I'm currently in one of my classes right now and we were discussing important public figures of the 1870's-1880's and the 1970's-1980's. My teacher then asked us students, who are the top 5 most important public figures of our generation? Who do you think those 5 people would be?

inb4 everyone naming their faves

Of our times?

Politician: Obama
Foreign Leader: Putin
Religious Leader: Pope Francis
Athlete: (Lebron? Serena?)
Artist: Probably Adele?

1870-1800??

Putin
Obama
Merkel
Jessica Yellen
Ben Bernakie
Hilary Clinton

Wafflinson is correct.

I can see Janet Yellen and Pope Francis having major impact over the next few years.

Edit: I misread the OP. Most important people of our generation must be Bill Gates, Marc Zucherberg and Adele

In no order:

Britney Spears
Madonna
Selena Gomez
Paris Hilton
Barack Obama

*1870's-1880's.

agree

Pope Francis definitely
Obama

fixed

Ya'lls lists are a mess

Madonna was probably one of the most important public figures with much impact in the 1980's and 1990's. Today she's still relevant, of course, but not as important anymore.

Today's most important artist is Beyoncé, I'd say.

Otherwise, in no particular order:

Barack Obama
Janet Yellen
Mario Draghi
José Manuel Barroso
Martin Schulz
Angela Merkel
David Cameron
Xi Jinping
Wladimir Putin
Edward Snowden
Kofi Annan
Bill Gates
Oprah (in the US)

Who else?

EDIT: And please forgive me my eurocentric view on this. Presidents of countries as Brazil are really important, too. But to be honest, I can't name them which is a shame

Neil Patrick Harris
Bill Nye
Donald Glover
Janelle Monae
George Takei