50 Most Powerful Women in Business

FORTUNE's annual ranking of America's leading businesswomen

All-stars

These 5 women have made it onto our Power 50 each year since its inception back in 1998.

2008 Rank	1998 Rank	Name	Company
49	25	Cathie Black	Hearst Magazines
6	8	Andrea Jung	Avon Products
18	18	Judy McGrath	Viacom
20	17	Ann Moore	Time Inc.
8	2	Oprah Winfrey	Harpo

From the Oct. 13, 2008 issue

What Readers Say

They speak out on the Power 50...

Women make 83% of all purchasing decisions.... yet they refuse to a...

This is ridiculous! How about Condaleeza Rice? More powerful than...

Powerful people (men or women) make their own success. Gender does ...

Have your say

iReport

What makes you powerful? Is your career on the rise? Is your life outside of work making you stronger? Send us your photos and videos.

Postcards

Patricia Sellers

Dispatches from the pinnacles of power.

Video (1 of 20)

Big blow to Citi

Oppenheimer analyst Meredith Whitney says Citi needed the Wachovia deal to wean itself off of capital-markets dependency. Watch
The last days of Lehman

Former Lehman Vice Chairman Barbara Byrne recounts the emotion and confusion surrounding the fall of the investment giant. Watch
Grading Sarah Palin

Fortune�s Most Powerful Women offer their take on Palin�s and Biden�s performances in the V.P. debate. Watch
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
Buffett: Build economic confidence

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett says the government and the Fed need to restore trust in the financial system. Watch
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
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
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
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
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
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
Sidestepping the credit crisis

Carver Bank CEO Deborah Wright says that community banks have largely avoided the current credit problems. Watch
Can women have it all?

Martha Stewart talks about balancing home life with being a business leader and a celebrity. Watch
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
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
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
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
Dealing with rising costs

Fortune's Most Powerful Women panel discusses how their companies are finding ways to cope with inflationary pressures. Watch
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
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