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Icons of the East: A Look at the 100 Most Influential People of Asia

The world鈥檚 largest and most populous continent, Asia, spans over 17 million square miles and encompasses over 50 countries. Asia is home to several influential people in the world. These influential people have played major roles in shaping this continent鈥檚 history, culture, and society.

Asia’s most influential people have had significant importance and impact on how the continent has developed and progressed. Some of these individuals came from diverse backgrounds which include politics, business, religion, entertainment, and sports.

Their influences have given Asia a new global view in matters of the economy, politics, and other social issues. Science and technological development have also been boosted high by influential people from Asia. Their achievements have been globally recognized and given awards for them. Influential Asian people like Mother Teresa impacted lives of people through charity work, business moguls like Jack Ma have influenced the lives of people in various ways, and politicians and revolutionarists like Mahatma Gandhi helped build their nations.

Let鈥檚 learn about Icons of the East and have A Look at the 100 Most Influential People in Asia:

1. Mahatma Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who is popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi across the world is ranked among the top influential people from Asia. He was an Indian revolutionary, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist.

Mahatma Gandhi used nonviolent resistance to lead India鈥檚 successful campaign for independence from British rule. He also inspired the movements for civil rights and freedom around the world. The honorific epithet Mahtm (Sanskrit for 鈥済reat-souled鈥�, or 鈥渧enerable鈥�), which was first applied to him in 1914 in South Africa, is now used worldwide.

Read Top 10 Facts about Gandhi.

2. Mao Zedong

Born on 26^th December 1893, Mao Zedong who is famously known as Chairman Mao was a Chinese Communist revolutionary. He is known for being the founder of the People鈥檚 Republic of China.

Chairman Mao led as the chairman of the Chinese Communist Party since the establishment of the People鈥檚 Republic of China till his death in 1976. He was an ideologically Marxist-Leninist with his military strategies, theories, and political policies being called Maoism.

3. Lee Kuan Yew

Born Harry Lee Kuan Yew but mostly referred to by his initials LKY, Lee was a Singaporean lawyer, politician, and statesman. He served as the inaugural Prime Minister of Singapore from 1959 to 1990.

Lee was also the Secretary-General of the People鈥檚 Action Party for several years between 1954 to 1992. From 1955 to his death in 2015, Lee was a member of the parliament of Tanjong Pagar. He is known globally as the founding father of Singapore.

4. Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi, also known as Suu Kyi, is a Burmese politician, diplomat, author, and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. She served as Myanmar鈥檚 State Counsellor (the equivalent of a prime minister) and Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2016 to 2021.

She has been the National League for Democracy (NLD) chairperson since 2011, having previously served as general secretary from 1988 to 2011. She was instrumental in Myanmar鈥檚 2010 transition from a military junta to partial democracy.

5. Deng Xiaoping

Deng was a very influential Chinese revolutionary leader, military commander, and statesman. He served as the paramount leader of the People鈥檚 Republic of China between December 1978 and November 1989.

Deng rose to supreme power after Mao Zedong died in 1976. He led China through several series of far-reaching market-economy reforms.

These reforms earned Deng a reputation as the Architect of Modern China. Deng Xiaoping contributed largely to China鈥檚 rise to become the world鈥檚 second-largest economy in 2010 by nominal GDP.

6. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Born on 6^th May 1918, Sheikh Zayed was an Emirati politician, statesman, and philanthropist. He served as the first president of the United Arab Emirates from 1971 to his death in 2004.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is highly credited to be the founding father and the huge influence of uniting seven Emirates in the UAE. Sheikh Zayed was also the ruler of Abu Dhabi from 1966 to his death.

7. Park Chung-hee

Chung-hee was a renowned South Korean politician who previously served as an art general. He also served as the President of South Korea for 18 years, from 1961 to 1979 when he was assassinated.

Park Chung-hee was an unelected military strongman who later became the third President of South Korea. His reign saw a series of economic reforms which later led to rapid economic growth and industrialization.

8. Akio Morita

Morita Akio was a Japanese entrepreneur who cofounded Sony with Masaru Ibuka. He started with a shop for radio repair in the bombed-out Store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo.

Ibuka鈥檚 venture interested him and he chose to join him in Tokyo after getting funding from Morita鈥檚 father. The two founded Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, the forerunners of Sony Corporation. Akio contributed more to the technological industry of Asia.

9. Sheik Hasina

The daughter of the founding father and first Bangladesh president, Sheikh Hasina is a politician who has served as the prime minister of Bangladesh since January 2009. Sheikh Hasina is the longest-serving prime minister in the history of Bangladesh for over 19 years. Her influence in Asia is renowned for both its positives and negatives.

10. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Described as 鈥渙ne of the world鈥檚 most prominent real estate developers鈥�, Sheikh Mohammed is the vice president, prime minister, and minister of defense of the UAE. He is also the ruler of Dubai and is the third son of the former vice president of the UAE, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Sheikh Mohammed oversaw Dubai鈥檚 transformation into a global city. He also established a number of government-owned enterprises such as Emirates Airline, DP World, and the Jumeirah Group.

Sheikh Mohammed also oversaw the creation of a technology park, a free economic zone, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City, the Dubai International Finance Centre, the Palm Islands, and the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. He also oversaw the construction of the world鈥檚 tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.

11. King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Bhumibol who was conferred with the title of King was the 9^th monarch of Thailand. He descended from the Chakri dynasty, titled Rama IX. King Bhumibol reigned from 9^th June 1946 to his death in 2016. His contribution to Asia has been immense and will always be remembered for his role in leaving a mark on this continent.

12. Deng Yingchao

Wife of the first Chinese Premier, Zhou Enlai, Deng was the chairwoman of the Chinese People鈥檚 Consultative Conference for 5 years. She is among the renowned female Chinese leaders who made major changes in the Asian continent. Her deeds will always be remembered and appreciated for what she did.

13. Ho Chi Minh

Chi Minh served as the Prime Minister of Vietnam for ten years from 1945 to 1955, and President after his role as PM until his death in 1969. He is a great Vietnamese revolutionary and statesman.

Ho Chi Minh led the Viet Minh independence movement and was also part of several revolutions in the country. He played a major role in ensuring that the French Union War was won.

14. Ratan Tata

Ratan Naval Tata, a prominent Indian businessman and former chairman of Tata Sons is one of the most influential people in Asia. His accomplishment in building his family鈥檚 business empire has also helped thousands of people.

Tata is the head of the charitable trusts that are owned by the Tata Group. He is one of the largest philanthropists in the world. His major achievement and influence is the donation of around 60-65% of his income to charity.

15. Abul A鈥檒a Maududi

Abul was an Islamic scholar, Islamist ideologue, Muslim philosopher, jurist, historian, journalist, activist, and scholar who worked in British India. He later lived in Pakistan after partitioning from British India.

His numerous works, which 鈥渃overed a range of disciplines such as Qur鈥檃nic exegesis, hadith, law, philosophy, and history,鈥� were written in Urdu but then translated into English, Arabic, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Burmese, Malayalam, and many other languages. He sought to revive Islam, and to propagate what he understood to be 鈥渢rue Islam鈥�. His influence was felt during his time and helped in shaping the continent.

16. Mother Teresa

Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu famously known as Mother Teresa was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity. She was born in the Ottoman Empire but spent most of her life in India.

Mother Teresa was not only an influential personality in Asia but also in the world. Her work with charity and helping people across the world was her major strength which helped shape the lives of many.

17. Hu Shih

Hu was a diplomat, essayist, literary scholar, philosopher, and politician from China. In his advocacy for the use of written vernacular Chinese, Hu is widely regarded today as a critical contributor to Chinese liberalism and language reform.

He was a key figure in the May Fourth Movement, a leader in China鈥檚 New Culture Movement, the president of Peking University, and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in literature in 1939. He had many interests in literature, philosophy, history, textual criticism, and pedagogy. He was also a well-known redology scholar who held the famous Jiaxu manuscript until his death.

18. Kim Il-sung

The third longest-serving non-royal head of state in the 20^th century, Kim Il-sung was a Korean politician. He was also the founder of North Korea which he ruled from the establishment of the country from 1949 to his death in 1994.

Kim had both negative and positive influence in Asia with the negatives being the invasion of South Korea. However, under his leadership, North Korea had a centrally planned economy as he helped to build the country in the right way.

19. Ban Ki-moon

Ban is a South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the United Nations’ eighth Secretary-General from 2007 to 2016. Before his appointment to the UN, he had served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in his home country from 2004 to 2006.

Named the 32^nd most powerful person in 2013 by Forbes, Ban has been influential in Asia and across the world. He has been an influence in bringing peace in conflict areas as well as has been fighting against global warming.

20. Naruhito

Born on 23^rd February 1960, Naruhito is the Emperor of Japan who acceded to the Chrysanthemum Throne on 1^st May 2019. He is one of the most influential people in Japan and the Asian Continent. His major interest has always been in water policy and the conservation of water to help improve the environment and its ecosystem.

21. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Widely known as Bangabandhu, Sheikh Mujibur was a Bangladeshi politician, statesman, and founding leader of the People鈥檚 Republic of Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, he is constitutionally referred to as the Father of the Nation who declared independence.

His major influence was felt when he led the country into gaining independence from Pakistani rule. He also led to the transformation of East Pakistan鈥檚 state apparatus, armed forces, judiciary, and bureaucracy making it an independent state.

22. Jack Ma

Jack Ma is the fifth wealthiest man in China, a Chinese business investor, and philanthropist. He is widely known for co-founding Alibaba Group. He also co-founded Yunfeng Capital which is a Chinese private equity firm.

