The Top 20 most powerful women in the world this year, according to Forbes
It's a woman's world!
Forbes has revealed its 21st annual ranking of the 100 Most Powerful Women in the world.
According to the media company, the top 100 ranking has been determined based on money, media, impact and spheres of influence.
On the list are women across the world in fields ranging from finance to technology, and a few notable politicians. Taylor Swift even made the list as the top entertainer.
We've compiled the top 20 women included on the list, plus the honourable Aussie women mentioned.
Read on to see who the most powerful women in the world are in 2024, according to Forbes.
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88. Julia Gillard
Honourable mention: Starting off the Aussie honourable mentions is former prime minister Julia Gillard.
Gillard made history in 2010 as the first, and as of 2024, only Australian PM.
In 2021, she became the chair of the United Kingdom's Wellcome Trust.
Gillard has officially ranked as the 88th most powerful woman in the world.
58. Shemara Wikramanayake
Coming in at 58 on the complete list is Australia's very own Shemara Wikramanayake, CEO of Macquarie.
Wikramanayake started out at Macquarie in the late '80s.
The 62-year-old became the managing director and CEO of the group in 2018.
According to the group's 2024 annual report, Macquarie has more than 20,600 employees around the world and has total assets of $403.4 billion.
50. Gina Rinehart
Honourable mention: The next Aussie to make the list is Gina Rinehart, who has long been known as Australia's richest woman.
According to Forbes, Rinehart has a net worth of $US30.7 billion (approx. $48.2 billion) as of 2024.
Rinehart made her staggering wealth from iron ore as the executive chairman of mining company Hancock Prospecting.
Read on to see the final Aussie who made the list this year and ranked higher than Rinehart.
48. Michele Bullock
Honourable mention: The 48th most powerful woman in the world is the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Michele Bullock.
Bullock made history when she took over the position in 2023, becoming the first woman to hold the title.
According to Forbes, in her first year in the position, Bullock was able to keep interest rates at 4.35 per cent.
Read on to see the women across the globe who ranked in the top 20 spots.
20. Catherine MacGregor
Starting off the list is Catherine MacGregor, the CEO of the French multinational electric utility company, ENGIE.
19. Kathryn McLay
Next is 50-year-old Kathryn McLay, who is the president and CEO of the retail chain, Walmart International.
18. Tarciana Paula Gomes Medeiros
Coming in at 18 on the list is Tarciana Medeiros, the first president and CEO of Banco de Brasil.
17. Amy Hood
Amy Hood is the Executive Vice President and CFO of technology company Microsoft.
16. Safra Catz
Safra Catz is the CEO of American technology company, Oracle.
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