World Shapers: The Most Influential People Today (Ranks 10–6)

In part one of this two-part special, we spotlight five remarkable individuals shaping our world – from pop stars to tech giants. Meet the game changers, from Taylor Swift to Sundar Pichai.

Transcript

Welcome to the 4 Minutes podcast. In today’s two-part special, we take a look at the ten most influential people of our time. These are individuals who shape the world – whether in politics, technology, business, or culture. Today, we’ll introduce five of them, those ranking from tenth to sixth.

In tenth place is Taylor Swift. Her influence extends far beyond music. Through her albums, lyrics, and concerts, she impacts the economies of cities she performs in, and her public appearances resonate in political arenas as well. For instance, during U.S. presidential elections, she openly supported specific candidates and motivated young people to vote. Her Eras Tour became a cultural and economic phenomenon, generating billions in revenue and demonstrating that cultural events can change not only public mood but also economic indicators. Taylor Swift is no longer just a pop star – she’s a symbol of a generation unafraid to speak out and influence the world around them.

Ninth place goes to Cristiano Ronaldo. While his primary field is the football pitch, his influence stretches far beyond sport. With more than half a billion followers on Instagram and other platforms, he is the most followed person on social media. Each of his posts has enormous reach and commercial power. His move to Saudi club Al-Nassr opened the door to a wave of European stars heading to the Middle East and drew global attention to the region. Ronaldo is also actively building his personal brand, investing in industries from hospitality to fitness, proving that athletes can be globally influential entrepreneurs as well.

In eighth place is Tim Cook, CEO of Apple. Under his leadership, Apple became the first company in history to surpass three trillion dollars in market value. Cook may not be a visionary like Steve Jobs, but his managerial style has brought stability and consistent growth. Products like the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and MacBook shape the daily lives of billions. Apple is also at the center of debates about privacy, environmental sustainability, and the ethical use of technology. Cook champions equality, diversity, and open access to technology – and his influence reaches from Silicon Valley to political circles in Washington.

Seventh place belongs to Mark Zuckerberg. The founder of Facebook and CEO of Meta stands behind today’s largest social platforms – Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. These three apps have transformed how people communicate, gather information, and spend their time. Zuckerberg’s ambition is to lead society into a new era of digital interaction through the so-called metaverse. At the same time, he faces intense scrutiny from regulators and critics who highlight issues like misinformation, social media addiction, and mental health impacts. Despite the controversies, he remains one of the world’s most influential individuals, with decisions that affect billions of users.

In sixth place is Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and its parent company Alphabet. Pichai is the man behind decisions that shape the daily digital experience of billions. Google’s products – from Search, Gmail, and Android to YouTube and Google Maps – are integral to life in the digital age. Under Pichai’s leadership, the company has strongly focused on developing artificial intelligence, automation, and cloud services. His calm, analytical, and long-term approach makes him one of today’s most respected tech leaders. His influence is quiet but vast – he shapes what we search for, what we see, and how we think.

That was the first episode of our special on the ten most influential people of today. In the next episode, we’ll look at the top five – from global leaders to visionary tech innovators who are shaping the future of the world. Thank you for listening, and don’t forget to follow us so you don’t miss part two