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50 People Who Matter 2011

Published 26 September 2011

From pop stars and dissident activists to tech gurus and heads of state, the people doing most to shape our world keep changing. The New Statesman annual survey presents the most influential of them all.

Michele Bachmann on the campaign trail in California

1. (8) Angela Merkel

2. (12) David Petraeus

3. (-) Ai Wei Wei

4. (-) Tim Cook

5. (2) Barack Obama

6. (9) Larry Page, Sergey Brin
and Eric Schmidt

7. (-) Christine Lagarde

8. (-) Liang Guanglie

9. (1) Rupert Murdoch

10. (-) Wael Ghonim

11. (-) Recep Tayyip Erdogan

12. (-) Nicolas Sarkozy

13. (-) Ben Bernanke

14. (7) Ashfaq Kayani

15. (-) Paul Krugman

16. (15) David Cameron

17. (16) Bill Gates

18. (11) Binyamin Netanyahu

19. (-) Jack Dorsey

20. (-) Mario Draghi

21. (-) Dilma Rousseff

22. (19) Warren Buffett

23. (-) Usain Bolt

24. (20) Vladimir Putin

25. (-) Richard Dawkins

26. (44) Lady Gaga

27. (25) Hillary Clinton

28. (27) Ratan Tata

29. (29) Sonia Gandhi

30. (3) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

31. (-) David Beers

32. (-) Michele Bachmann

33. (-) J K Rowling

34. (33) Moqtada al-Sadr

35. (-) Jon Stewart

36. (-) Jacob Zuma

37. (-) Anwar al-Awlaki

38. (6) Pope Benedict XVI

39. (41) Simon Cowell

40. (23) Julian Assange

41. (-) Mark Thompson

42. (34) Aung San Suu Kyi

43. (-) Roger Ailes

44. (-) Robin Li

45. (-) The Koch brothers

46. (-) Nicki Minaj

47. (48) Han Han

48. (49) Paul Kagame

49. (-) Matt Damon

50. (-) Lionel Messi

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33 comments from readers

Marcus
30 September 2011 at 17:00

Where is Ron Paul?

Indu Pendent
30 September 2011 at 18:23

No Tony Blair? He is influencing people in his various roles.

uskekim
30 September 2011 at 19:38

No. 37 just perished. He no longer matters. Please retitle 49 People Who Matter. The remaining 7 billion less 49 do not.

kenny jenkins
30 September 2011 at 23:24

Sorry, but none of them matter to me. I've never even met most of them

kvass
01 October 2011 at 07:53

I discovered fifteen out of fifty who were not known by me.

Perhaps that is my failing but I think not. It is more to do with the joumo crowd expressing what they know which is not so interesting -- for anyone with half a mind it is boring.. Which leaves Hilary and her short legacy of

making an impact. There are 5 completely silly people listed. Can you spot them?

Mr. Divine
01 October 2011 at 13:19

1. Mr. Divine

Elpenor Dignam
04 October 2011 at 08:15

Where's Chomsky?

Colin Sloss
04 October 2011 at 08:31

Strangely I don't seem to be mentioned!

Jamal Barry
04 October 2011 at 12:37

Idiotic list. It's a pity even the New Statesman indulges in such BS. Ai Wei Wei matters more than Obama? Usain Bolt more than the Pope? Yeh, whatever...

Tom
10 October 2011 at 15:15

Who actually got paid for putting this together?

Wayne Barry
10 October 2011 at 17:18

It would be nice to think that we all mattered...

1R4M
10 October 2011 at 21:07

Niki Minaj?? seriously??

Livers
10 October 2011 at 21:47

Now that IS random.

I'd love to know how the survey was conducted.

Might want to add some "baddies" on there too .. they are influencing us all just as much as the "goodies".

God, did I just sound like a 7 year old?

harry hart
10 October 2011 at 23:05

Where's Pippa Middleton? She's everywhere.

Ronnie Kray
11 October 2011 at 10:44

me own darling mother...gawd bless her.

Arthur
19 October 2011 at 09:07

Can't agree less, Paul Kagame of Rwanda is indeed a great visionary leader.

Mc Andy
19 October 2011 at 23:02

Agree! Paul Kagame, the president of the little African country of Rwanda is one of the visionaries history has ever seen.

Rick
19 October 2011 at 23:05

Paul Kagame, truly a great leader.

Ng Nanci
19 October 2011 at 23:30

Kagame , is the miracle Rwanda needed to escape being another African Somalie after 1994..we'll deserved recognition.

Jussy
20 October 2011 at 00:35

Paul Kagame is the father of a nation that almost went off the map of the world. Bravo Paul

Ruti
20 October 2011 at 07:20

Paul Kagame yes actaully number 1

nshimyimana vianney
20 October 2011 at 07:30

Paul Kagame, yes

Ignace
20 October 2011 at 07:42

Were the rankings to be based on how an individual is helping to positively impact lives of members of his society, most selflessly, with ever increasing commitment to real social-economic transformation, this Kagame man would have been No 1.

IK 20 October 2011 at 07:53

Yes, 50 people who matter most, to their own worlds. To the world of Rwandans and those who wish to do good business within the country, Paul Kagame is the real deal.

Ssali
20 October 2011 at 08:38

The inclusion of the Rwandan Leader President Kagame the man, many Africans regard as a continental figure, is a big credit for this survey_how I wish he was ranked No. 1.

CK 20 October 2011 at 10:09

The list should start from the end and PKagame comes first or second.

Chantal
20 October 2011 at 10:51

Paul Rusesabagina and Theogene Rudasingwa are gonna run and hide on finding Kagame in position 48.

BK 20 October 2011 at 11:20

How I wished H.E the President of Rwanda Paul Kagame to be ranked number one. He transformed Rwanda and beyond. We love his leadership. Thumbs up to our visionary Leaders, we shall always be there to support your initiatives. BK

JPK
20 October 2011 at 13:26

Oh yeeesssss! For sure Paul Kagame is one of the best leaders worldwide . If u have some hesitation just visit Rwanda and see how he is changing the country .

Liza
20 October 2011 at 14:42

The trans formative and pro-people leader of Rwanda Paul Kagame deserves this recognition actually should have been no.1 coz his work speaks loud in the central african region and the East, actually in the whole of Africa. Thumbs up sir.

Trinity
20 October 2011 at 15:38

I could not agree more with most of you guys..Paul Kagame is not only a visionary leader but the greatest leader of our time.He has done sooo much for Rwanda in a short period of time..Live longer Mr. President.

O. Bayingana
20 October 2011 at 21:23

There is nothing more remunerating for a country like Rwanda, to have a visionary leader who prioritizes his people's progress and a leader who gives Agaciro (the value) of the Rule of law than Paul Kagame. Paul Kagame, you are, indeed, the pride of Rwanda ever in particular, and of the whole Africa in general. You are #1 leader.

Jules
27 October 2011 at 12:42