Vladimir Putin
Age: 58
Occupation: Prime Minister of Russia
Previous TIME 100 appearances: 2
Had he been President of the U.S. instead of Russia, Vladimir Putin might now be working on his memoirs and championing pet causes through a foundation. But when the former KGB man's second presidential term expired in 2008, he handed the reins to his protégé Dmitri Medvedev and took over the position of Prime Minister. Despite his autocratic tendencies, Putin remains widely popular in a country that credits him with restoring stability and global influence. That, and his base in the security services, makes him, perhaps, the most influential figure in Moscow. And it's widely assumed that a constitution that allows him to run again next year will see Putin seek to reclaim the top job.