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

Kontiki · April 29, 2003, 16:12

I was just thinking about this, but couldn't come up with a really good answer.

By private citizen, I mean someone who doesn't head up a political or other government office, no law enforcement/intelligence agency, no royalty, no military and no religious group (ie: the Pope, or any official of any church).

I figure it's got to be the head of some large corporation, but it would also need to be someone with considerable influence on politicians and/or someone who has a good deal of actual control over their corporation (eg: owns a significant percentage of the shares, is rarely questioned by the board on corporate decisions, etc.).

People that come to mind for me would be Jack Welsh (ok, not any more), perhaps Warren Buffet (considerable influence on investors, owns significant chunks of large companies), Ted Turner (again, not so much anymore, but had a significant influence through media control), Rupert Murdoch (~shudder~ but for the same reasons as Turner).

Any thoughts?

Oerdin · April 29, 2003, 16:16

Money is power and Bill Gates is the world's richest man.

Pekka · April 29, 2003, 16:18

Yeah.. when Gates talks, stocks goes up or down. Now that's power.

David Floyd · April 29, 2003, 16:19

The Grandmaster of the Freemasons, of course

OneFootInTheGrave · April 29, 2003, 16:21

No it is Mr Walton

- the richest at the moment me thinks

Sten Sture · April 29, 2003, 16:25

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.

Japher · April 29, 2003, 16:28

Bud Selig

PLATO · April 29, 2003, 16:29

Quote:

Originally posted by David Floyd
The Grandmaster of the Freemasons, of course

Perhaps the Illustrious Master of the Scottish Rite??

Andrew1999 · April 29, 2003, 16:29

Sam Walton (the Wal-Mart guy) has been dead for years--his fortune was split up among his family.

Rupert Murdoch sounds good to me--he has a lot of influence from his media empire.

Japher · April 29, 2003, 16:30

Would Bill Clinton count, I doubt anyone listens to him, but is he a private citizen now? What about Jimmy Carter?

Paul Hanson · April 29, 2003, 16:31

MarkG.

Jon Miller · April 29, 2003, 16:32

your limitations are somewhat arbitrary

if you don't see any difference between the Pope and George Bush, than I don't see why you see Bill Gates as not exactly the same as them (a position of leadership in a large social group, just becuase Bill Gates has Microsoft and the Pope has the catholics does not mean that it is not the same thing)

Jon Miller

Winston · April 29, 2003, 16:33

Barbara Bush. She's the only person who can tell the Prez. to wipe his shoes before he enters the kitchen.

OneFootInTheGrave · April 29, 2003, 16:44

Quote:

Originally posted by Andrew1999
Sam Walton (the Wal-Mart guy) has been dead for years--his fortune was split up among his family.

Rupert Murdoch sounds good to me--he has a lot of influence from his media empire.

I think it's Robson walton, his son presumably who took over most of it??? but maybe not.. I think it was inthis years Times 2003 richlist

Kontiki · April 29, 2003, 17:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Jon Miller
your limitations are somewhat arbitrary

if you don't see any difference between the Pope and George Bush, than I don't see why you see Bill Gates as not exactly the same as them (a position of leadership in a large social group, just becuase Bill Gates has Microsoft and the Pope has the catholics does not mean that it is not the same thing)

Jon Miller

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?

Kontiki · April 29, 2003, 17:39

Quote:

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 · April 29, 2003, 18:03

Quote:

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 · April 29, 2003, 18:20

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 · April 29, 2003, 18:38

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

DinoDoc · April 29, 2003, 19:58

Bono.

DRoseDARs · April 29, 2003, 20:31

Quote:

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 · April 29, 2003, 20:32

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

asleepathewheel · April 29, 2003, 20:33

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 · April 30, 2003, 01:03

Quote:

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 · April 30, 2003, 01:15

Quote:

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 · April 30, 2003, 01:17

Congresscritter Mary Bono?

Frankychan · April 30, 2003, 01:58

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

monolith94 · April 30, 2003, 02:01

Lara Croft. Duh!

Ari Rahikkala · April 30, 2003, 08:07

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 · April 30, 2003, 08:12

Hitler