Discover the success stories of the world’s most powerful and influential women in business.
Women have been breaking the glass ceiling in various fields, including business, technology, fashion, and entertainment. Many of these ladies have become billionaires, and some have even surpassed their male counterparts in terms of wealth.
From Oprah Winfrey to Sheryl Sandberg, the world is filled with inspirational stories of female who have defied the odds and become incredibly successful in the world of business. This article is dedicated to exploring the lives of these powerful females and the secrets to their success.
When we think of the world’s richest people, the names of men like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet come to mind. However, there are many wealthy women who have made their mark in the business world and are just as successful as their male counterparts. In this article, we’ll take a look at the world’s richest females and how they amassed their fortunes.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into the world of the richest and most successful women in business!
Top 10 Richest Women In The World
Over the years, women have made tremendous strides in various fields, including business and entrepreneurship. Today, there are numerous female who have amassed vast fortunes, making them some of the wealthiest individuals on the planet. These women come from diverse backgrounds and have achieved their wealth through different means, including inheritance, investments, and building successful businesses from scratch.
Some of the world’s richest females have gained their wealth through tech startups, while others have built their fortunes in fashion, finance, or other industries. Despite their different paths to success, these ladies serve as inspiring examples of what can be achieved through hard work, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit.
The process of ranking the wealthiest individuals in the world is an ongoing one that involves frequent updates. Every month, the list of the world’s richest people is revised to reflect any changes in their net worth. These updates take into account factors such as fluctuations in the value of the assets that the individuals own, as well as any changes in their business or personal circumstances.
Read: Richest Actress in the World.
| No. | Name | Income Source | Citizenship | Net Worth (USD) | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Francoise Bettencourt Meyers | L’Oreal | France | $74.8 billion | 68 |
| 2 | Alice Walton | Walmart | U.S. | $65.3 billion | 72 |
| 3 | Julia Koch | Koch Industries | U.S. | $60 billion | 59 |
| 4 | Mackenzie Scott | Amazon, Investments | U.S. | $43.6 billion | 52 |
| 5 | Jacqueline Mars | Candy, Pet Food | U.S. | $31.7 billion | 82 |
| 6 | Gina Rinehart | Mining | Australia | $30.2 billion | 68 |
| 7 | Miriam Adelson | Casinos | U.S. | $27.5 billion | 76 |
| 8 | Susanne Klatten | BMW, Pharmaceuticals | Germany | $24.3 billion | 59 |
| 9 | Iris Fontbona | Mining, Beverages | Chile | $22.8 billion | 78 |
| 10 | Abigail Johnson | Money Management | U.S. | $21.2 billion | 60 |
1. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers is a French heiress and businesswoman who currently holds the title of the world’s richest woman. She was born on July 10, 1953, in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. Meyers is the granddaughter of Eugene Schueller, the founder of L’Oreal, one of the world’s largest cosmetics companies.
Meyers inherited her fortune from her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, who passed away in 2017. She currently serves as the chairwoman of the family holding company, Tethys SAS, which manages the Bettencourt family’s assets.
Meyers is also known for her philanthropic efforts. She serves as the president of the Bettencourt Meyers Foundation, which supports a range of causes including scientific research, education, and the arts.
Meyers is married to Jean-Pierre Meyers, a French businessman, and they have two children together. She is of French nationality and has a net worth of $74.8 billion according to Forbes’ 2023 Billionaires List.
2.Alice Walton
Alice Walton is an American heiress and philanthropist who is known for being one of the world’s richest women. She was born on October 7, 1949, in Newport, Arkansas, United States.
Walton is the daughter of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, one of the world’s largest retailers. She inherited a significant portion of her father’s fortune, and her net worth is estimated to be $65.3 billion, according to Forbes’ 2023 Billionaires List.
Despite being born into a wealthy family, Walton has pursued her own interests in the arts. She is the founder of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which is located in Bentonville, Arkansas. The museum features works by American artists from the Colonial period to the present day.
Walton has also been involved in various philanthropic endeavors, particularly in the field of education. She has donated millions of dollars to support educational initiatives, including the Walton Family Foundation, which focuses on improving K-12 education in the United States.
Walton is of American nationality and is currently 71 years old. She has never been married and has no children.
3.Julia Koch
Julia Koch is an American philanthropist and businesswoman who is best known for being the widow of David Koch, the former executive vice president of Koch Industries. She was born on April 12, 1962, in Indianola, Iowa, United States.
Koch attended the University of Central Arkansas, where she earned a degree in education. After graduating, she worked as a schoolteacher before eventually pursuing a career in business.
Koch is a significant shareholder in Koch Industries, one of the largest privately held companies in the United States. According to Forbes’ 2023 Billionaires List, her net worth is estimated to be $60 billion.
In addition to her business interests, Koch is also a well-known philanthropist. She has donated millions of dollars to support various causes, including medical research and the arts. She is a board member of several organizations, including the New York-Presbyterian Hospital and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Koch is of American nationality and is currently 59 years old. She has three children with her late husband, David Koch.
4. Mackenzie Scott
Mackenzie Scott is an American novelist, philanthropist, and the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. She was born on April 7, 1970, in San Francisco, California, United States.
Scott is best known for her philanthropic work, particularly her large-scale donations to various causes. In 2020, she announced that she had donated over $4 billion to 384 organizations across the United States, including historically Black colleges and universities, food banks, and organizations supporting gender equity.
Scott’s wealth primarily comes from her divorce settlement with Jeff Bezos, which made her one of the wealthiest women in the world. According to Forbes’ 2023 Billionaires List, her net worth is estimated to be $43.6 billion.
