Becoming rich is not easy; it involves a lot of hard work and creativity. Many people try but in the end, only a few can call themselves rich. It is easy for us to read an article about a rich person, but we will never get to know how much hard work they put in to reach that success. They have made long-term strategies and used systematic investment plans to become successful. In this article, we will go over the 10 richest women in the world. These women claiming to be the richest female in the world have broken new ground and inspired many other women. All the wealthiest women in the world are unique and have their own success stories, let us learn about their wealth and how they make their money.
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The Top 10 Richest Women in the World
Learning about the wealthiest people and their belongings can be motivating and give you ideas to become successful. It is more important to learn and apply their methods in your way to take a step forward. Following are the names of some of the top 10 richest women in the world who have established themselves as committed individuals in the global economy.
1. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers
- Age: 69
- Country: France
- E.O. or Business: Chairperson of L’Oreal
- Net Worth: $74.8 Billion
- Ownership Stake: 33%
- Other Assets: Investment in the family holding companies, Tethys Invest, and other shares on the stock exchange
According to Forbes, Françoise Bettencourt Meyers emerged as the wealthiest woman in the world in 2022. She is the successor of Eugene Schueller, founder of the famous L’Oreal brand, and correspondingly the chairwoman of the company.
Early Life
Francoise was born on July 10, 1953, and brought up in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France, with her strict catholic parents. She is the only child of Liliane Bettencourt and Andre Bettencourt. She married Jean-Pierre Meyers and had two children named Jean-Victor and Nicolas. Her mother, Lilian Bettencourt, died in 2017 at the age of 94 years.
Career
Francoise started her journey in 1997 when she started serving her family holding company L’Oreal. The Mayer family now possesses over 33% of the stake in L’Oreal. She emerged as the reigning heiress of the cosmetic brand L’Oreal after her mother’s death and was conferred as the richest female in the world for the straight second time by Forbes.
Hobbies
Besides being one of the wealthiest women in the world, she is a humanitarian, writer, and pianist. She has also been the president of the Family’s Philanthropic foundation named The Bettencourt Schueller Foundation. Created in 1997, the foundation has devoted to the progress of the science and arts in France. The foundation bestowed around $226 million to restore The Norte Dane Cathedral after it was caught in a fire in 2019.
2. Alice Walton
- Age: 72
- Country: United States
- E.O. or Business: Walmart
- Net Worth: $62.7 Billion
- Ownership Stake: 50%
- Other Assets: Investments and Family Bussiness
According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the famous businessman and billionaire Alice Walton is listed at the second position on the list of the richest women in the world. She is also a board member of the Amon Carter Museum.
Early Life
Alice Walton was born Alice Louise Walton on October 7, 1949, and brought up in Newport, Arkansas, U.S.A., with her three brothers named Rob Walton, John Walton, and Jim Walton. Her parents, Sam Walton and Helen Walton were reportedly very strict. In 1966, Alice attended Bentonville High School and then completed her graduation in economics from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas.
Career
Alice Walton started her career as an equity analyst and money manager at First Commerce Corporation. She also served as the head of the investment activities at Arvest Bank Group. The famous American brokerage company EF Hutton also recruited her as a broker for the firm.
In 1988, Alice Walton launched the investment bank Llama Company and operated as the establishment’s president, chairperson, and C.E.O. She was the first to chair the Northwest Arkansas Council and inducted herself into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame in 2001.
She has now been the holder of a 50% stake in Walmart, an American multinational retail corporation, which is believed to be worth $11 billion in Walmart shares, making her one of the wealthiest women in the world.
Hobbies
Having been a businesswoman, she has possession of acquiring great works by famous artists. She is a philanthropist and also has an interest in politics.
3. Julia Koch
- Age: 60
- Country: United States
- E.O. or Business: Koch Industries
- Net Worth: $62.5 Billion
- Ownership Stake: 42%
- Other Assets: Investments and Family Bussiness
Julia Koch, the spouse of the famous businessman David Koch, has enlisted herself at the third position on the list of richest women in the world. The American socialite comes into the position after the death of her husband.
