Who or what influenced or inspired salvador Dali?

His wife and his dreams.

Many different things, but most of all his wife, Gala.

Politics, religion, insanity and his wife Gala was a always a underlying theme in his paintings

Dali's skills of painting are often accredited to the influence of Renaissance masters. He was deeply influenced by Sigmund Freud's writings about the unconscious and dreams. Also his association with the French Surrealists influenced him but he was eventually disliked by many in this group.