The World's 15 Most Powerful Couples In 2012

1. Hillary and Bill Clinton-
Former U.S. President Bill Clinton and current U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, named the second most powerful woman in the world this year, together form the world's premiere power pair.


2. Melinda and Bill Gates-
Microsoft mogul Bill Gates built up a net worth of $61 billion and his wife Melinda is helping put it to good use. The couple's Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation last year gave away $2.6 billion, and to date has made more than $25 billion in grant commitments to poverty eradication, public health and education. Melinda's active role helped her rank fifth on the Forbes list of the world's most powerful women.



3. Michelle and Barack Obama-
As president and first lady of the largest single economy in the world--the U.S. has a GDP of $15.3 trillion--and the third-largest country by population (313 million), the Obamas are one of the word's most recognizable couples.



4. Marissa Mayer and Zack Bogue-
Mayer, who left Google to become the new CEO of struggling tech company Yahoo, and Bogue, a former lawyer who invests in big-data startups and recently launched the investment fund Data Collective, married in 2009. Now they are one of Silicon Valley's top techie power pairs.



5. Diane Sawyer and Mike Nichols-
Sawyer is one of the most prolific and respected women in broadcast journalism, and Nichols is the Oscar-winning director behind movies like The Graduate, Working Girl and Closer. The mixed-media power couple have been married since 1988.


6. Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z-
Knowles and rapper Jay-Z are the music industry's most influential couple. In January, they had their first child, daughter Blue Ivy Carter. Only five months later, Knowles hit the stage for a sold-out, four-night performance she dubbed "Back to Business."


7. Diane von Furstenberg and Barry Diller-
Designer von Furstenberg is one of fashion's leading ladies and is married to billionaire Diller, the chair and CEO of online media company IAC.


8. Shakira and Gerard Pique-
Latina performer and philanthropist Shakira is involved with one of Spain's most famous soccer players, Gerard Pique, a center-back for FC Barcelona.


9. Ellen and Portia DeGeneres-
TV host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres married TV actress Portia DeGeneres (formerly de Rossi) in 2008. Together they rule the airwaves. 


10. Zhang Xin and Pan Shiyi-
Billionaire CEO Zhang Xin leads Soho China, China's largest property developer, which she cofounded with her husband Pan Shiyi. They form the power couple of China's real estate industry.



11. Cher Wang and Wenchi Chen
Wang founded mobile company HTC in 1997, and her husband, Chen, sits on its board of directors and runs one of her other tech start-ups, VIA Technologies.
 


12. Christiane Amanpour and James Rubin-
Amanpour and Rubin are among media's most influential couples. Amanpour is the global affairs anchor of ABC News and the chief international correspondent and host of Amanpour on CNN. Meanwhile, Rubin is a top editor at Bloomberg News and a former U.S. Department of State Assistant Secretary.



13. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt-
Hollywood's it couple announced they would finally tie the knot in 2012, after seven years together and six kids. It will be a powerful union: Together they earned $45 million last year.


14. Tina Brown and Harold Evans-
Veteran editor Tina Brown has been at the top of the masthead at Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and now Newsweek and The Daily Beast. Evans is a former editor of The Sunday Times and the founder of Conde Nast Traveler. The journalism power couple is a U.K. transplant to the U.S.


15. Gisele Bundchen and Tom Brady-
Top-earning supermodel Bundchen got herself a trophy husband: Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots, is a two-time super bowl MVP and a three-time AFC offensive player of the year.

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