In order to conjure up their list of the 50 most powerful Americans age 50 and older, Huffington Post first had to answer, “What is power?” They said it came down to one word—influence. And, “if your presence, your words, your endorsement of anything moved the needle considerably in perception or tangible action—social media, legislation, business practices, innovation—you had power.”
Eighteen-time major champion Jack Nicklaus—the player, the designer, the philanthropist, and the good-will ambassador—is the only golfer or representative of the golf industry to make the list. He came in at No. 30 among a who’s who of actors, writers, media moguls, innovators, fashion icons, singers, business leaders, and politicians.
“Is there a golf-loving American in this country who doesn’t love/respect/cherish the ‘Golden Bear?’” the article proclaims. “Nicklaus has also been nothing but gracious in the firestorm surrounding fellow golf prodigy Tiger Woods and that man’s pursuit of Nicklaus’ record-setting 18 titles at majors (Woods currently sits at 14). Golf legend, business mogul and his sport’s greatest ambassador—we all love Jack.”
And just like the roll call Nicklaus joined with his receipt of the Congressional Gold Medal in March—including such dignitaries as George Washington, Martin Luther King, the Wright Brothers, Robert Frost, Walt Disney, Frank Sinatra, Nelson Mandela, Jackie Robinson, Gerald and Betty Ford, and Neil Armstrong—the Golden Bear is yet again rubbing shoulders with elite company.
Others to make The 50 Most Powerful Americans 50 Or Older In 2015 list are such household names as Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Jeb Bush, Ellen DeGeneres, Jeff Bezos, Arianna Huffington, Meryl Streep, Madonna, Bill Nye, George Clooney, Clint Eastwood, Tom Ford, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bill O’Reilly, Sarah Jessica Parker, Brad Pitt, Whoopi Goldberg, Kathy Griffin, and Tom Hanks.
For the full list, click here.
