WASHINGTON — In the midst of scandalous emails and a second presidential bid, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pulled in the No. 2 spot on Forbes’ annual list of the most powerful women in the world.
She came in behind German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has made the list 10 times over the past 12 years. She’s topped the list nine times.
Despite controversy over a private email account and millions earned from speaking engagements, Clinton is the prohibitive favorite for the Democratic nomination in 2016. She is the top American on the list and one of seven in the top 10, including Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen at No. 4 and First Lady Michelle Obama at No. 10.
Clinton has made the list every year since it began in 2004.
Oprah topped the billionaire category at No. 12, while Beyonce led the way in entertainment at No. 21. Taylor Swift was among the newcomers to the list, making her debut in the No. 64 slot.
So, how does Forbes narrow 300 potential candidates down to 100, then rank them? There are eight power bases (categories) that Forbes draws from: billionaires, business, celebrity, finance, media, philanthropy and intergovernmental organizations, politics, and technology. Within each category, women are then ranked based on four metrics: money, media presence, spheres of influence, and impact.
Here are the top 5:
1. Angela Merkel, Chancellor, Germany
2. Hillary Clinton, presidential candidate, United States
3. Melinda Gates, co-chairwoman, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United States
4. Janet Yellen, chairwoman, Federal Reserve Bank, United States
5. Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors, United States
Find the full list and breakdown at Forbes.
