Power shifts, ows, recombines—and so too does Vanity Fair’s
annual ranking of tech moguls, tastemakers, nancial wizards,
and cultural icons. After 25 years, we’ve divided our traditional
list into 10 groups of 10, illuminating more tribal aspects of the
inuence networks that dene our world. Of course, modern
power, catalyzed by technology, tends to transcend its catego-
ries. The Obamas have a Netflix deal. Rihanna is building a
billion-dollar beauty empire. Elon Musk wants to colonize Mars.
And Je Bezos is disrupting Hollywood.
This year has also been notable for the Establishment’s
conspicuous failings. In Silicon Valley, the #MeToo movement,
and the Jeffrey Epstein saga, we ind glaring indictments of
ruling-class values. There’s nothing more fascinating than
power —and nothing more dangerous.
ILLUSTRATION BY THERE IS STUDIONOVEMBER 2019 VANITY FAIR 79