Putin is a great modern day example of a person who used the 48 Laws of Power to climb the ladder and become one of the most powerful people on earth. What follows is a very quick summary of how he did it.
Started out as a KGB member
During the beginning of the fall of Soviet Union, Putin's former law school professor became mayor of St. Petersburg. Putin approached him and used his connection, and experience as KGB agent to land job. (Here he applied Law 5 by using his reputation as a KGB member to leverage himself into a job.)
Putin's job was to decide what companies would get a contract to the right to do business in the city. He controlled a powerful resource in this way. The more resources under a person control, the more powerful the person becomes. (Because he controlled a powerful resource it made people come to him; Law 8; and it kept people dependant on him; Law 11)
Earley in his career Putin commissioned a documentary about himself and called it "Power." This was a way to manipulate people's perception of him and bolster his reputation while courting attention and becoming more known. (Laws 5 and 6; furthering his reputation and courting attention. Also Law 25; Recreate Yourself.)
Because St. Petersburg was filled with mafia members Putin was able to meet them and start developing a good relationship with them. He had begun recruiting allies. (Law 2; know how to use enemies. The mafia were typically considered the 'enemy.' He used the mafia to carry out his dirty work thus keeping his hands clean; Law 26.)
While still working on St Petersburg Putin made millions of dollars during the cities food shortage. He devised a plan to have companies purchase the food from other countries and import it because Europe would not sell Russia food. Putin had his friends set up fake companies and awarded them the Russian money to buy food. They took the money but bought no food. (This again is putting more resources under his control which again plays into Laws 8 and 11. Hes also able to keep his hands clean by blaming the companies while still raking in the money.)
A special investigator was assigned to investigate the mayor and Putin. He blamed the companies and other bureaucrats. For unknown reasons the investigation was later abruptly canceled. (Its a theory that Putin and the mayor used the mafia to threaten the people in charge of the investigation. Laws 39 and 42 are in play here.)
After that Putin then set up a fake construction company in his friends name and awarded that company millions of dollars to be used for construction of public works. Much of the work was never done and the money was pocketed by Putin and his friends. He was begging to form a reputation as a guy who could make you rich. This attracted powerful allies to him. (Again with gaining more and more resources. Also Laws 5 [guard reputation], 8 [Make people come to you], 11 [making people depend on him to keep getting money. This keeps him protected.]
Putin soon left his job and went to Moscow to work there with the goal of rising through the ranks. (Law 35 - Master the art of timing.)
After arriving in moscow Putin's friend, the mayor, had just lost his bid for re-election and was now being charged with corruption charges. He faked a heart attack and Putin organized his escape from the county under the guise of "seeking better care outside the country." (In a way he used law 9 by securing the Mayors freedom and ending the investigation not thru argument but rather through the action of escaping. He also showed that he could be loyal to those who have helped him. This again furthers his reputation.
Powerful people in the Kremlin took notice that Putin was a loyal man to those who helped him. (His carefully crafted reputation is paying off)
At this time Borris Yeltin, the current Russian president, was in bad health and ready to retire. His problem is that he too was under investigation for corruption. He needed to pass his power onto someone who would be loyal to him and end the corruption case. Yeltin remembered how Putin had shown loyalty to his friend the mayor.
Before Yeltin could make Putin the president he had to make Putin more well known to the Russian people. Yeltin commissioned a biography of Putin to be made and to be sold everywhere in Russia. It was a propaganda piece. (Law 43 - working on the hearts and minds of others.)
Shortly after the biography was released Putin became the head of the FSB (Russian version of the CIA). (As the head of the KGB he applied Law 14 [Pose as a friend, work as a spy] to befriend powerful people while secretly gathering information and blackmail on them.)
A month after taking control of the FSB, "terrorist" blew up an apartment building. Suddenly Putin was everywhere on TV promising revenge and setting himself up to be the savior of the Russian people. Some think the bombing was done by Putin as a false flag, others think he merely took advantage of it to make himself known and popular. (More gathering of reputation and courting attention with the Russian people. He also used law 17 by keeping people afraid which made them easier to manipulate and control).
Putin became a very popular national hero for how he handled the "terrorist attack."
Putin used his new fame to become the Russian President.
Again showing his loyalty, his first act as president Putin granted Borris Yeltin immunity from all crimes.(Law 19 - Do not offend the wrong person. Borris still had powerful allies and could cause a lot of trouble for Putin if he didn't uphold his end of the deal.)
At the time Putin took power there were around 10 - 15 billionaires in Russia (often called the Russian Oligarchs) who were distrusting of Putin. They liked Yeltin but Putin was a new outsider to them. One of them, a major billionaire and owner of Yokos oil, was funding opposition to Putin for the next election. Put made an example of him by taking government control of Yukos Oil, and sent the owner to a prison camp for 10 years. The message was clear; defy Putin and you would regret it. (Law 9 - win thru your actions. Law 11 - Keep people dependant on you. He showed the other Oligarchs they need him to keep their companies, freedom, and fortune. Law 15 - Crush your enemy totally. Law 17 - He keeps the oligarchs in terror. Law 28 - enter action with boldness. He made a bold power move to assert his dominance and send a message. Law 34 - act like a king to be treated as one. Putin was showing the Russians and the world that hes new power, not Borris, and they they will 'bend the knee.')
Putin quickly met with Bush and used his powers of persuasion on him. Bush later remarked "I looked into his soul and seen a man committed to the ideas and values of the west." (Law 43 - work on the hearts and minds of others.)
Oil prices soon started to soar which greatly improved the Russian economy. Putin made sure to take all credit for this and made the Russian people love him even more. (Law 27 - Putin constantly manipulates peoples perception of him to appear as the Russian Savior which creates a cult like following. There is a reason Putin currently enjoys a legit approval rating of 70% in Russia.)
Former Russian oligarchs have said that all major companies use fake charities to funnel money to Putin and in return he agrees to leave them alone. Some people estimate that Putin is the richest man in the world with a possible networth of 200 billion.
Despite declining economic conditions and other domestic problems, Putin continues to enjoy an approval rating above 70% mainly by using state controlled media and propaganda.
Putin is also very talented at manipulating peoples perception of him. He will get on TV and chide big business owners for problems that aren't even their fault and go back to be good friends with them as soon as the cameras are off. This makes him appear on the peoples side. He also makes sure that the media features pictures of him doing mainly things (shooting, fighting fires, driving race cars, etc) which also keeps him popular in a country that values masculinity. (Law 37 - Create compelling spectacles.)