Harvard's on Forbes' Most Powerful People List, But Not at the Top

The world’s most powerful person is no longer a Harvard graduate, according to Forbes’ newly released list of the world’s most powerful people. The list, which is in only its second year, claims that Chinese President Hu Jintao has overtaken President Barack Obama HLS ’91 to become the world’s most powerful person.

Despite the loss of the top spot, Harvard still fares well on the list. In fact, Harvard is better represented than any other school (only one Yalie made the cut). The article, which lists 68 influential individuals from around the world, features 12 people who attended Harvard at one time or another.

Three of Harvard’s representatives on the list—Obama, Fed Chairman Ben S. Bernanke ’75, and Microsoft Founder Bill Gates—made the top ten, placing second, eighth, and 10th respectively. Other recognizable Harvard names include Facebook founder Mark E. Zuckerburg, New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg HBS ’66, and General Electric CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt HBS ’82.

While the list’s editors consider a number of factors to determine who made the cut, the magazine ultimately chose people who “bend the world to their will.”

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.