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LeadershipTime 100

These Are the Most Influential Business People on the TIME 100

By
Michal Addady
Michal Addady
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By
Michal Addady
Michal Addady
Down Arrow Button Icon
April 21, 2016, 4:07 PM ET
Apple Introduces New Products
CUPERTINO, CA - MARCH 21: Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during an Apple special event at the Apple headquarters on March 21, 2016 in Cupertino, California. The company is expected to update its iPhone and iPad lines, and introduce new bands for the Apple Watch. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)Photograph by Justin Sullivan—Getty Images

TIME unveiled its list of the 100 most influential people on Wednesday.

The TIME 100 isn’t a ranking, perhaps because it’s an amalgamation of public figures from various different fields who have had some kind of significant impact on the world, but would be hard to compare. Or perhaps because TIME is too timid. (Notice that our list of World’s Greatest Leaders is ranked.) The list has a wide range spanning models, musicians, and chefs, as well as tech titans and business giants.

Here are the most notable business people on this year’s list:

Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg

Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, and wife Priscilla Chan arrive on the red carpet during the 2nd annual Breakthrough Prize Award in Mountain View, California
Mark Zuckerberg, right, founder and CEO of [hotlink]Facebook[/hotlink], and wife Priscilla ChanPhotograph by Stephen Lam — Reuters
Photograph by Stephen Lam — Reuters

Their individual achievements aside—she’s a pediatrician and he’s the founder and CEO of Facebook—this power couple’s influence comes from committing 99% of their wealth towards making strides in the advancement of society. Through their Chan Zuckerberg Initiative they’ve led efforts to improve education, cure disease, and build stronger and more connected communities.

 

Tim Cook

Apple Unveils New Versions Of iPhone 6, Apple TV
Apple CEO Tim CookPhotograph by Stephen Lam — Getty Images
Photograph by Stephen Lam — Getty Images

The CEO of Apple, Fortune‘s most admired company for nine years running, is also one of the only widely known CEOs to be openly gay. Already in 2016 Cook has led his company through a major clash with the FBI over encryption, a debate that some say is far from over.

 

Palmer Luckey

Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Oculus VR. Inc. and creator of the Oculus Rift, holds up the Oculus Touch controller as he speaks during the Oculus VR Inc. "Step Into The Rift" event in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Thursday, June 11, 2015. Facebook Inc.'s Oculus virtual-reality headsets will work with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 10 and use the software maker's wireless Xbox game controller. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg *** Local Caption *** Palmer Luckey
Palmer Luckey, co-founder of Oculus VR. Inc. and creator of the Oculus Rift, holds up the Oculus Touch controller as he speaks during the Oculus VR Inc. “Step Into The Rift” event.David Paul Morris © 2015 Bloomberg Finance LP
Photograph by David Paul Morris—Bloomberg via Getty Images

At just 23 years old, Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus VR and creator of the Oculus Rift, has helped change the face of technology. Virtual reality is here, and it’s not going away any time soon.

PewDiePie

PewDiePie Book Signing For "This Book Loves You"
Comedian and [hotlink]YouTube[/hotlink] star PewDiePie.Photo by Vincent Sandoval WireImage
Photo by Vincent Sandoval WireImage

PewDiePie’s real identity is Felix Kjellberg, a 26 year old Swedish video producer. He went from being the most-watched person on YouTube, with over 43 million subscribers, to signing a deal with Disney to create his own network.

Sundar Pichai

Google Hosts Its I/O Developers Conference
Google CEO Sundar Pichai.Photograph by Justin Sullivan—Getty Images
Photograph by Justin Sullivan—Getty Images

Pichai started out as an engineer and became the CEO of Google this past August, just before announcing the formation of its new parent company, Alphabet. Among its other ventures, Google has been making significant strides this year in self-driving technology.

Ronda Rousey

<> in their UFC women's bantamweight championship bout during the UFC 184 event at Staples Center on February 28, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
Ronda Rousey.Harry How 2015 Getty Images
Photograph by Harry How—Getty Images

While not technically a business figure, Rousey’s ability to turn herself into a brand is a skill that any business leader should admire. The UFC fighter’s perfect record was tarnished last November when she lost against Holly Holm, but it’s not her athleticism that won her a place on TIME‘s list. As Fortune previously wrote, her words and perspective are what make her such an inspiration to both men and women alike.

 

Donald Trump

US-VOTE-REPUBLICANS-DEBATE
Donald Trump: presidential candidate and businessmanPhotograph by Mandel Ngan— AFP/Getty Images
Photograph by Mandel Ngan— AFP/Getty Images

TIME calls Trump in their write-up for the list a “force of nature” in business. And if they were thinking of a tornado, that leaves nothing in its wake, not even profits, then we would agree. Still, the GOP frontrunner certainly deserves to be on the list of most influential this year. Though some predicted that his controversial comments wouldn’t get him very far in the race, they have appeared to only strengthen his support base. But whether or not his business acumen will be enough to make America great again is still up for debate.

About the Author
By Michal Addady
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