Early Life
Julia Koch was born Julia Margaret Flesher on April 12, 1962, and brought up in Indianola, the U.S.A., with her brother Frederic Flesher and their parents. Although Julia has a farmer’s background, her parents started a store furniture called Flesher’s. She completed her graduation from the University of Central Arkansas and started pursuing her career as a model. She married David Koch in 1996. David and Julia have three children: David Jr., Mary Julia, and John Mark.
Career
Julia Koch served as a co-chairperson of the Met Gala along with Patrick McCarthy and Anna Wintour in 1997. David died in August 2019, and Julia inherited 42% of his industry stake. Julia Koch is now on the board of directors of Koch Industries and has now served as the president of the David H. Koch Foundation.
Hobbies
Julia Koch is a well-known philanthropist and is reported to donate to foundations like the Lincoln Center, The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
4. MacKenzie Scott
- Age: 52
- Country: United States
- E.O. or Business: Amazon
- Net Worth: $46.6 Billion
- Ownership Stake: 25% of Amazon ( 4% of the company)
- Other Assets: Investments and Novel Writing
MacKenzie Scott is best known for her association with Amazon. She is famous for being a novelist and possesses a 4% stake in Amazon. According to Forbes, it makes her the fourth richest female in the world. She also confers as one of the world’s most powerful women in 2021 and includes herself in the 100 Most Influential People of 2020.
Early Life
MacKenzie Scott was born MacKenzie Scott Tuttle on April 7, 1970, and brought up in San Francisco, California, the U.S.A., with her parents. Her father, Jason Baker Tuttle, was a famous financial planner, and her mother, Holiday Robin, was a homemaker. She attended Hotchkiss School, Connecticut, in 1988 and graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English literature in 1992. MacKenzie was associated with Toni Morrison, a Noble Laureate, in her early days. She married Jeff Bezos and has three children.
Career
MacKenzie started her career as a writer and debuted with her novel, ‘The Testing of Luther Albright.’ She has also conferred the American Book Award for her novel in 2006. Her second novel, published in 2013, is named ‘Traps.’
Mac was one of the early day employees of Amazon and associated with Jeff to build Amazon. She now possesses 4% of the company’s stake and 25% of Amazon’s, which helps her to gain a net worth of $46.6 Billion and makes her one of the wealthiest women in the world.
Hobbies
MacKenzie Scott Tuttle is also a renowned humanitarian. She signed a charitable-giving campaign, the Giving Pledge. She has also been reported to donate $1.7 billion to 116 non-profit organizations. Mac’s donation of around $800 million helps to enhance the condition of the colleges like HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Hispanic-serving institutions.
Also Read: Top 50 Richest Comedians in the World
5. Jacqueline Mars
- Age: 82
- Country: United Kingdom
- E.O. or Business:
- Net Worth: $43.4 Billion
- Ownership Stake: Mars’Incorporated Stake
- Other Assets: Investments and Milky-Way company
Jaqueline Mars is the heiress of the founder of the American candy company Mars, Incorporated. She has also been a popular investor and enlisted in the 5th position on the top 10 richest women worldwide list. Jaqueline is reported to possess a net worth of over $43.4 billion. She married David H. Badger in 1961.
Early Life
Jaqueline Mars, October 10, 1939, and brought up in America with her two brothers named, Forrest Mars Jr and John Mars. Forrest Mars Sr, a famous Businessman from America and the founder of the candy company Mars Incorporated and Milky Way, was her father and Audrey Mars was her mother.
Career
Being a member of the Mars family, she is an heiress of the Mars Incorporated shares. Jaqueline started her career as Mars’ Food Product Group president in 1982 and retired in 2001. A report by Forbes estimated her worth to be $23.5 billion in 2019. Jacqueline owns an organic farm that the Land Trust of Virginia protects. She is the trustee of the U.S. equestrian team and one of the board of directors members for the Washington National Opera.
Hobbies
Jaqueline Mars is a famous Humanitarian as well as an environmentalist. She has served as an advisor for the foundation named ‘Journey through Hallowed Ground.’ Mars has been conferred the National Archives’ Heritage Award.
