Businessperson of the Year

While sales are sagging at rivals Burger King and Wendy's, McDonald's is moving more food than ever. Every day some 60 million people are served at the burger chain, including a growing number who buy more than 2 billion pounds of chicken fare a year. Higher-margin sales of fruit smoothies, lattes, and frappes helped juice profits, as did extending operating hours in Europe. And we aren't embarrassed to say the return of the McRib didn't hurt Skinner's position in our list. Even more helpful: McDonald's surging stock, up 27% this year.

--P.N.

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