Jerome Powell
Awards & Honours
4
Awards Won
3
Honours
8
Rankings
7
Covers
3
Records
Jerome Powell's career is marked by a series of historic firsts and records. He is one of only three Fed chairs in history without a formal economics background, yet he led the central bank through its most aggressive rate-hiking cycle in 40 years. His emergency response in March 2020 was the fastest easing cycle on record, cutting rates to zero in two meetings. He is the only Fed chair to have been appointed by presidents from both major parties, Obama, Trump, and Biden, reflecting unique bipartisan confidence. His defense of Fed independence against political pressure earned him the Profile in Courage Award. His tenure saw the Fed's balance sheet expand from $4 trillion to nearly $9 trillion and back down, a scale of intervention without precedent.
Awards
Honours & Distinctions
Honorary Doctor of Laws
Honorary degree for contributions to public service.
Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
Honorary degree for distinguished career.
Alexander Hamilton Award
For his work as Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance.
Rankings & Lists
TIME 100 Most Influential People
TIME 100 Most Influential People
TIME 100 Most Influential People
Forbes World's Most Powerful People
Forbes World's Most Powerful People
Forbes World's Most Powerful People
Barron's Most Influential People in Finance
Barron's Most Influential People in Finance
Magazine Covers
TIME
March 16, 2020
The Man Who Runs the Economy
TIME
July 27, 2020
The Fed Chair's Impossible Job
TIME
December 27, 2021
Person of the Year Runner-Up: Jerome Powell
Bloomberg Businessweek
June 15, 2020
The Most Powerful Man in Markets
Bloomberg Businessweek
September 20, 2022
The Inflation Fighter
The Economist
March 28, 2020
Jerome Powell: The World's Most Powerful Central Banker
Forbes
April 2020
The Steady Hand
Records & Feats
Fastest monetary easing cycle in history
In March 2020, the Fed under Powell cut the federal funds rate to zero in two emergency meetings, the most rapid easing on record.
Most aggressive rate-hiking cycle in 40 years
From March 2022 to July 2023, the Fed raised rates from near-zero to over 5%, the steepest tightening cycle since the early 1980s.
Only Fed chair appointed by three presidents from both parties
Powell was appointed to the Board by Obama, elevated to chair by Trump, and reappointed by Biden.