The eclectic list is broken down into five categories: Artists and Entertainers; Leaders and Revolutionaries; Heroes and Pioneers; Scientists and Thinkers; Builders and Titans. The 20 people named in each section are deemed to have shaped the world with their power, talent or “moral example”.

Leading the way in the Artists & Entertainers bracket is Sacha Baron Cohen whose movie Borat lampooned America and shattered box office records in the process. The achievements of Hotlist star Justin Timberlake, Cate Blanchett, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ugly Betty star America Ferrara were also recognised as they were named in the same category.

But the Borat star wasn’t the only Brit to make the list. Style icon Kate Moss, fresh from releasing her first fashion collection for Top Shop, was included among the most influential Artists and Entertainers. Entrepreneur Richard Branson featured in the Builders and Titans category among some of the world’s leading business gurus. He was joined by Lakshmi Mittal, the steel magnate who was recently named as Britian’s wealthiest person by the Sunday Times Rich List.

Time’s Heroes and Pioneers category features a cast of celebrities who have broken barriers of prejudice, poverty or disability in their field. Oprah Winfrey, the richest woman in American television, was joined by Michael J Fox and Tyra Banks in this section. Fox has raised millions for Parkinson’s disease charities since being diagnosed with the illness himself while Banks has used her celebrity to campaign against fashion’s size zero obsession. In addition, the consistent sporting excellence of Thierry Henry and Roger Federer was deemed influential enough for them to be honoured too.