Forbes Power List (PHOTOS): The World's Most Powerful Leaders

Forbes has announced its list of the most powerful people in the world. Click here to see.

How exactly do you measure power?

While wealth does appear to be a contributing factor (look at the how the super-rich sit near the top of the list), Forbes is obviously looking at other factors from political influence to philanthropic heft -- hence why someone like Rupert Murdoch is more powerful than Bill Gates, and why a Mexican drug dealer makes the list at number 41.

And while it may come as no shock to learn that Barack Obama grabbed the top spot, looking at the world leaders present on the list may draw some surprises too. No Ahmadinejad? Silvio Berlusconi, a man who can barely control his own libido, at 12?

Let us know who you really think are the most powerful world leaders by voting in the poll, and send us your comments, especially about anyone that should have been on the list but wasn't, below.

Nicolas Sarkozy

TITLE - President of the French Republic

FORBES RANK: 56

MORE POWERFUL THAN - Steve Jobs

LESS POWERFUL THAN - John Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court

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Comments

[SimJack]

Nice sleight of hand by Forbes. It's not single individuals but organizations like the Trllateral Commission, Bilderberg Group, the Carlyle Group among others as well as multinational corporations, investment and banking houses that are the real power in the world today. Governments, politicians and the average person are merely chattel and interchangeable and disposable cogs in their machine.

[Gretel1or2]

Forbes just released an updated list.

#1. Gretel
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.
.
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.2. Obama

[polaris12]

They forgot Bibi - he's got Obama on a leash.

[giantsteps]

"Kings and Crowns must tumble down and in the dust be equal made."-James Shirley

[Rog49Thomas]

And we are to believe Forbes precisely why?

Me, I'm waiting to hear from Dr. Beck whether it's him or Rush.

[Harmony1812]

Rupert Murdoch. Not a leader, but...

[tygakor]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wwGl-CXgOA

[klondiker]

These lists are always inexplicable to me. How is Berlusconi more powerful than Merkel - do they know what the size of the German economy is, and what Germany's influence on Europe is?

I guess they aim to make the list interesting than correct.

[Two Cents]

. . . funny: I thought the same thing.

[nubret2008]

Because Berlusconi is running a Media empire. Why do you think he's still in office being a criminal? Merkel is a democratic leader, she cannot take great influence on the media... But you are right comparing countries Germany is the most powerful country in Europe directly followed by France (though any french would object)....

[fuelcell]

He's got AC Milan

[FHTB]

Ahmadinnerjacket isn't on the list because he is a little pipsqueak and besides the Mullahs run the show.

[LeftLeanWing]

He is just Iran's TV Spokesmodel in a 70's Members-Only Jacket

[roybattyjunior]

Where's Lloyd Blankfein? He's the most powerful man in the world. I mean, he is the President of The Goldman Sachs of America. You know, the company that bought out the US government...

[Conk]

Ding ding ding ding ding! You sir, are the winner! He is certainly among the many bankers who truly run the world. Rockefellers, Rothchilds, Warburgs, etc. These are the real power guys. Politicians are merely puppets. WAKE THE F UP PEOPLE!!!

[MadeandBakedintheUSA]

Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley as "Wall Street's sole standouts."

The highly favorable story, which only peripherally refers to the government support each institution has received, concludes that they are both "making attempts to adapt to the new financial realities.

Combined with the decline of their competitors, that makes them good bets for investors now." For a couple of banks trying to boost their stock, what more could you ask for?

The roots of the linkage between Goldman Sachs and AIG go back to the closing months of the Bush administration, as the financial meltdown reached crisis proportions and key decisions were made that are now reaping the whirlwind.

Remember who played a key role in deciding to bail out AIG?

Henry Paulson, the Goldman CEO-turned George W. Bush Treasury Secretary.
Paulson, according to a September 27, 2008 New York Times piece by Gretchen Morgenson, led a team of regulators and bankers in early September to determine what to do with the most severely wounded financial institutions.

One of the participants in those meetings was Lloyd C. Blankfein, Paulson's successor at Goldman Sachs.

[CaliTLC]

I heard about this Forbes power list earlier today. Why is it buried?

[escribacat]

Cripes. Sarcozy is first picture at number 56? It'll take hours to slog through all of them with this clumsy slow, click-heavy format. Why don't they just show the list?

[hottingers]

I hate to say this but if power is affecting peoples lives, making people do things because of you, changing the world, I would have to say in the last eight years the most powerful person arguably could be Osama bin Laden.

[PaxPacis]

forbes failed to mention the federal reserve.

[lizards]

What about all the d-bags running Goldman Sachs? They're pulling the strings