Who's the most powerful private citizen in the world?

[Kontiki]

Originally posted by Sten Sture
I don't think it is Bill Gates at all. He doesn't move stocks much - if ever, and most of his $ is tied up in MS shares, so he doesn't swing cash around to that level.

A guy that can move markets though is George Soros - aka Saras - but he keeps a lower profile than he used to.

I agree with this. Gates also sold off a sizeable chunk of his shares (he still owns alot, though) and doesn't exercise the kind of control over the company he once did. Also, despite Microsoft's success and market cap, it's far from being one of the largest companies in world in terms of assets or employees.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Kontiki


I don't think they're arbitrary at all. Both the Pope and Bush, to use your examples, have been elected via some means by lesser people and have limitations on what they can do based on their office (and not just national laws). Bill Gates co-founded Microsoft, no one elected him leader, he didn't seize power within the company and his power is entirely self made.

Put another way, Bush and the Pope are powerful because of their office, not because of individual actions (which, granted, helped them get their). If Bush wasn't elected President, he'd only be as powerful as the office of the governor of Texas is, which he also had to be elected to. Remember also that Bush very nearly wasn't elected president - where would he be then?

ok, disregarding Microsoft and other recent made companies

most companies are older and have been arround for a while

and most rich men, are rich becuase of votes going their way in the companies, and because of other things like that

it is a very similiar thing

Jon Miller

[Drogue]

I would have to say Rupert Murdoch. His news corporation probably influences more people than any other, and that is where the power is, in the hands of politicians and journalists. I don't think any one CEO has the wealth or power to affect the stock market that much, and financial reporters can probably do more, just with tips and forecasts. However Warren Buffet and George Soros probably have much influence, because if they talk, people listen. If Warren Buffet buys a stock, it will go up, because people trust his judgement. The man can hardly lose money

[Sandman]

I agree, Rupert Murdoch. I hope that Britain enacts legislation limiting his media share, although the chances are pretty slim.

[DinoDoc]

Bono.

[DRoseDARs]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Bono.

Bono? As in Sunny Bono who died by wrapping himself around a tree trunk in a skiing accident a few years back up at Tahoe?

[yavoon]

michael jackson, the children are our future. and michael affects the children!

[asleepathewheel]

My fiance is the most powerful person in the world. No one else on earth can affect me like she does, for better or worse. Bill Gates? Why do I care what he does? Walton family? Who cares about them (though they do own my favorite pro teams and basically my university)

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by DRoseDARs
As in Sunny Bono who died by wrapping himself around a tree trunk in a skiing accident a few years back up at Tahoe?

No.

[Sten Sture]

Originally posted by DRoseDARs


Bono? As in Sunny Bono who died by wrapping himself around a tree trunk in a skiing accident a few years back up at Tahoe?

Yeh, duh. Sonny was in the House of Representatives, so he was eliminated from consideration... otherwise - who knows?

[St Leo]

Congresscritter Mary Bono?

[Frankychan]

"Who is 'Your mother'?" for $100, Alex.

[monolith94]

Lara Croft. Duh!

[Ari Rahikkala]

Vint Cerf. The current chairman of the BOD of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) and designer of the TCP/IP protocols. It's not that he would really have so much power... it's that only geeks have ever heard of him .

[MRT144]

Hitler