The 2015 Forbes list is in and what we have here is a collection of people that probably aren’t used to taking orders.

They have been dubbed ‘the 0.00000001%’, the global elite that quite literally run the world. Forbes uses certain criteria when compiling their list so let’s touch on those first before we see who’s sitting pretty on top:

First, we asked whether the candidate has power over lots of people…Next we assessed the financial resources controlled by each person…Then we determined if the candidate is powerful in multiple spheres…Lastly, we made sure that the candidates actively used their power.

So bearing those four points in mind let’s run through the top three for your enjoyment:

Russian President Vladimir Putin emerged as the world’s most powerful person for the third year running. Putin continues to prove he’s one of the few men in the world powerful enough to do what he wants –and get away with it. International sanctions set in place after he seized Crimea and waged war-by-proxy in Ukraine have kneecapped the Ruble and driven Russia into deepening recession, but haven’t hurt Putin one bit…

The second most powerful person in the world also happens to be the most powerful woman: Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, jumps up from #5 last year to take the runner-up spot on the list. Merkel is the backbone of the 28-member European Union, and her decisive actions dealing with the Syrian refugee problem and the Greek credit crisis helped bump her up the list.

U.S. President Barack Obama fell one spot on this year’s list to #3. There’s no doubt that the United States remains the world’s greatest economic, cultural, diplomatic, technological and military power. But as Obama enters the final year of his presidency, it’s clear his influence is shrinking, and it’s a bigger struggle than ever to get things done.

Pope Francis pops in at number four, Bill Gates at six and Mark Zuckerberg down at 19.

For the full list of the top 73 spots click HERE. And yes, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is there, no need to stress.

[source:forbes]