Age: 59
Occupation: Russian President
Putin's decision to return this year for a third term as President outraged the nation and sparked Russia's biggest protests in decades. While he won handily, defusing the ongoing resentment among his people will require finesse, moderation and a curbing of his desire for control — never among Putin's strong suits. Then again, as Russia's undisputed ruler for more than a decade, he's rarely needed them, and his reign shows little sign of ending soon.