropic activities to help humanity live a better life.

One of the wealthiest men on earth, Bill Gates currently runs the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to mainly support healthcare research and other activities. Despite criticism of anti-competitive business practices, he is a leading voice getting maximum media attention.

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