Putin Tops Obama On Forbes' Ranking

Russian President Vladimir Putin is the world’s most powerful leader ahead of Barack Obama of the United States of America, this is according to latest Forbes ranking.
 
This is happening for a second year in a row.
In a year in which Russia annexed Crimea, stoked a conflict in Ukraine and clinched a multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline deal with China that Forbes called the world’s largest construction project.
It was the third time in Obama’s presidency that he has lost top billing, twice to Putin and once to Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

World’s Most Powerful Leader, Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

Third prize went to Jinping, who is expected to rule for a decade in which China is set to eclipse the United States as the world’s largest economy.

 Pope Francis was number four and German Chancellor Angela Merkel number five.
Among 12 newcomers are Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, number 15; Alibaba founder—and China’s richest man Jack Ma, number 30; and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-proclaimed caliph of the Islamic State group, number 54.

While 26 on the list come from the United States, Asia Pacific made a strong showing with 19 from the region, including six from China.

The list includes 17 heads of state who run nations with a combined GDP of $48 trillion and 39 CEOs and chairs who control over $3.6 trillion in annual revenue.