Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/09/27/bill_gates_is_more_important/

Bill Gates is more important than the Pope

This and more plain daft 'facts' have been uncovered by a top UK paper

By Linda Harrison

Posted in On-Prem, 27th September 1999 16:10 GMT

If power is an aphrodisiac, there's little wonder Melinda Gates always has a smile on her face. In a survey of the people who exert the greatest influence over the UK, Bill Gates weighed in at number two. The Microsoft founder beat media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who came in at number four, and home secretary Jack Straw, who netted only 12th place. Top of The Sunday Times Power List was our very own PM, Tony Blair. Among the IT heavyweights listed were Barclay Knapp, CEO of NTL, and Sir Stanley Kalms, Dixons chairman, at numbers 16 and 58, respectively. Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos was 13th in the survey, miles ahead of the Queen. The telecomms world was also well represented, with BT CEO Sir Peter Bonfield and Colt Telecom CEO Paul Chisholm both in the top 40. Chris Gent, Vodafone CEO, secured a position in the top 100, beating both David Beckham, Posh Spice and the Pope. The Sunday Times appointed a specialist team to assess those most influential on the nation over the 12 months from September 1998. The survey looked at who had fulfilled their contracts or done their duty, people's personal reputations, the outcomes of their decision making on the year's most critical issues, and their cultural power. A full list of The Sunday Times' list of the 100 most influential people in the UK can be found here. ®