6. Gina Rineheart
- Age: 68
- Country: Australia
- E.O. or Business: Board member of Hancock Prospecting
- Net Worth: $30.2 billion
- Ownership Stake: 76.6%
- Other Assets: Investments, Heirship and Mining
This famous Australian mining tycoon is the executive chairman of Hancock Prospecting, which she inherited from her father, Lang Hancock. She is now considered the 6th wealthiest woman on the list of the richest female in the world.
Early Life
Gina Rineheart was born on February 9, 1954, and brought up in Perth, Australia. Her father, Lang Hancock, was Australia’s renowned industrialist and iron ore magnate. Gina attended St. Hilda’s Anglican School for girls in Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney. She married Greg Hayward in 1973 and Frank Rineheart in 1983, who died in 1990. Gina has four children, including John Hayward-Hancock, a famous businessman.
Career
Gina is considered to be the wealthiest woman in Australia. Her wealth surpassed A$29 billion in 2012 and she was listed on Forbes’ list of the 100 most powerful women worldwide. Due to a recession in the Australian mining industry during the next several years, Rinehart’s net worth drastically decreased.
It was reported that Gina Rineheart is the largest landholder in Australia, with over 23 million acres of land by her name, which is calculated to be 1% of the total Australian land mass. After the death of her husband, Gina Rineheart chaired as the executive chairman of HPPL and the group HPPL companies.
Hobbies
She has an evident passion for politics. Gina is an enthusiastic promoter of the Westralian Secession Movement. She established the threshold level ANDEV and sponsored the weather change denier Christopher Monckton’s initiative.
7. Miriam Adelson
- Age: 76
- Country: Mandatory Palestine
- E.O. or Business: Casinos
- Net Worth: $27.5 billion
- Ownership Stake: 50%
- Other Assets: Various Investments
Israeli American Miriam Adelson is a renowned physician and billionaire. After marrying American billionaire businessman Sheldon Adelson in 1991, she donated to several political initiatives. She has now been ranked 7 among the top 10 richest women.
Early Life
Miriam Adelson was born Miriam Farbstein on October 10, 1945, and was brought up in Tel Aviv, Palestine. She attended Hebrew Reali School and graduated from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Microbiological Science and Genetics. Thereafter, she started pursuing her medical degree at Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Medical School. She had two children with her ex-husband Ariel Ochshorn.
Career
Miriam served as a medical officer for the mandatory army service at Ness Ziona. She has also been a physician and the chief internist at Rokack Hospital, Tel Aviv. Miriam went to Rockefeller University and was appointed as a physician in the drug addiction specialization after he divorced her ex-husband Ariel. She was also associated with Mary Jeanne Kreek, a famous American Neurobiologist.
She has been a dedicated supporter of Donald Trump and donated a huge amount of money to his presidential campaign of Donald Trump in 2016. Miriam was conferred with the Woodrow Wilson Award in 2008 and the Presidential Medel of Freedom in 2018.
Nowadays, she is associated with the publication of the Newspaper Hayom and is a voting member on the trustee board at the University of South California. After the death of Sheldon Adelson, Miriam Adelson possessed business Sheldon and took over the ownership of the Casino Company of the Les Vegas Sand and became one of the wealthiest women in the world.
Hobbies
Miriam Adelson has a huge interest in politics and has supported Donald Trump throughout his career. The Adelson family is reported to be donated the highest amount of money to Trump’s presidential campaign.
8. Susanne Klatten
- Age: 60
- Country: West Germany
- CEO or Business: Altana, BMW, SGL Carbon
- Net Worth: $24.3 billion
- Ownership Stake: 50% (Altana), 8% (SGL Carbon)
- Other Assets: BMW stake and Investments
Susanne Klatten is the richest woman in Germany and, correspondingly, the eighth richest female in the world. She was the daughter of famous industrialists Herbert Quandt and Johanna Quandt. Since 2005, Susanne is also a member of the University Council of the Technical University of Munich.
