Angela Merkel tops Forbes' most powerful woman list 2015

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the most powerful woman – yet again – in the annual list compiled by Forbes (a highly influential American business magazine).

This year, 2015, sees Dr. Merkel topping the list an impressive six times in a row. She has also consistently been in the top 10 list of Forbes' most powerful people in the world, since 2010.

But that is not all.

Dr. Merkel is Germany’s first female chancellor, or the first woman to lead Germany, since it became a modern nation-state in 1871. (In Germany, the chancellor is the head of the government, equivalent to that of a prime minister in many countries.)

A former research scientist, Dr. Merkel has been the Chancellor since 2005. This makes her the longest-serving incumbent head of government in the European Union (EU).

She has also been described as the de facto leader of the EU. Germany has been on a relatively even keel under Dr. Merkel’s leadership, compared to the crumbling economy of many European countries. While other country heads have been busy putting out fires in their own backyard, Dr. Merkel has quietly but firmly been holding onto the reins of power in Europe. 

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)

Dr. Merkel is joined on the Forbes’ list by many more illustrious women.

Singer/songwriter Taylor Swift - youngest ever on Forbes list (credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)

Second on the most powerful women list is Hillary Clinton, who has been on this ranking every year since its launch in 2004. Taylor Swift, singer and songwriter, is the youngest person ever to make it to the Forbes’ list.

Most powerful philanthropist Melinda Gates (credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)

And never under-estimate the gift of giving for philanthropy has trumped wealth. The most powerful woman in philanthropy Melinda Gates is third on the overall world’s most powerful women list, while Forbes’ richest woman with a personal net worth of $3 billion is Oprah Winfrey at No. 12. 

Oprah Winfrey receiving 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama (credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)

Featured image of German Chancellor Angela Merkel (credit: Wikimedia Commons under Creative Commons licence)