Forbes Magazine Thursday bared its first ever list of the word’s most powerful people, naming 67 heads of state, criminals, financiers and philanthropists who really run the world, with US President Barack Obama topping the list.

Obama is followed by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russia’s Vladimir Putin at number three, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke coming in fourth. Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page were on fifth place, and Mexico’s Carlos Slim Helu CEO of Telmex and the world third richest man, at number six.

Rounding up the top ten are News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch, Wal-Mart President and CEO Michael T. Duke President, Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud, and Microsoft founder William “Bill” Gates III.

Forbes Magazine said it based the list not just on the net worth of the individuals and their clout in more than one sphere of influence but also their willingness to use the power at their disposal.