46

David Axelrod

Age: 59

Occupation: Director, University of Chicago Institute of Politics

Another year removed from the 2012 presidential campaign, the former Obama guru slips 36 spots on the list. But he’s still the go-to guy for the country’s most powerful Dems seeking political advice (including Obama), and he has the ear of both Rahm and Governor Quinn. His year-old Institute of Politics at the U. of C. attracts a steady stream of Washington’s who’s who (Joe Biden and John McCain among them). Last February, he signed on as a senior political analyst for MSNBC. His memoir, scheduled for release this fall (bids for the book were reportedly as high as $1.5 million), should contain some juicy bits about a few on this list.