His influence in Asia and the world has always been felt through his innovations and leadership. Jack Ma is considered an informal global ambassador and influential figure for the startup businesses community.

Read more on the Top 10 surprising facts about Jack Ma.

23. Abdul Sattar Edhi

Born on 28^th February 1928, Abdul was one of the major influential personalities in Pakistan and Asia. He was a humanitarian, philanthropist, and ascetic who founded the Edhi Foundation.

The Edhi Foundation runs the world鈥檚 largest volunteer ambulance. It also has various homeless shelters, animal shelters, rehabilitation centers, and orphanages across Pakistan which have helped many people.

24. Amartya Sen

Kumar Sen is an Indian economist and philosopher who has lived and worked in the United Kingdom and the United States since 1972. Sen has made contributions to welfare economics, social choice theory, economic and social justice, famine economic theories, decision theory, development economics, public health, and country well-being measures.

25. Malala Yousafzai

Malala is a renowned Pakistani female education activist who won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate at the age of 17 becoming the youngest person to get such an award. She is also famously known for her human rights advocacy.

Her advocacy mainly targets women and children from Swat, her home town where the Pakistani Taliban banned girls from going to school. The influence and advocacy of Malala have grown and become an international movement.

26. Xi Jinping

Xi is the President and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China, ruling over 1.3 billion subjects, and commanding the world鈥檚 largest army and the world鈥檚 second-largest economy. It would be difficult to argue for anyone else in terms of influence.

Xi Jinping was born on June 15, 1953, in Beijing, and was always destined for politics as the son of China鈥檚 former Vice Premier. He is now one of the world鈥檚 most powerful men, leading China into new eras of growth and expansion. It is not surprising that Xi Jinping will remain to be an influential Asian for many years to come.

27. Li Ka-Shing

Ranked as the 31^st richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of US$33.4 billion, Sir Li Ka-Shing is a Hong Kong billionaire. He is also a business magnate, investor, and philanthropist.

Li is one of Asia鈥檚 most powerful and influential entrepreneurs who presides over a business empire with a diverse portfolio of businesses in transportation, real estate, financial services, retail, and energy and utilities.

28. Shinzo Abe

The longest-serving prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe was a renowned Japanese politician who was a major influence in Asia. A staunch conservative, Shinzo Abe contributed heavily to the growth and development of Japan after World War Two. His influence in Asia was wide and still runs across even though he was assassinated.

Also, Read 10 Things to know about the Assassination of Shinzo Abe and his Murderer.

29. Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng, a renowned Malaysian actress rose to prominence through her hard work in the movie industry.  TIME magazine named Yeoh one of the most influential people of 2022 for accomplishing 鈥渢he impossible time and time again.鈥� Michelle has always set the bar higher than before which has influenced many Asian women to work hard and follow their dreams.

30. Gautam Adani

Born on 24^th June 1962, Gautam Shantilal Adani is an Indian billionaire industrialist who is a very influential personality in Asia. He is also the chairperson and founder of Adani Group.

The Adani Group has been involved in major port development and operations in India. He has touched the lives of many and his influence seems to be growing and helping more as days go by.

31. Hwang Dong-hyuk

A South Korean film director, producer, and screenwriter, Hwang is an inspiration to many people in Asia and the world following his story. Hwang is best known for his Netflix survival drama series, Squid Game.

The script for this movie was written some years ago and was never released after several attempts to try to market it to various renowned movie companies. However, his patience and later success helped Hwang get listed in the top 100 influential Asian people.

32. Jackie Chan

Acting since the 1960s, Jackie Chan who is a Hong Kong actor, filmmaker, martial artist, and stuntman cannot miss out on this list. He has been on the screens for all these years inspiring and influential people in the continent of Asia and worldwide.

Jackie Chan has been involved in several charitable activities which makes him a very important person from Asia. His influence is immense and immeasurable.

33. Yoon Suk-yeol

TIME magazine named South Korea鈥檚 newly elected president as one of the 鈥淟eaders鈥� on its list of the Most Influential People of 2022. Yoon is a former prosecutor, who belongs to the conservative People Power Party. He has been open about strengthening ties with the US and offered to help build North Korea鈥檚 economy if they agreed to complete denuclearisation.

34. Karuna Nundy

The 46 years old Indian Supreme Court lawyer is also listed in the top 100 influential people in Asia. Nundy has been championing women鈥檚 rights in the courtroom as well as far beyond the law courts.

She is regarded as one of the most powerful voices for women in India which are being recognized in Asia. Nundy has been hailed for advocating the reformation of anti-rape laws and fighting cases of workplace sexual harassment.

35. Khurram Parvez

Khurram is a staunch Kashmiri human rights activist from India. He is also the Chairperson of the Asia Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances as well as the Program Coordinator of the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society.

