Dangote, Pope Leo XIV, Trump and others named to TIME 100 Most Influential People of 2026

African industrialist Aliko Dangote has been named to TIME Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2026, reaffirming his position as one of the most successful and iconic business leaders of his generation.

Dangote is joined by global influencers from various sectors, including political leaders such as US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the revered Pope Leo XIV, the current head of the Catholic Church as well as business and technology leaders including Google CEO Sundar Pichai and YouTube CEO Neal Mohan.

The annual TIME100 list, published April 15, 2026, honors global figures whose leadership, ideas and actions are shaping the future in business, politics, culture and society. Dangote’s inclusion places him alongside prominent international figures hailing from various spheres of global influence.
This marks Dangote’s second appearance on the prestigious TIME100 list, following his first recognition in 2014, when he was honored for his impact on business and philanthropy.

Dangote, known for his industrial push in Africa, is the only Nigerian on the list and falls into the titan and innovator category. Other prominent honorees named alongside Dangote in the titan category were Reid Wiseman, Commander of the Artemis II mission to the moon; Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet and Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube.

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Also standing out in the titan category are Michael and Susan Dell, renowned American tech billionaires and philanthropists best known as the founders of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, a global non-profit organization focused on improving the lives of children living in urban poverty. Also included here is American designer and billionaire Ralph Lauren, best known for founding the global lifestyle empire Ralph Lauren Corporation.

Recognized in the Pioneer category were individuals with breakthroughs in Science and Social Advocacy such as Kiran Musunuru and Rebecca Ahrens-Nicklas, both cited for medical breakthroughs in genetic therapy as well as Aaron Williams, recognized for advances in heart transplant readiness.

Recognized influential figures in the world of global entertainment and culture include Ranbir Kapoor, India’s leading actor; Dakota Johnson, known as an actress and cultural icon and Kate Hudson, including for her cultural influence.

In its excerpt, TIME Magazine highlighted Dangote’s vision of building African industry with local resources for global competitiveness, and noted his recent investments in energy infrastructure and large-scale manufacturing as a symbol of his long-term commitment to Africa’s economic transformation.

Apart from business, Dangote is also widely recognized for his philanthropic leadership through the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF). The Foundation supports important initiatives in the areas of health care, nutrition, education, disaster relief, and economic empowerment, contributing to improving outcomes for vulnerable communities across the continent.