And the winners are...
Perhaps the only thing more challenging than the business environment this year was the criteria for making the list, which, with eight newcomers, was our most competitive yet. more
  1. Indra Nooyi
  2. Irene Rosenfeld
  3. Pat Woertz
  4. Anne Mulcahy
  5. Angela Braly
  1. Andrea Jung
  2. Susan Arnold
  3. Oprah Winfrey
  4. Brenda Barnes
  5. Ursula Burns

No ‘wise men’ on Wall St. Oppenheimer analyst Meredith Whitney says Citi needed the Wachovia deal to wean itself off of capital-markets dependency. more

Bailout 'doesn't make sense' Legendary investor Warren Buffett tells CNNMoney.com that the credit crisis has exposed serious flaws in the financial system. more

Live: The winners meet Oppenheimer analyst Meredith Whitney argues that the Paulson plan wouldn't address the crisis of confidence in the economy. more

25 Highest-paid
Freeport McMoRan's Kathleen Quirk took home a cool $16 million last year. Which corporate women raked in even more? more
The new Valley Girls' network
Meet tech's next-gen leaders, and see how they're all connected. more
12 List dropouts
A few familiar (and not so familiar) faces dropped off this year's 50 Most Powerful Women list. more
 
50 Global leaders
See which women executives are on top of the world. more
Are guys cut out for the womanized workplace of the 21st century? In an excerpt from a new book, The Decline of Men, the author explores why many males are tuning out and giving up. more
The tech world has a new inner circle. They're young, they're global, they have power marriages and little kids. And unlike their predecessors, they're relying on a unique social network to get ahead. more
Are women advancing fast enough into leadership positions?
  • Yes, they've made impressive strides this year.
  • Yes, but more in politics than in the business world.
  • Yes, but more in business than in politics.
  • No, they've got a long way to go.
Are you a powerful woman?
What makes you powerful? Is your career on the rise? Is your life outside of work making you stronger? Send your photos and videos. more
Video
  • NEXT
    Big blow to Citi
    Oppenheimer analyst Meredith Whitney says Citi needed the Wachovia deal to wean itself off of capital-markets dependency. Watch
  • NEXT
    BACK
    The last days of Lehman
    Former Lehman Vice Chairman Barbara Byrne recounts the emotion and confusion surrounding the fall of the investment giant. Watch
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    Grading Sarah Palin
    Fortune’s Most Powerful Women offer their take on Palin’s and Biden’s performances in the V.P. debate. Watch
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    No ‘wise men’ on Wall St.
    Legendary investor Warren Buffett tells CNNMoney.com that the credit crisis has exposed serious flaws in the financial system. Watch
  • NEXT
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    Buffett: Build economic confidence
    Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says the government and the Fed need to restore trust in the financial system. Watch
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    BACK
    Buffett on gender equality
    Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says women have made great strides after years of getting 'the short end of the stick.' Watch
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    Buffett: Our system works
    Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says that despite its recent struggles, the U.S. economy has been the most successful in history. Watch
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    Buffett: 'Economic Pearl Harbor'
    Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says that only the government can stem the tide of de-leveraging gripping the financial sector. Watch
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    Gates tackles education woes
    Melinda Gates discusses the struggles she and her husband have had in trying to bolster the U.S. school system. Watch
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    Safe money
    Carver Bank CEO Deborah Wright explains that most Americans’ FDIC-insured accounts are safe, even in the event of a bank failure. Watch
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    The state of today’s media
    Huffington Post co-founder Arianna Huffington talks about the effect of blogs and the mainstream media on the election.Watch
  • NEXT
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    Sidestepping the credit crisis
    Carver Bank CEO Deborah Wright says that community banks have largely avoided the current credit problems. Watch
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    Investing abroad
    Martha Stewart talks about balancing home life with being a business leader and a celebrity. Watch
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    Bailout 'doesn't make sense'
    Oppenheimer analyst Meredith Whitney argues that the Paulson plan wouldn't address the crisis of confidence in the economy. Watch
  • NEXT
    BACK
    Cracks in the glass ceiling
    ING U.S. Wealth Management CEO Kathleen Murphy says she is proof that women are on equal footing with men in financial services. Watch
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    Panicking never helps
    ING U.S. Wealth Management CEO Kathleen Murphy says investors should resist the urge to pull their money out of their 401k accounts. Watch
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    The gender wars: Women won
    The popularity of shows like 'Mad Men' and 'Ice Road Truckers' are just one sign of how men's roles have changed, says the author of 'The Decline of Men.' Watch
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    Dealing with rising costs
    Fortune's Most Powerful Women panel discusses how their companies are finding ways to cope with inflationary pressures. Watch
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    Investing abroad
    Fortune's Most Powerful Women panel discusses whether Europe is going into recession and if the Russian economy is a good bet. Watch
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    A rocky time for commodities
    Fortune's Most Powerful Women panel discusses the global impact of rising energy costs and the importance of risk analysis. Watch

Sharilyn Gasaway $38.6 million
Safra Catz $34.1 million
Diane Greene $16.4 million
Cynthia Carroll Britain
Gail Kelly Australia
Linda Cook Netherlands
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