Khurram was arrested on accusations of funding terror but this has never stopped him from being a human rights activist. He was included in the 2022 Times annual list of Asia鈥檚 influential people.

36. Umar Ata Bandial

Bandial is Pakistan鈥檚 Chief Justice, and he was at the center of the country鈥檚 political turmoil. The turmoil that was experienced in Pakistan resulted in the ouster of Prime Minister Imran Khan鈥檚 government.

When Khan dissolved Parliament in April 2022, Bandial ruled that it was 鈥渦nconstitutional鈥� and overturned Khan鈥檚 decision. This paved the way for the Opposition to proceed with their no-confidence motion and eventually take power. He is an influential person in Asia who has always advocated for equality.

37. Sun Chunlan

Born on 24^th May 1950, Sun Chunlan is a Chinese politician who is the second-ranked Vice Premier of China and the highest-ranking female government official. She started her journey as a worker at a watch factory and rose gradually to become one of the top female leaders in China. Sun Chunlan is an eminent personality who is also a huge influence in China, Asia, and the world.

38. Peng Shuai

The first Chinese tennis player to be ranked the world number 1 double player by the WTA, Peng is a renowned retired Chinese tennis player whose influence is felt in Asia and worldwide. She is also an activist who spearheads the rights of women after she came out and revealed that she was sexually harassed.

39. Hoda Khamosh

Hoda is an Afghan women鈥檚 rights activist and educator who grew up during the American occupation of her country. Before the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, she worked to promote education and women鈥檚 empowerment.

Khamosh was forced to flee her country after the Taliban killed her mother and sister. She was one of six women invited to a Taliban conference in Oslo, Norway, in February 2022.

At the conference, Khamosh advocated for the release of Tamana Zaryabi Paryani and Parawana Ibrahimkhel. Two women activists went missing after participating in a series of anti-Taliban protests. Her influence is widely appreciated.

40. Panmao Zhai

Other than human rights activists and politicians, climatologists have a major influence in the world as nations try to fight global warming. Panmao is a Chinese climatologist whose influence has not only been felt in Asia but also across the world.

41. Simu Liu

34 years old Simu Liu is another influential Chinese-Canadian actor. His experiences of isolation and discrimination have always made him come out and advocate for openness to people suffering behind the covers. Simu Liu uses his talent to express himself which made him listed in the top 100 most influential people in Asia.

42. Thein Sein

A Burmese politician and retired General in the Myanmar Army, Thein served as the 8^th president of Myanmar from 2011 to 2016. He is widely considered a reformist leader in the post-junta government.

The influence of Thein was seen during the series of political reforms which included the deregulation of the country鈥檚 censored media. His influence also included the release of political prisoners as well as the stopping of some controversial Chinese-led projects.

43. Tadashi Yanai

The richest person in Japan with an estimated net worth of US$26.5 billion, Tadashi Yanai is a renowned and influential entrepreneur in Asia. He is also a philanthropist who is always ready to lend a helping hand to the people. In 2011, Tadashi donated 1 billion yen to the victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

44. Tenzin Gyatso

Tenzin is the 14^th Dalai Lama who is the highest spiritual leader and also the head of Tibet. The Dalai Lama has always advocated for Tibetan welfare and has advocated for the Middle Way Approach with China to peacefully resolve the Tibet issue since the early 1970s.

His work includes environmental, economic, and women鈥檚 rights advocacy, nonviolence, interfaith dialogue, physics, astronomy, Buddhism and science, cognitive neuroscience, reproductive health, and sexuality.

45. Aamir Khan

Mohammed Aamir Khan is a renowned and respected Indian actor, film director, and producer of Bollywood films. He has been working in the movie industry for over 30 years establishing himself as one of the most influential people in Asia. Aamir is a social reformer who has worked hard to ensure equality and uphold other people with respect and dignity.

46. Li Na

Born on 26^th February 1982, Li Na is a former Chinese tennis player who is considered the most successful athlete from East Asia. She is one of the most well-known and marketable female athletes in the world. Li Na used the platform to make a major influence in Asia by being a role model for many.

47. Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong-un, a politician of North Korea who has been the Supreme leader and leader of the Worker鈥檚 Party of Korea is also another influential Asian person. His influence on the continent and the world is negative and positive.

His rule in North Korea since 2011 has never been that straight, but his positive influence us felt too. During the covid-19 pandemic, Kim dealt with this issue swiftly and easily.

48. Anjali Gopalan

Anjali is a human rights and animal rights activist from India. She is the founder and executive director of The Naz Foundation (India) Trust.

The Naz Foundation is an NGO that is dedicated to combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India, with a focus on women and children. Anjali began working on HIV/AIDS and marginalized communities’ issues in the United States.

49. Jet Li

Li Lianjie who is better known as Jet Li, is a Chinese film actor, producer, martial artist, and former Wushu champion. He gained his Singaporean citizenship by naturalization.

