Taylor Swift, Barbie, Beyoncé among Forbes’ 100 Most Powerful Women in 2023
Forbes has revealed the 100 Most Powerful Women who shaped 2023 with their talent and influence in their respective industries.
On Dec. 5, the media publication released its annual power list featuring women in six categories, including business, technology, finance, entertainment, politics, and philanthropy.
The list was narrowed down based on its four main metrics: money, media, impact, and spheres of influence plus media mentions and social reach. The political leaders were based on gross domestic products and populations, while corporate leaders were based on revenues and employee counts.
For the second time in a row, Ursula von der Leyen topped Forbes' list. She has been the president of the European Commission since July 2019, making her the first woman to take on the role responsible for legislation affecting 450 million Europeans. The magazine also noted that she's one of the solid supporters of Ukraine amid its war with Russia.
One of the highlights of the list is award-winning pop star Beyoncé, who jumped to the 36th spot after placing 80th in 2022. She also made it to the 2023 America’s Self-Made Women list at number 48.
The singer conquered music charts and sold out concerts following the release of her seventh solo album, Renaissance, in July 2022, which had an accompanying feature film released earlier this month.
She also made her mark as the most nominated female artist in the Grammy Awards, earning a total of 88 nods—and winning 28 of it over the years.
Also making a significant jump is pop superstar Taylor Swift, who was listed as Forbes' fifth most powerful woman after placing 79th in 2022. She also ranked 34th in its 2023 list of America’s top self-made women.
Notable for setting records in music charts and award shows, Swift's influence is evident even in the education sector, with top universities like Standford and Harvard offering courses that explore literature based on her hit tracks.
According to reports, she officially became a billionaire in October 2023 following the massive success of her Eras Tour this year alone, not to mention her hits in the re-released versions of her albums. According to Forbes, she currently holds a net worth of $1.1 billion (P60 billion) as of Dec. 5.
Also worth mentioning is Barbie, who became the first fictional character to make it to the list. She was described as a “symbol not only of female empowerment but the necessity of fighting to recapture power that's been taken away.”
The release of the Greta Gerwig film has led to multiple offerings—from merchandise, vacation rentals, to food, among other iconic collaborations.
Fueled by immense hype, the film became the highest-grossing film of 2023, amassing a staggering $1.4 billion (P77 billion) in global box office revenue.
Check out the other figures who made it to Forbes' 100 Most Powerful Women list here.