Putin most powerful figure in the world – Vanity Fair

Vladimir Putin has been named the world's most powerful and influential person. Russia's Prime Minister is number one on Vanity Fair's annual list of what the magazine calls 'the new establishment'.

It's Putin's first time in the rankings and he's pushed last year's chart-topper, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, to second place, while Google co-founder Sergey Brin takes bronze.

Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich has jumped more than twenty places to number eight.

The magazine says the list is based on a number of factors, including wealth, influence and charisma.