Jet Li is widely regarded as one of the most recognizable Chinese film stars and martial arts stars of his generation. He has influenced the Asian movie industry positively as he gives major lessons for getting successful.

50. Priyanka Chopra

2000 Miss World pageant, Priyanka Chopra is a famous Indian actress and producer. She has been the face of the continent of Asia to the world with her fantastic influence.

Priyanka also advocates for social causes such as the environment and women鈥檚 rights. She is outspoken about issues such as gender equality, the gender pay gap, and feminism.

Since 2006, Priyanka has been with UNICEF and in 2010 and 2016, she was named the national and global UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Child Rights. Her foundation for health and education, which bears her name, helps underprivileged Indian children to get a better education and health care.

51. Kumar Mangalam Birla

An Indian billionaire businessman, philanthropist, accountant, and chancellor of the Birla Institute of Technology, Kumar is another influential Asian personality. His influence in the continent of Asia has been felt through the investments he has made in over 36 countries. Kumar Birla is a standout person who is always ready to touch and change the lives of many.

52. Ichiro Suzuki

Popularly known as Ichiro, Suzuki is a Japanese former professional baseball outfielder. He played professionally for twenty-eight seasons before retiring.

Ichiro Suzuki has always been available to influence the people in Asia and the world. On 18^th March 2011, Ichiro made a huge donation of 100 million yen to the Japanese Red Cross to relieve those affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

53. Salman Khan

For over 35 years, Abdul Rashid Salim Salman Khan has been a renowned Indian actor, film producer, and television personality. Throughout his career, Khan has been involved with a number of charities.

He founded Being Human, an NGO that sells T-shirts and other products online and in stores. A portion of the proceeds is donated to a worthy cause that helps the underprivileged.

Khan established the Being Human Foundation as a registered charitable trust to assist the underprivileged. Khan founded and funded the Foundation with his own money in its early days. The Foundation focuses on two areas: education and healthcare.

54. Ananda Krishnan

The third-wealthiest man in Malaysia, Ananda Krishnan is a businessman, Chair of Usaha Tegas Sdn Bhd, and founder of Yu Cai Foundation. Through his company Usaha Tegas and its subsidiaries, Ananda Krishnan contributes to education, the arts, sports, and humanitarian causes in Malaysia.

Krishnan鈥檚 Usaha Tegas established the Harapan Nusantara education fund in 2003. Since 2004, the fund has supported the attendance of 100 students per year at special programs at local private universities that collaborate with foreign universities. In the same year, the company established the Yu Cai Education Foundation with a $6.6 million grant to assist ethnic Chinese groups.

55. Tsai Ing-wen

Born on 31^st August 1956, Tsai Ing-wen is a Taiwanese politician who is serving as the president of the Republic of China, Taiwan. Tsai was named one of Time鈥檚 most influential people in 2020, as well as the ninth most powerful woman and the second female politician after Kamala Harris in 2021. Tsai has received international praise for her response to the COVID-19 pandemic and for defying pressure from the People鈥檚 Republic of China鈥檚 government.

56. Kai-Fu Lee

Lee is a Taiwanese computer scientist, businessman, and writer who is based in Beijing, China. He was the founding director of Microsoft Research Asia from 1998 to 2000, and the president of Google China from July 2005 to September 4, 2009.

Lee is one of the most prominent figures in the Chinese internet sector. He founded Sinovation Ventures, which is a venture capital firm, after resigning from his position. Lee also founded Wxu茅wng, a website dedicated to assisting young Chinese people in their studies and careers, and his 鈥�10 Letters to Chinese College Students鈥� have gone viral on the internet.

57. Ang Lee

He is a Taiwanese filmmaker who was born in Southern Taiwan but lives in the United States. His major contribution to the industry is his work which is famous for its emotional charge and exploration of repressed and hidden emotions. He is an influential person in Asia as well as the world with his contribution to the film industry which is motivating.

58. Lee Kun-hee

Lee was a South Korean business magnate who led the Samsung Group from 1987 to 2008, and then again from 2010 until his death in 2020. He is also credited with transforming Samsung into one of the world鈥檚 largest corporations, with operations in semiconductors, smartphones, electronics, shipbuilding, construction, and other industries.

59. Lee Byung-Chul

Lee Byung-Chul, the father of Lee Kun-hee was a renowned businessman from South Korea. He founded the Samsung Group, South Korea鈥檚 largest chaebol, and is regarded as one of the country鈥檚 most successful businessmen. He founded the Samsung Culture Foundation in 1965 to promote a wide range of programs to enrich Korean cultural life.

60. Shiv Nadar

The 3^rd richest man in India, Shiv is a renowned businessman and philanthropist who is the founder and chairman emeritus of HCL Technologies and the Shiv Nadar Foundation. He has worked so hard to change the image of IT in India making him a major influence in Asia. Shiv has also helped transform the education system of India through his foundation.

