New York, United States – The 2025 edition of Fortune’s Most Powerful People in Business ranking reflects a defining moment in global commerce: the rise of artificial intelligence and the leaders at the center of its disruption. Nvidia CEO and cofounder Jensen Huang claims the No. 1 spot this year, propelled by the explosive demand for his company’s specialized chips—now indispensable to the world’s AI developers. Nvidia has become the most valuable company traded on U.S. exchanges, and Huang is at the epicenter of the transformation.
Among the top 10, Huang is joined by other technology giants who rely on his innovations to fuel their own AI ambitions. Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, and Sundar Pichai of Alphabet are all locked in pursuit of Nvidia’s hardware to keep pace in the race to dominate artificial intelligence. This dynamic underscores the essence of power in today’s economy: it is not merely about size or control, but about owning the technology that others cannot live without.
Competition, however, remains the driving force shaping this year’s list. Tesla’s Elon Musk, ranked No. 4, is immediately followed by BYD’s Wang Chuanfu at No. 5, reflecting a global rivalry in the electric vehicle sector. Similarly, Jeff Bezos of Amazon (No. 18) and Doug McMillon of Walmart (No. 19) represent a fierce contest in retail dominance, where even a single percentage point of market share carries immense weight.
The rankings suggest that the most powerful figures in business are not insulated monopolists but leaders who thrive under intense competition. Their influence is sharpened by rivalries across industries—whether in banking, retail, or cloud computing. Such rivalries not only test resilience but also push innovation forward, raising the bar for entire sectors.
Yet history offers a cautionary tale: power is fleeting. Many of today’s titans helm long-established companies vulnerable to disruption by stealthy startups. DeepSeek’s Liang Wenfeng, a newcomer ranked No. 72, exemplifies this shift. His company emerged seemingly from nowhere to challenge entrenched AI players, echoing Amazon’s humble beginnings three decades ago when Sears still commanded thousands of stores. Today, Amazon’s retail business generates more than $400 billion annually, while Sears has dwindled to just eight outlets.
The lesson is clear: in times of technological upheaval, today’s leaders can quickly become tomorrow’s laggards. Entire sectors risk being reordered—or erased—depending on how well executives navigate both the promise and peril of artificial intelligence.
Fortune’s 2025 Most Powerful People in Business is more than a list; it is a snapshot of the competitive landscape as industries undergo radical transformation. Power, in this era, is not static. It belongs to those agile enough to recognize change, embrace it, and redefine the future before rivals do.