Aside from her philanthropy, Scott is also a successful novelist. She has published several books under the pen name Mackenzie Bezos, including “The Testing of Luther Albright” and “Traps.”
Scott is of American nationality and is currently 52 years old. She has four children with Jeff Bezos, whom she divorced in 2019.
5. Jacqueline Mars
Jacqueline Mars is a wealthy individual with a net worth of $31.7 billion, based in the United States. She inherited around one-third of Mars Incorporated, a conglomerate that produces candy and pet food. Mars Inc. is well-known for its popular brands such as M&M’s, IAMS, and Pedigree. The company was originally founded by her grandfather, Frank C. Mars, in 1911.
Mars is of American nationality and is currently 82 years old. She has three children and currently resides in Virginia, United States.
6. Gina Reinhart
Gina Rinehart is an Australian billionaire and mining magnate. She was born on February 9, 1954, in Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
Rinehart is the daughter of Lang Hancock, an Australian iron-ore magnate, and inherited her father’s business empire after his death. She is the chairman of Hancock Prospecting, a company that deals with mining and exploration.
According to Forbes’ 2023 Billionaires List, Rinehart’s net worth is estimated to be $30.2 billion, making her one of the wealthiest women in the world.
Apart from her mining ventures, Rinehart is also known for her philanthropy. She has donated millions of dollars to various causes, including medical research and education.
Rinehart is of Australian nationality and is currently 68 years old. She has four children and currently resides in Perth, Australia.
7. Miriam Adelson
Miriam Adelson is a wealthy individual female based in the United States with a net worth of $27.5 billion. She inherited her late husband’s nearly 50% stake in Las Vegas Sands, a casino company founded and formerly run by her husband Sheldon Adelson,
who was a major Republican donor and influential figure in American politics. Following Sheldon Adelson’s death in early 2023, Las Vegas Sands agreed to sell some of its marquee assets in Las Vegas, including the Venetian Resort and the Sands Expo and Convention Center, for $6.25 billion to focus on the Asian market.
Adelson is of Israeli-American nationality and is currently 76 years old. She has two children and currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada.
8. Susanne Klatten
Susanne Klatten is a German billionaire and one of the wealthiest women in the world. She was born on April 28, 1962, in Bad Homburg, Germany.
Klatten is the daughter of Herbert and Johanna Quandt, who were prominent industrialists and major shareholders in BMW. After her father’s death in 1982, Klatten inherited a 50% stake in the pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturer Altana, which she later sold to become BMW’s largest shareholder.
Klatten is also involved in various philanthropic efforts, including the Herbert and Johanna Quandt Foundation, which supports projects in the fields of education, science, and social issues.
According to Forbes’ 2023 Billionaires List, Klatten’s net worth is estimated to be $24.3 billion. She is of German nationality and is currently 60 years old. Klatten is married, and have three children and resides in Munich, Germany.
9. Iris Fontbona
Iris Fontbona is a Chilean billionaire and one of the wealthiest women in the world. She was born on November 7, 1942, in Santiago, Chile.
Fontbona is the widow of Andronico Luksic, who founded the Luksic Group, a conglomerate that includes mining, banking, and industrial companies. After her husband’s death in 2005, Fontbona took over as the chairwoman of the group and continued to expand its business interests.
Fontbona is also known for her philanthropic efforts, particularly in the areas of education and healthcare. She has established several foundations and initiatives aimed at improving access to education and medical care in Chile and other parts of the world.
According to Forbes’ 2023 Billionaires List, Fontbona’s net worth is estimated to be $22.8 billion.
She is of Chilean nationality and is currently 80 years old. Fontbona has three children and resides in Santiago, Chile.
10. Abigail Johnson
Abigail Johnson is an American businesswoman and one of the richest women in the world. She was born on December 19, 1961, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
She has been the CEO of Fidelity Investments since 2014, taking over from her father Ned Johnson III, who passed away in March of that year. Johnson owns an estimated 24.5% stake in the company, which was founded by her grandfather in 1946 and manages $4.2 trillion in assets.
Johnson is the CEO of Fidelity Investments, one of the largest financial services companies in the world. She has been with the company since 1988 and has held various leadership positions before becoming CEO in 2014. Fidelity Investments is primarily involved in the management of financial assets and provides a range of investment services to its clients.
According to Forbes’ 2023 Billionaires List, Johnson’s net worth is estimated to be $18.3 billion. She is of American nationality and is currently 61 years old. Johnson is married with two children and resides in Boston, Massachusetts.
Women in Tech
The tech industry has been a major driver of wealth in recent years, and women have played an increasingly important role in this sector. In this section, we will take a look at some of the richest female in tech, including:
- Meg Whitman
- Safra Catz
- Susan Wojcicki
- Sheryl Sandberg
- Zhang Yin
Self-Made Women
Many of the women on this list inherited their wealth or earned it through marriage. However, there are also many women who have built their own businesses and created their own fortunes. In this section, we will take a look at some of the most successful self-made females, including:
- Oprah Winfrey
- Kylie Jenner
- Sara Blakely
- Tory Burch
- Beyoncé
FAQs
As of 2023, the richest woman in the world is Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, with a net worth of $73.6 billion.
As of 2023, there are 328 women on the Forbes list of billionaires, representing approximately 10% of the total list.
Some of the most successful self-made women include Oprah Winfrey, Kylie Jenner, and Sara Blakely.
Kylie Jenner is currently the youngest female billionaire and celebrity, with an estimated net worth of $900 million at the age of 25.