61. Wang Shu

Wang is a top Chinese architect who resides in Zhejiang Province. Alongside his wife and partner Lu Wenyu, they founded the firm Amateur Architecture Studio which has been an influential center in China and Asia.

Through his architectural work, Wang Shu has been able to be a great model in preserving ancient Chinese culture. In this way, he has been a huge influence in Asia.

62. Sonia Gandhi

Sonia is the longest-serving president of the Indian National Congress and a renowned politician. She is also ranked among the world鈥檚 most powerful female leaders as well as a powerful politician in India.

Her influence in India and Asia has been so immense. She has been fighting for human rights and delivering better services to the people of India.

63. Li Keqiang

Li is a Chinese politician and the country’s outgoing premier. He is a trained economist, the head of China’s executive branch, and one of the driving forces behind China’s Financial and Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs, National Security, and Deepening Reforms. His influence in Asia has been immense in terms of helping shape the economy and international image of the continent.

64. Lou Jiwei

Lou is the Chinese Finance Minister, as well as the President of the CIC, China鈥檚 sovereign investment fund with over $1 trillion in assets. Jiwei is also credited with transforming China鈥檚 taxation system. His influence has been in ensuring that the economy of China remains superior. Lou has been a significant figure for the continent of Asia.

65. Akio Toyoda

Born in the third largest city in Japan, Akio Toyoda is a business executive and current president of Toyota Motor Corporation. He is also ranked among the richest people in Asia and has helped many financially leaving his mark on his country. Even though he is expected to step down from his role on 1^st April 2023, he will always be remembered as an influential person from Asia.

66. Susilo Bambang

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is popularly known by his abbreviated name SBY, is an Indonesian politician and retired army general who served as the country鈥檚 sixth president from 2004 to 2014. He is a renowned Asian leader who received the Lifetime Achievement Award known as Champions of the Earth.

This major award is given by UNEP to leaders who are recognized for their outstanding environmental conservation and development.

67. Pranab Mukherjee

Mukherjee was an Indian statesman and politician who served as the 13^th President of India. He was president of India from 2012 up to 2017 with his period in leadership being successful. His influence was in preserving the Indian culture as well as serving his people equally.

68. Ashfaq Kayani

General Ashfaq is a retired four-star general of the Pakistan Army who is an influential person in Pakistan and around Asia. His influence has been great in maintaining peace in the country as he managed to cool down the arising wars in the the-then war-torn country.

69. Margaret Chan

The 30^th most powerful female leader in 2014, Margaret Chan is a Chinese-Canadian physician. She served as the Director-general of WHO from 20006 to 2017 delegating to the People鈥檚 Republic of China.

Her major contribution has been in dealing with pandemics and communicable diseases. Chan鈥檚 major influence is by empowering women across the world and Asia.

70. Noynoy Aquino

Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino was a Filipino politician, popularly referred to as Noynoy Aquino. He served as the 15^th President of the Philippines for 6 years from 2010 to 2016. Under his rule, the economy of the Philippines grew at higher rates which got the country to be dubbed as a Rising Tiger economy.

71. Ram Baran Yadav

Yadav is a Nepali politician and physician who was also the first president of Nepal. He was president from 2008 to 2015 after the country was declared a Republic. His influence was in building the country and making it an independent nation as he also empowered many through various health and other programs.

72. Cheng Yu-tung

Cheng was an influential Hong Kong billionaire who had extensive real estate investment, development, and service businesses, hotels, infrastructure, jewelry retailing, and transportation interests in Hong Kong, Macau, the United States, Australia, and other locations. At the time of his death, he was regarded as Hong Kong鈥檚 third richest man. His influence was felt across the continent and the world with his main agenda being to empower people in all ways.

73. Robert Kuok

Ranked as the wealthiest person in Malaysia as of April 2021, Robert Kuok is a business magnate and an impressive investor. He majors in various sectors which have yielded him all the wealth he has. With his wealth, his contribution to empowering the community has been great making him one of the most influential persons in Asia.

74. Anna Hazare

Kisan Baburao who is popularly known as 鈥淎nna鈥� Hazare, is a social activist from India who has led movements to promote rural development, increase government transparency, and investigate and punish public corruption. In addition to organizing and encouraging grassroots movements, Hazare frequently engaged in hunger strikes to advance his causes, a strategy that many associates with Mahatma Gandhi鈥檚 work.

75. Azim Premji

Azim was the chairman of Wipro Limited and is an Indian businessman and philanthropist. Premji remains a non-executive member of the board and the company鈥檚 founder. Informally, he is known as the Czar of the Indian IT Industry.

He was in charge of steering Wipro through four decades of diversification and growth to become one of the world鈥檚 leading software companies. By signing the Giving Pledge in 2013, he agreed to give away at least half of his wealth. Premji began by donating $2.2 billion to the Azim Premji Foundation, which focuses on education in India.

