Influence is a weird thing. You can't really touch it, but you definitely feel it when the room shifts. Every year, people wait for that one big reveal to see who is steering the ship of global culture. Well, the TIME 100 most influential 2025 list just dropped, and honestly, it’s a bit of a reality check.
It isn't just a bunch of celebrities patting each other on the back. This year's selection feels heavier. There is a specific focus on "global disruption," according to TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. We are seeing a massive intersection of tech billionaires, political rebels, and athletes who are basically running their own venture capital firms now.
Five people landed the covers this time around: Demi Moore, Snoop Dogg, Serena Williams, Ed Sheeran, and Demis Hassabis. It’s a mix that sounds like a chaotic dinner party, but it makes sense when you look at the actual impact they’ve had over the last twelve months.
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The Titans and the Tech Takeover
One thing that stands out immediately is how much the business world is filling the gaps left by traditional leadership. There are 16 corporate CEOs on the list this year. That is a record. It basically says that the people running your favorite apps and banks have as much pull as some heads of state.
Mark Zuckerberg is back on the list for the fifth time. Between Meta’s pivot to open-source AI and the sheer reach of his platforms, he’s kind of unavoidable. Then you’ve got Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind. He’s a 2024 Nobel Prize winner, and his work in AI is literally changing how we solve biology and physics problems.
It’s not just the Silicon Valley usual suspects, though. You’ve got:
- Lisa Su of AMD, who is basically the reason your high-end tech actually works.
- Larry Fink from BlackRock, managing more money than most countries have.
- Ted Sarandos at Netflix, who Shonda Rhimes says "saved Hollywood."
- Ed Bastian (Delta Air Lines) and Doug McMillon (Walmart).
Elon Musk made the list again too—his sixth time. Between SpaceX’s Starship progress and his vocal role in the U.S. political landscape, he remains one of the most polarizing but undeniably influential humans on the planet.
Politics and the "Disruption" Factor
If you look at the Leaders category, things get even more intense. The 2025 list features six members of the Trump Administration. TIME points out this is the largest contingent from a single U.S. administration since 2009. It’s a clear nod to the massive shift in American domestic and foreign policy.
Donald Trump is appearing for the seventh time, more than anyone else on the list this year. Joining him are figures like J.D. Vance, Howard Lutnick, and Russell Vought. It’s a snapshot of the current power structure in Washington.
But the influence isn't just American. We’ve got:
- Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president.
- Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister trying to navigate a post-Brexit, post-Tory landscape.
- Muhammad Yunus, the 84-year-old Nobel laureate who stepped up to lead Bangladesh’s interim government.
- Javier Milei, Argentina’s "chainsaw" president, making his second appearance.
The Icons Who Redefined Staying Power
It’s easy to dismiss the "Icons" and "Artists" categories as just fame, but look at Demi Moore. She’s 62 and just came off a career-defining performance in The Substance. She’s not just an actress anymore; she’s a symbol of why women in their 60s shouldn't be written off. Ryan Murphy wrote her tribute, calling her "incredibly powerful."
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Then there’s Snoop Dogg. You've seen him everywhere—from the Olympics to cooking shows. Hoda Kotb wrote his tribute, and honestly, she’s right: he’s a "battering ram" against the algorithms that keep us in our own little bubbles. He is one of the few people everyone seems to like.
In the world of sports, Serena Williams and Simone Biles are essentially the gold standard. Serena is no longer just a tennis player; she’s an entrepreneur and a "Titan" of industry now. Simone Biles, who received a TIME Impact Award, continues to be the voice for athlete mental health and justice.
The New Guard and the Pioneers
The youngest person on the list is 22-year-old Léon Marchand. If you watched the Paris Olympics, you know why. He didn't just win; he dominated the pool in a way we haven't seen since the Michael Phelps era.
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On the flip side, we have Gisèle Pelicot. She became a global icon for courage and justice in France. Her tribute was written by none other than Gloria Steinem. It’s a reminder that influence isn't always about money or votes; sometimes it’s about the sheer weight of a single person’s stand against the unthinkable.
We also saw a huge year for writers. Seven authors made the cut, including Percival Everett, whose book James (a retelling of Huckleberry Finn) basically took over the literary world in 2024. Amy Griffin, a businesswoman turned author, also made waves with The Tell, an Oprah Book Club pick that dealt with some incredibly heavy personal truths.
How to Think About This List
Kinda feels like influence in 2025 is more fragmented than ever. You have AI researchers like Dario Amodei (Anthropic) and Demis Hassabis holding the keys to the future of intelligence, while traditional leaders are struggling to keep up with the pace of change.
If you’re looking for actionable insights from the TIME 100 most influential 2025 list, here are three things to keep in mind:
- Watch the CEOs. When business leaders start filling the "leadership void" left by governments, their decisions on climate, AI, and labor will affect your life more than any legislation might.
- Follow the Pioneers. People like Ismahane Elouafi (working on food security) or Demis Hassabis (AI) are the ones actually building the world we’ll live in by 2030.
- Redefine Age. From 22-year-old Marchand to 84-year-old Yunus, the "prime" of a person's life is being stretched in both directions.
To stay ahead of these shifts, pay close attention to the TIME 100 Summit and Gala highlights. The conversations happening behind the scenes at these events often signal where the money and the policy are heading next. You should also look into the individual work of the "Pioneers" category—they are usually the best bellwethers for the next big technological or social breakthrough.