Early Life
Susanne Klatten was born on April 28, 1962, and brought up in Bad Homburg, West Germany, with her parents and her brother Stefan Quandt. She attended the IMD Business School in Lausanne and completed her M.B.A. She also pursues a course in marketing and management from the University of Buckingham. It is reported that she has a degree in business finance. She married Kitzbuhel in 1990, and they have three children.
Career
She started her career with the advertising agency Young & Rubicam in Frankfurt from 1981 to 1983. She takes over her father’s business with over a 50% stake in the chemical and pharmaceutical company in Altana, and Susanne wholly owned ALTANA and SKion. Susanne is known for holding stakes in BMW, and she has also had a stake of 8% in SGL Carbon.
Hobbies
Klatten is reported to have huge regard for politics, and she is one of the biggest donors of the centre-right political party and the Christian Democratic Union. She was conferred with the Bayerischer Verdienstorden award, the Bavarian Order of Merit, in 2007.
9. Iris Fontbona
- Age: 80
- Country: Chile
- E.O. or Business: Mining
- Net Worth: $22.8 Billion
- Ownership Stake: 70% (Chilean television network Canal 13)
- Other Assets: CCU, CSAV and Investment in other mining projects
A media proprietor and mining magnet Iris Fontbona is one of the biggest names in Chile. She inherits the business from her husband, Andronico Luksic Abaroa. She is reported to be the wealthiest woman in Chile and, correspondingly, the third richest woman in Latin America.
Early Life
Iris Fontbona was born Iris Fontbona Gonzalez and brought up in Chile. She attended a Catholic high school. She also resides in three different residences in Vitacura, Belgravia, and Liechtenstein. Iris married Andronico Luksic Abaroa when she was 20, and the couple has three children.
Career
Her wealth was inherited from her husband, Luksic Abaroa, after his death in 2005. Iris and her family are associated with the Santiago mining company Antofagasta. She also owns the famous copper manufacturing company Banco de Chile, Madeco.
Iris Forntbona has a major share in the largest brewer CCU and shipping company, CSAV. She owns two upscale hotel chains, and a posh resort in Croatia are two of her other ventures. One of her initial key actions was to acquire a 70% stake in the Chilean television network Canal 13. Her influence in the firm seems to be largely indirect.
Hobbies
Iris Fontbona is a well-known philanthropist and contributes record-breaking donations to non-profit organizations. A report suggested that she donated $3.1 billion to help children with physical disabilities in 2015 and $4.4 billion to charity events in 2016.
Also Read: Top 10 Richest Podcasters
10. Abigail Johnson
- Age: 60
- Country: United States
- E.O. or Business: Money Management
- Net Worth: $21.5 billion
- Ownership Stake: 5%
- Other Assets: Oil company Discovery Natural Resources and venture capital firm Eight Roads
Abigail Johnson is known to be the 10th richest woman in the world and the President of Fidelity Investment, one of the top-ranked investment firms in America. She has a net worth of around $21.5 billion making her one of the wealthiest women in the world.
Early Life
She completed her high school education at the Cambridge, Massachuttes Private School. And she graduated with a B.A. degree at Hovard and William Smith in 1984. Later, she completed her M.B.A. degree at Harvard Business School.
Career
She joined her family business Fidelity Investments. This company was founded by her grandfather named, Edward Johnson II, in 1946. Before she joined, her father was the company’s C.E.O. She began her career as a company portfolio manager and analyst. Johnson got promoted to the President of Fidelity Investments in the year 2001.
Hobbies
Abigail Johnson is known to be a kind-hearted philanthropist, and she is known to be contributing to various non-profit organizations. She has made her contributions to The Institute of Contemporary Arts as well as to Harvard. She has donated about $330,000 to Hillary Clinton’s Campaign and the Democratic National Committee.
These were the top 10 richest women in the world. All these wealthiest women in the world serve as a motivation for all of us to start our own ventures and to make our name in the industry. You need to unfold your skills and understand what you are good at before you start any job or business. Applying the right strategies and moving along with the right team will help you achieve the success you aim for. There might be failures but you should never give up, try again and again and one day your name will be on this list.
