Bill & Melinda Gates

Typically, Bill Gates is near the top of any list having to do with business. But the Microsoft co-founder got beat out by his wife, Melinda, in the latest Fast Company ranking of the "100 Most Creative People in Business."

In fact, Bill Gates is nowhere to be found on the list. Melinda ranks second, just behind Apple designer Jonathan Ive and just ahead of Better Place CEO Shai Agassi.

Others on the list include Netflix CEO Reed Hastings; musician Brian Eno; Lost creator J.J. Abrams; and Nike VP Sandy Bodecker.

Of course, naming the most "creative" people in business is a tad bit subjective. Fast Company almost appears to be looking for controversy, suggesting that the Gates foundation should be called the Melinda & Bill Gates Foundation. And they ask readers to "quibble" and "complain."

Here's an excerpt of Fast Company's description of Melinda Gates:

Her influence over the world's largest foundation is enormous -- Bill has said it wouldn't exist if it weren't for her. She has championed not only big-picture, tech-oriented solutions to improve health and education over the long term but also more modest steps to help the poorest of the poor right now, such as distributing condoms. The foundation's latest surprise: funding health and education messages to be integrated into Viacom TV programming. Sneaky? Perhaps. Daring? For sure -- and that's what Gates, 44, expects of the foundation.