The list of the World’s Most Powerful of 2013 is out and among the rankings are five Latin Americans.
At the top of this coveted list sits Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin out ranked President Barack Obama for the No. 1 spot on Forbes’ World’s Most Powerful People of 2013 list. The 61-year-old Russian president went up two spots since last year’s rankings, as a result of his global influence during the Syrian crisis. On the other hand, the government shutdown, strife over Obamacare and reports of NSA surveillance dropped Obama from his No. 1 position in 2012 to runner up this year.
‘World’s Most Powerful of 2013′ Latin Americans
The World's Most Powerful Latinos
No. 4(01 of05)
Open Image ModalPope Francis speaks during his general audience at St Peter's square on October 30, 2013 at the Vatican. AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
No. 12(02 of05)
Open Image ModalFILE - In this Jan. 14, 2013 file photo, Mexican telecommunications tycoon Carlos Slim speaks during news conference at the Soumaya museum in Mexico City. America Movil SAB, owned by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, has launched a 7.2 billion euro ($9.6 billion) for the part of Dutch telecom company Royal KPN NV it doesnt already own, in a challenge to Telefonica of Spain over KPNs most prized asset: its German mobile group E-Plus. Movils 2.40 euros per share bid for KPN announced Friday Aug. 9 2013, is a 20 percent premium on Thursdays closing price, valuing the companys stock at around 10.3 billion euros, and the 70 percent it doesnt already own at 7.2 billion euros. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills, File) (credit:AP)
No. 20 (03 of05)
Open Image ModalBrazilian President Dilma Rousseff delivers a speech during a ceremony to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the social welfare program Bolsa Familia (Family Allowance), in Brasilia, on October 30, 2013. The Family Allowance scheme was initiated by Rousseff's predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. AFP PHOTO / Evaristo Sa (Photo credit should read EVARISTO SA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
No. 37(04 of05)
Open Image ModalMexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto speaks during a joint news conference with Ireland's President Michael D. Higgins at the National Palace in Mexico City, Monday, Oct. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo) (credit:AP)
No. 67(05 of05)
Open Image ModalFILE - In this June 10, 1993 file photo, Joaquin Guzman Loera, alias "El Chapo" Guzman, is shown to the media after his arrest at the high security prison of Almoloya de Juarez, on the outskirts of Mexico City. Joaquin Guzman spent months corrupting his guards at a Mexican prison, then tricked them into thinking they would get a cut of some gold being smuggled out of the prison the night of Jan. 19, 2001. Instead, he smuggled himself out on a laundry cart with the help of a maintenance worker on his payroll. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File) (credit:AP)
Several Latin Americans landed on this year’s list including the first Jesuit and Latin American pope, Pope Francis, who has the task of reigniting faith to 1.2 billions followers. The Argentine pope’s humanitarian approach is a breathe of fresh air for the Catholic Church that has been struggling with its public image for years.
Mexican telecommunication tycoon Carlos Slim Helu, the richest man in the world, landed the No. 12 spot on the list. With a net worth $73 billion and a stake in the New York Times, this year Slim teamed up with Microsoft’s Bill Gates (No. 6) to support innovation for farm workers.
Two Latin American presidents were among the 72 World’s Most Powerful People of 2013: Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff.
The 65-year-old Rousseff, who leads the world’s seventh largest economy with a GDP of $2.2 trillion, was listed at No. 20. Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. Rousseff is also No. 2 on Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.
With not even a year of presidency, Pena Nieto has steered to the top, ranking in at No. 37. Some of what his job entails is restoring Mexico’s economy and tackling the country’s drug cartels. And speaking of cartels, Mexico’s third most powerful on the list at No. 67 is Sinola Cartel kingpin Joaquin Guzman Loera also known as “El Chapo.”
Although he’s been in hiding, eluding police in on-going raids, he is still “the world’s most powerful drug trafficker” and behind an estimated $3 billion drug enterprise that’s responsible for 25 percent of the drugs that enter the U.S. through Mexico.
Notable people among the world’s most powerful include the following tech giants: Jeff Bezos (No. 15) founder of Amazon, which made an estimate $61 billion in sales in 2012; Google’s CEO Larry Page and cofounder Sergey Brin (No. 17); Apple’s CEO Tim Cook (No. 19), whose salary is $4.2 million; and Facebook’s cofounder, chairman and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (No. 29).
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