POWER PACK: Is Anna Wintour more powerful than Miuccia Prada, Tory Burch and Diane von Furstenberg? According to Forbes, yes. The magazine’s annual “100 Most Powerful Women” ranking made its debut online Wednesday, and placed Wintour at number 39 — only four places behind Queen Elizabeth II. Wintour is up two spots from last year thanks to her promotion to Condé Nast artistic director, as well as her continuing role as Vogue’s editor in chief and her annual Met Gala at the Costume Institute — now in its 19th year — which this year raised more than $12 million. Wintour has been inching her way up the ranking. Just two years ago, the 64-year-old was listed at number 51 — far behind von Furstenberg, who then sat at number 33 and this year was number 68, up slightly from number 74 in 2013.
While no longer involved in the fashion world, Angela Ahrendts, Burberry’s former ceo who left to join Apple, has climbed the ranking to number 49 from number 53.
Burch comes in at number 79 this year, falling 10 spots from 2013. With a net worth of $940 million, she’s also now a member of Forbes’ “World’s Billionaires” list. She’ll join Prada, who is number 75 on the “Most Powerful” list but whose net worth is 10 times hers. Prada fell from number 58 last year.
But their billions of dollars are no match for German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who’s made the list 10 times out of the past 11 editions and nine times at number 1, including this year. A notable newcomer this year is Janet Yellen, the new Federal Reserve chair — the first woman to hold the position — who debuts at number 2. Eight women celebrate their 10th year appearing on the list including Melinda Gates (3), Hillary Rodham Clinton (6) — who’s still more powerful than First Lady Michelle Obama (8) — and Oprah Winfrey (14), the most powerful woman in media.
The rankings are based on a curious formula that applies four metrics: money, media presence, spheres of influence and impact.