Putin Ranked One of World’s Three Most Influential People

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin appears in the top three of world’s most influential men according for Forbes magazine. The magazine published the list of 67 most influential politicians, businessmen and other influential individuals.
The most influential person in the world is – what a shocker – US President Barack Obama. The magazine gave the second place to China’s Hu Jintao. Russia’s Vladimir Putin comes third.

The top five continues with Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the US Federal Reserve System, and Google’s founding fathers Sergey Brin and Larry Page. The top ten closes with Microsoft’s head Bill Gates, includes media tycoon Rupert Murdoch and Saudi Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is ranked 43rd on the list, being behind practically all influential leaders of European states. Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi is ranked 12th, German Chancellor Angela Merkel – 15th, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown – 29th. The only European leader that is placed below Medvedev on the list is French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who comes 56th.

Strangely enough, Forbes placed al-Qaeda’s elusive leader Osama bin Laden on the 37th place. North Korea’s Kim Jong-il comes 24th and Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman – 41st.

The last, 67th place on the list is taken by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.