From Vanity Fair · Vanity Fair · · 2m
The New Establishment 2026
Powerful figures shaping 2026: AI leaders, tech moguls, and political players.
In brief
Powerful figures shaping 2026: AI leaders, tech moguls, and political players. Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, Elon Musk, and others wield significant influence in 2026 through AI, tech, and politics. Originally reported by Vanity Fair.
The New Establishment 2026
Which leaves us to answer the question: What does it mean to wield power in this strange, at times terrifying, new world?
Sam Altman
CEO, OPENAI; age 41; expected IPO valuation up to $1 trillion.
The Oppenheimer
Altman is one of few who have changed the world through AI innovation.
Achilles’ heel
Critics see Altman as amoral tech baron prioritizing profit over safety.
Dario Amodei
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CEO, Anthropic; age 43; projected 2028 revenue closing in on $200 billion.
The Paradox
Amodei has convinced investors and enterprise customers to overlook AI safety concerns.
Achilles’ heel
Amodei faces accusations of contributing to school bombing in Iran and Epstein connections.
Elon Musk
CEO, Tesla and SpaceX; age 55; Tesla + SpaceX market cap $3.3 trillion.
The Mad King
Musk’s vision and fan base have made him a trillionaire despite financial challenges.
Achilles’ heel
Musk’s anti-immigrant rhetoric and SpaceX delays threaten his political and business standing.
Jensen Huang
CEO, Nvidia; age 63; NVIDIA market cap $5.12 trillion.
The Man Selling Picks and Shovels for the Gold Rush
Huang bet big on AI and now captures the lion’s share of the GPU market.
Achilles’ heel
Huang faces backlash for selling chips to China and potential political risks.
Kevin Warsh
Chairman of the Federal Reserve; age 56; assets under management $6.7 trillion.
The Market Mover
Warsh is the most powerful man in world finance with influence over the dollar.
Achilles’ heel
Warsh faces challenges from Trump and economic instability.
JD Vance
Vice president of the United States; age 42; favorability rating 35 percent.
The MAGA Heir
Vance is Trump’s heir apparent with a growing political influence.
Achilles’ heel
Vance faces criticism for pardoning January 6 riot participants and political missteps.
Marco Rubio
Secretary of State; age 55; jobs held this term: four.
What to remember
Sam Altman, Dario Amodei, Elon Musk, and others wield significant influence in 2026 through AI, tech, and politics.