76. Andrew Sheng

Tan Sri Andrew Sheng is a Malaysian banker, academic, and commentator based in Hong Kong. His career began as an accountant and is now a distinguished fellow of the Fung Global Institute, a Hong Kong-based global think tank. He is a renowned and influential figure in Asia whose effect is well-known throughout the continent and the world.

77. Hun Sen

Hun is a Cambodian politician and former military commander who has served as the country鈥檚 prime minister since 1985. He is Cambodia鈥檚 longest-serving head of government and one of the world鈥檚 longest-serving leaders. Sen has recently strengthened ties with China, which has undertaken large-scale infrastructure projects and investments in Cambodia as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

78. Pony Ma

Ma Huateng, who is famously known as Pony Ma, is a Chinese business magnate worth billions of dollars. He is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Tencent.

Tencent is one of Asia鈥檚 most valuable companies, and one of the world鈥檚 largest internet and technology companies. It is also one of the world鈥檚 largest investment, gaming, and entertainment conglomerates. His influence has always been clear on what he is doing to the Asian continent as well as the world.

79. Norovyn Atlankhuyag

Norovyn is a Mongolian politician who served as Prime Minister and Member of Parliament from 2012 to 2014. Mongolian Prime Minister Norovyn Altankhuyag was elected. During his tenure, the economy grew by 13.7%, owing largely to the Oyu Tolgoi deposit.

80. Cher Wang

Cher is a successful Taiwanese businesswoman. She is the co-founder and chairperson of HTC Corporation and integrated chipset maker VIA Technologies since 2007. Cher is one of the most successful women in computer technology. Forbes ranked her as the 54^th most powerful woman in the world in 2014.

Wang Charity Foundations own stocks in eight investment companies that are worth more than $200 million. She made a donation of $28.1 million to Guizhou Forerunner College, a charitable college in southwest China established by VIA Technologies鈥� non-profit Faith-Hope-Love Foundation, in 2011. Students from low-income families will receive three years of free or low-cost education from the non-profit college.

81. Muhammad Yunus

Muhammad Yunus (born on 28^th June 1940) is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker, economist, and civil society leader who founded the Grameen Bank and pioneered the concepts of microcredit and microfinance.

The loans distributed by Yunus and co are given to entrepreneurs who are unable to obtain traditional bank loans due to financial constraints. Yunus and the Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for their efforts to create economic and social development from below” through microcredit.

Also, read 15 Fun Facts about Asia.

82. Rajinikanth

Shivaji Rao Gaekwad who is known by his stage name Rajinikanth, is a celebrated Indian actor, producer, and screenwriter. He has been in the industry for more than 4 decades and had worked on more than 160 films.

His influence in the acting industry in India and Asia as a whole is so explosive in that he has received major accolades for that. He was named the most influential person in India in 2014.

83. Manny Pacquiao

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao Sr. CLH known as Manny Pacquiao professionally is a former professional boxer and politician from the Philippines. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time who also served as a Senator from 2016 to 2022. In the Philippines, Manny is regarded as one of the greatest role models as he has influenced the lives of many in various ways.

84. Peng Liyuan

Ranked as the 57^th most powerful woman in the world in 2014 by Forbes, Peng Liyuan is a Chinese soprano and contemporary folk singer. She is the spouse of the current President of the Republic of China. Her influence has been immense throughout her career with female rights always being put at the forefront by her.

85. Lee Shau-kee

Lee is a Hong Kong business magnate, philanthropist, and investor who is also a real estate magnate and the majority shareholder of Henderson Land Development. His agency deals in property conglomerates with holdings in real estate, hotels, restaurants, and internet services.

Lee Shau-kee鈥檚 Foundation made donations of more than HK$20 million to the HKICC Lee Shau Kee School of Creativity. In 2007, he also donated HK$500 million to the University of Hong Kong and HK$400 million to the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

He also made a donation to a site in Yuen Long to the charity organization Po Leung Kuk in 2015. This was to enable the building of Hong Kong鈥檚 most prominent youth hostel. These units were to be leased to young people between the ages of 18 and 30.

86. Najib Razak

The father of Transformation, Najib Razak, is a Malaysian politician who was the 6^th prime minister of Malaysia from April 2009 to May 2018. Even though he had the negative side of a corruption scandal, Najib is an influential figure from Asia. During his tenure, he left a mark on economic liberalization measures, such as cuts to government subsidies, the loosening of restrictions on foreign investment, and reductions in preferential measures for ethnic Malays in business.

87. Kwon Oh-Hyun

Kwon Oh-hyun is a former Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Samsung Electronics. The Time Magazine named him in the list of the top 100 most influential people in 2013. His contributions are significant in several technical journals on semiconductor-related topics.

