5 Most Powerful People in World

When it comes to the world’s 5 most powerful people, Forbes doesn’t offer many surprises. Barack Obama heads the pack, with other world leaders in the next three spots. The full list of 70 powerhouses, however, does offer some food for thought: Mark Zuckerberg (9), for example, is almost as powerful as the pope (7) and more powerful than British PM David Cameron (10). Bill Gates is No. 5, while new Apple CEO Tim Cook is way down at 58; no posthumous place for Steve Jobs.

The top five:

1. Barack Obama: He may be facing a tough reelection, but he’s the boss of what’s “indisputably the most powerful nation in the world.”
2. Vladimir Putin: Headed for the Russian presidency once again, he could well be in power until 2024.
3. Hu Jintao: He holds all three of China’s top positions: Communist Party general secretary, president, and commander-in-chief.
4. Angela Merkel: She leads Europe’s “most vibrant” economy and is considered the “de facto leader of the EU.”
5. Bill Gates: He’s the second-richest guy on Earth and he’s taking huge strides for health worldwide.

(More Barack Obama stories.)