In the high-stakes game of global business influence, 2025 belongs to Jensen Huang. The NVIDIA founder and CEO takes the crown as No. 1 on Fortune’s annual “100 Most Powerful People in Business” list, dethroning last year’s top dog, Elon Musk.
It’s no small feat. Under Huang’s watch, NVIDIA shattered market records this year, becoming the first company in history to surpass a $4 trillion market cap—fueled by insatiable demand for its AI chips. Those chips, by the way, power much of the generative AI revolution driving the ambitions (and stock prices) of many other leaders on this year’s list. As Fortune bluntly notes, competition exists, but “none pose a serious threat to NVIDIA’s dominance—yet.”
The top five also reads like a modern-day Mount Rushmore of tech and innovation:
- Jensen Huang, NVIDIA
- Satya Nadella, Microsoft
- Mark Zuckerberg, Meta
- Elon Musk, Tesla, SpaceX, xAI, and more
- Wang Chuanfu, BYD
This year’s list spans 28 industries and includes 62 U.S.-based companies, 17 from Asia, 13 from Europe, and 1 from the Middle East. The gender gap remains wide, but there’s notable progress: 19 women make the cut, including Julie Sweet of Accenture (No. 11), Jane Fraser of Citigroup (No. 12), Lisa Su of AMD (No. 14), and Ana Botín of Banco Santander (No. 20).
Fortune’s methodology is built on more than just balance sheets. Leaders are evaluated on business health, innovation, influence, and global impact—with the unspoken reality that today’s power is fleeting if you can’t keep reinventing. As Executive Editor Lee Clifford puts it, “Gone are the days when a leader can remain on this list without constantly reinventing their company, their strategy, everything.”
The list also welcomes some fresh influence, from Tan Su Shan of DBS Group (No. 28) to Vlad Tenev of Robinhood Markets (No. 73), proving the path to power still has room for rising disruptors.
For Musk, now sitting at No. 4, the year has been a mixed bag—juggling Tesla’s reputational hits and rising EV competition while recovering from the political spectacle of his “DOGE for President Trump” episode. Meanwhile, Huang’s NVIDIA is redefining what it means to hold power in the AI age.
Full list and methodology: Fortune’s 2025 Most Powerful People in Business
Retired U.S. Army Combat Veteran | NAHJ Member | Writer | Cultural Advocate
I’m Daniel Crespo-Montero Sr., although many know me as El Indio Gordo. I’m the Managing Editor of OMG Magazine, a retired U.S. Army combat veteran, a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), and a writer with a passion for culture, community, and storytelling.
My journey hasn’t exactly followed a traditional path, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I spent more than three decades in the U.S. Army, working in military law enforcement, paralegal services, and human resources. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Spanish and an Associate degree in Small Business Entrepreneurship. Those experiences have shaped how I understand people, leadership, and the world around me.
As a proud Boricua with Indigenous Taíno roots, cultural preservation is especially important to me. Within the Higuayagua Taíno community, I’ve served in several leadership roles and currently serve as Pennsylvania’s Regional Kasike and Bahari for Atunwa.
My community involvement has also included serving as a New York City Ambassador for the National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce. I’m also a former Boy Scout and proud Scout dad.
As Managing Editor, I enjoy exploring entertainment, lifestyle, food and beverages, travel, business, and culture. I believe journalism should inform, entertain, challenge perspectives, and give a voice to stories that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Beyond the magazine, I’m a father, grandfather, cultural advocate, and independent writer who enjoys sharing observations, experiences, and occasionally a little humor.
I certainly don’t know everything, but I’m always willing to learn something new. And if something catches my attention, chances are I’ll have a few words to share about it.
Follow My Writing
Enjoy my articles? There’s more where that came from!
El Indio Gordo on Substack:
Leave a Reply