Merkel tops Forbes’ most powerful women

By: Nestor Corrales - 11 years ago

German Chancellor Angela Merkel AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—German Chancellor Angela Merkel maintained her status as the world’s most powerful women, according to Forbes Magazine in its annual ranking of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women.

Merkel, who topped the list in 2013, retained the number one spot on the list of “extraordinary icons and leaders, groundbreakers and ceiling crashers who command the world stage.”

Merkel, 59, who became the first female German chancellor in 2005, has made it to the list for 10 times being on the top spot nine times.

Meanwhile, Janet Yellen made her debut on the list of powerful women in the world after she secured the second spot. Yellen is an American economist and the first women to chair the board of governors of the Federal Reserve System.

American businesswoman and co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation remained to be in the third spot.

Other popular personalities who made it to the top 100 were former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who clinched the number six spot, two places ahead of US First Lady Michelle Obama.

Clinton dropped one spot from her fifth ranking in 2013 Obama slid two spots down.

Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg was ranked number 9 while media magnate Oprah Winfrey secured the 16th place ahead of American singer Beyonce Knowles who clinched the 17th spot.

Members of the 2013 ranking represent women in technology, politics, business, media, entertainment, non-profits and NGOs, as well as billionaires – all ranked by money, media presence and impact.