88. Lakshmi Mittal

Lakshmi Niwas Mittal is a steel magnate from India who now lives in the United Kingdom. He is the Executive Chairman of ArcelorMittal, the world鈥檚 second-largest steelmaker, as well as the Chairman of Aperam, a stainless steel manufacturer. With his riches, he has managed to positively impact the lives of people from India as well as around the world. His influence will always be appreciated by those who know and are close to him.

89. Wang Jianlin

Wang is a Chinese business magnate, investor, and philanthropist. He is also the founder of Dalian Wanda Group, which is China鈥檚 largest real estate development company. Dalian Wanda Group is also the world鈥檚 largest movie theater operator.

Wang previously had 17% ownership of the Spanish club Atl茅tico Madrid. His influence was in the transformation of football and other sports in Asia. He signed an agreement with FIFA in 2016 to launch the China Cup, in which national football teams compete each year in Nanning, Guangxi.

90. Chanda Kocchar

Chanda is the former managing director and chief executive officer of ICICI bank. She has both a negative and positive public image but her influence in Asia has always been clear. She has been ranked as one of the most powerful women in Asia and India who has worked hard in ensuring that female rights are adhered to.

91. Robin Li

Robin Li Yanhong is a billionaire internet entrepreneur from China. He is the co-founder of the search engine Baidu. His net worth was estimated to be $8.5 billion in March 2022.

On 15^th May 2011, Asian Scientist Magazine named Li one of the 15 Asian Scientists to Watch which came to pass as he is an influential figure in Asia.

92. Ela Ramesh Bhatt

Ela Ramesh Bhatt was an Indian activist and cooperative organizer who founded the Self-Employed Women鈥檚 Association of India (SEWA) in 1972. She served as the general secretary of SEWA from 1972 to 1996.

Bhatt was a trained lawyer active in the international labor, cooperative, women鈥檚, and micro-finance movements. Her influence was visible as she received numerous national and international awards, including the Ramon Magsaysay Award (1977). She also received the Right Livelihood Award (1984) for 鈥渁ssisting home-based producers to organize for their welfare and self-respect,鈥� and the Padma Bhushan (1986).

93. Deepak Chopra

Deepak is a prominent Indian-American author and medical advocate. He is also a very successful and central figure in the New Age movement. His influence in Asia and the world has been through his books and videos which have helped the department of wealth.

94. Andy Lau

Andy Lau Tak-wah BBS MH JP is a film producer, actor, and singer-songwriter from Hong Kong. Since the mid-1980s, he has been one of Hong Kong鈥檚 most commercially successful film actors. He has appeared in over 160 films while also maintaining a successful singing career.

Andy Lau is an influential personality from Asia who will always be a great model to many. He has never shied off from donating to charities and touching the lives of many.

95. Jay Chou

Jay is a Taiwanese singer, songwriter, record producer, rapper, actor, and television personality. He is dubbed 鈥淜ing of Mandopop,鈥� and is one of Taiwan鈥檚 best-selling artists, having sold over 30 million records.

Asian government officials and educators have recognized him for his exemplary behavior. He was designated as a spokesperson for the youth empowerment project 鈥淵oung Voice鈥� in 2005 and an anti-depression campaign in 2007.

96. Fan Bingbing

Born on 16^th September 1981, Fan Bingbing is a Chinese actress who is renowned throughout the world and Asia. She was listed by Time Magazine among the top influential people in 2017. Her influence is still felt across the continent and the world on various things.

97. Zhang Xin

Xin is a Chinese billionaire businesswoman who earned her fortune primarily in real estate. She co-founded and was the former CEO of SOHO China, a Chinese office building developer, with her husband Pan Shiyi. On 7^th September 2022, Xin stepped down as CEO 鈥渢o focus on supporting the arts and philanthropic pursuits.鈥�

98. Palaniappan Chidambaram

Popularly known as P. Chidambaram, he is an Indian politician and lawyer who is also a Member of Parliament. Chidambaram had no positive rating when he was Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Commerce. However, he has a more positive influence in Asia as more lives of Indians have been touched positively.

99. Narendra Modi

Narendra Damodardas Modi is an Indian politician who has been the country鈥檚 14^th and current Prime Minister since 2014. Modi also served as Gujarat鈥檚 Chief Minister from 2001 to 2014. Like other tough leaders, Narendra had criticism during his first tenure in leadership, but he has managed to be influential in India and Asia.

100. Park Guen-Hye

Park is a South Korean politician who was the 11^th president of South Korea from 2013 to 2017. Ranked among the most powerful and influential people in East Asia and the world, Park is one who makes a positive impact on the lives of many. She was the first woman elected as president of South Korea and the first female president who was popularly elected as Head of state in Asia.

Read; 15 Famous Asian Women Who Made History: A Look at Their Contributions and Impact.

 

Asia’s background is not only built through their cultures, but also from the influence of various renowned individuals. Their influence has helped shape the economic, political and entertainment sectors as the continent tries to show the world that they can be depended on for various projects and issues.