![]()
- FTSE, DAX, CAC Seen Lower, Greek Deal Delayed
- The Secret Lives of Traders—Seeking the Next Hot Thing
- FBI Investigated Steve Jobs Drug Use

- Strip Greenspan of His Knighthood: SocGen Strategist
- China January Trade Surplus Soars as Imports Crumble
- Markets Finally Get Greek Deal —So Where's the Rally?
- Warren Buffett: Stocks Will Outperform Gold and Bonds
- Get All the Latest Out of Europe Here
- New iPad Next Month? Apple Nears $500

- New York Fashion Week Hits the Runway as Colors Pop
- Mulling Buffett's Stock Advice? Get in With REITs: Fund Managers
- LinkedIn Earnings Bode Well for Hiring and Social Media
- Top Five Mistakes to Avoid in Online Dating
- Victor Cruz ‘Understands’ Gisele's Super Bowl Frustrations
- Tamminen: The United States of India
- Unusual Volume: Taleo Jumps After Oracle's $1.9 Billion Offer
- Warren Buffett: Stocks Will Outperform Gold and Bonds .. and They're Safer 'By Far'
- So Now You Can’t Give Microsoft Away?
MOST SHARED
- Tesla Unveils First SUV: Model X
- Strip Greenspan of His Knighthood: SocGen Strategist
- Sony's Hirai to Extend PlayStation Strategy, Cut Costs
- India's Tata Steel Posts First Quarterly Loss in 2 Years
- China January Trade Surplus Soars as Imports Crumble
- Steelers' Antonio Brown Spends Super Bowl Week with Twitter Fan Turned BFF
- Top Five Mistakes to Avoid in Online Dating
- Jobs You Can Do Forever
- Zynga, Hasbro Partner to Make Toys, Games
- Warren Buffett: Stocks Will Outperform Gold and Bonds .. and They're Safer 'By Far'
MOST POPULAR
HOT ON FACEBOOK
CNBC's Winners & Losers of 2009
Senior Features Editor
More than most years, 2009 has been about winners and losers.
![]() |
For many, it was the winter of our discontent, as stocks sank to multi-year lows, jobs disappeared by the hundreds of thousands and a new administration struggled for traction. The reputation of the U.S. took yet more hits. Losers were omnipresent.
Spring brought the seeds of hope and those tired green shoots of revival, as the market began to climb higher. By summer the worst of the financial crisis seemed behind us. A return to our winning ways seemed possible, if not certain.
As we head into the final months of 2009, we thought it would be interesting to identify the big winners and losers in what has been an extraordinary year.
In some cases, the difference between a winner and loser is slight, subtle and often in the eye of the beholder—who can be a victim or a beneficiary.
That’s why we want readers to weigh in and vote on a variety of people and concepts. We will not ask you to vote on the obvious (President Obama), as you already had that chance in 2008 and will possibly have another one in 2012.
Beyond the national political figures and big-name corporate bosses, there are companies, concepts and entities that qualify for consideration.
We've tried to offer a selection that is truly debatable; and in many cases, the vote could go either way.
We’ll give you a week to vote on the winners and losers of 2009 and then report back with results and rankings on Dec. 1.
So, here’s our cast of characters and some of the story lines that figured into the story of 2009.
- Many have called to abolish the Federal Reserve. But what would happen if it was dissolved for good?
- Entrepreneurs have increasingly been buying back their companies over the last three years.
- Where are the best city locations for singles to take the online dating plunge?
- A Steelers fan spent a week with wide receiver Antonio Brown- and it was all due to tweeting.
- Here’s a look at the woman behind the newest collectible toy that kids love.
- Grab a brew—or not—and click ahead to experience the world’s most highly rated beers.











