Who topped Forbes’ 2021 list of the world’s most powerful women?

MacKenzie Scott topped Forbes’ 2021 list of the world’s most powerful women.

Forbes placed philanthropist MacKenzie Scott first in its 2021 ranking. The list assesses influence using factors such as money, media presence, impact and spheres of influence; it is not a wealth ranking. Scott’s position reflected the scale and speed of her charitable giving as well as her financial resources.

Scott became a major philanthropist after receiving Amazon shares following her divorce from Jeff Bezos. She pledged to give away the majority of her wealth and announced billions of dollars in grants to organizations working in areas including racial equity, public health, education and economic opportunity.

The ranking differs from Forbes’ lists of the richest women, which focus primarily on estimated net worth. German Chancellor Angela Merkel ranked second in the 2021 power list, while U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris ranked third.