In a town full of power players and outsized egos, it takes hard work, a little luck and a certain amount of chutzpah to rise above the rest. The following 15 New Yorkers from fields as diverse as politics, fashion, entertainment, sports and the culinary arts were our brightest stars of the past decade, helping maintain the Big Apple's rightful place as the center of everything current, exciting and vital.
1. Anna Wintour, Editor-in-Chief of Vogue
2. Michael Bloomberg, Politician
3. James Gandolfini, Actor
4. Brooke Astor, Socialite and Philanthropist
5. Joe Torre, Baseball Manager
6. Mariah Carey, Singer
Billboard Magazine called Mariah Carey the most successful artist of the '90s, but the 39-year-old diva got off on the wrong foot in the new millennium. Her relationship with Virgin Records ended in an emotional breakdown and her movie "Glitter" was widely panned by critics. But by decade's end, the pop singer has returned to her throne atop the New York music scene. "The Emancipation of Mimi" was the best-selling album in the U.S. in 2005 and her most recent release "E=MC˛" posted the biggest opening week sales of her career. But Carey's success in the 2000s goes beyond her music. The singer married entertainer Nick Cannon in 2008 and her performance in "Precious" was the finest of Carey's ever-evolving career.
7. Al Sharpton, Political Activist
8. Tom Colicchio, Celebrity Chef
9. Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, Actors
10. Madonna, Singer
11. Derek Jeter, Baseball Player
12. Robert De Niro, Actor
13. Eli Manning, New York Giants Quarterback
14. Rudy Giuliani, Politician
15. Jay-Z, Hip-hop Impresario
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