Top 10 Influential and Wealthy Women in the World

Presented for public scrutiny is the new list of the wealthiest and most affluent women of the year 2013. All the women on the list are involved in various fields such as business, politics, non-profit, and media organizations. The rankings are based on the impact the women have on their respective fields, financial status, and participation in public life.

The Forbes magazine's rankings have been in existence for a decade, with several influential and strong women consistently making the list. Below are the top ten most powerful and authoritative women of the planet in 2013 according to Forbes:

1. Chancellor of Germany – Angela Merkel

   The Iron Lady maintains the top position for the third year in a row, holding firm control over the entire Eurozone and tackling the crisis head-on. Her only challenger, François Hollande, adheres to socialist political views.

2. President of Brazil – Dilma Rousseff

   Rousseff has climbed up one spot compared to the previous year. Her strong leadership skills enable her to govern a country with the seventh-largest economy globally. Currently, she is focused on stimulating entrepreneurship and boosting economic growth.

3. Co-Chair of the Gates Foundation – Melinda Gates

   Her influence has grown significantly, landing her in the third position on the list this year, despite being close to it last year. She has made significant contributions to charitable and humanitarian activities worldwide.

4. Former U.S. Secretary of State – Hillary Clinton

   Clinton has slipped from the second to the fifth position compared to last year. The intrigue around her continues as she emerges as a prominent candidate in the Republican Party's elections.

5. COO of Facebook – Sheryl Sandberg

   Sandberg has climbed four spots in the rankings due to her significant work achievements and the success of her new bestselling book.

6. Managing Director of the IMF – Christine Lagarde

   This noble lady, graced with wisdom, is steadily moving upwards in the rankings. Last year, she was one position lower, indicating that she is likely to maintain her position in future rankings.

7. Head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Janet Napolitano

   Her strong character enables her to lead the third-most significant department in the American political hierarchy. It is expected that she will continue to ascend in her career path.

8. Leader of the Indian National Congress – Sonia Gandhi

   She has dropped three spots from sixth to ninth compared to last year. Nevertheless, she manages to stay in her position for a significant period in her country.

9. CEO of PepsiCo – Indra Nooyi

   The top executive of Coca-Cola's main competitor has risen two spots in this year's rankings of the most authoritative and influential women, securing a place in the top ten.