Updated June 1, 2023
Introduction to Richest Women in the World
Money is an effective measure of success; with that in mind, we present the top 10 richest women in the world. These extraordinary ladies represent the epitome of wealth, power, and influence. They come from diverse backgrounds and have all achieved incredible financial success, making them some of the wealthiest people on the planet!
Top 10 Richest Women in the World
With a combined worth of billions of dollars, it’s no wonder these ladies are some of the most influential people in their industries. This top 10 Richest Women in the World list features some of the biggest inspirations for aspiring female business leaders everywhere, from tech entrepreneurs to fashion moguls.
#1 Francoise Bettencourt Meyers
The world’s richest woman is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, a French businesswoman, and billionaire magnate. Eugène Schueller, her grandfather, founded L’Oréal, a French company specializing in personal care products. She received her grandpa’s huge money as an inheritance.
| Born | 10 July 1953 |
| Name | Francoise Bettencourt Meyers |
| Spouse | Jean-Pierre Meyers |
| Children | Jean-Victor Meyers, Nicolas Meyers |
| Alma Mater | Catholic school |
| Net Worth | Approx. $74.8 Billion |
Achievements:
- She was a representative on the Paris museum of Jewish art and history board and was actively involved in various charitable causes, particularly in science, medicine, and the arts.
#2 Alice Walton
The primary source of Alice Louise Walton’s immense wealth was her heiress status to Walmart Inc. She is the world’s, second-richest woman. This American multinational retail company owns a network of supermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores.
| Born | 7 October 1949 |
| Name | Alice Louise Walton |
| Spouse | NA |
| Children | No children |
| Alma Mater | Trinity University |
| Net Worth | Approx. $65.3 Billion |
Achievements:
- She served as president, chairperson, and CEO of the investment bank Llama Company.
- She was part of creating the Northwest Arkansas Airport.
- She was the first person to serve as head of the Northwest Arkansas Council.
#3 Julia Koch
Julia Margaret Flesher Koch became a billionaire after inheriting the fortune of her late husband, David Koch, who died in 2019. She currently serves as President of the David H. Koch Foundation and formerly served on the board of directors at the School of American Ballet.
| Born | 12 April 1962 |
| Name | Julia Margaret Flesher Koch |
| Spouse | David Koch(1996-2019) |
| Children | Mary Julia Koch, John Mark Koch, David Koch Jr |
| Alma Mater | University of Central Arkansas |
| Net Worth | Approx. $60 Billion |
Achievements:
- Julia sits on Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Koch Industries boards.
- She also serves as president of the David H. Koch Foundation.
#4 Mackenzie Scott
Due to her divorce in 2019, Mackenzie Scott was the fourth World Richest Woman in 2023. She previously shared a marriage with Jeff Bezos and held 4% of the company Amazon, which her ex-husband founded.
| Born | 7 April 1970 |
| Name | Mackenzie Scott |
| Spouse | Jeff Bezos (1993-2019), Dan Jewett (2021-2023) |
| Children | 4 children |
| Alma Mater | Princeton University |
| Net Worth | Approx. $43.6 Billion |
Achievements:
- She has a 4% ownership position in Amazon, which her ex-husband Jeff Bezos created.
#5 Jacqueline Mars
The successor of the Mars firm, Jacqueline Mars, currently resides in California. She ranks as the 48th richest person and the 18th richest person in the United States. She also holds the distinction of being Virginia’s richest resident at the moment.
| Born | 10 October 1939 |
| Name | Jacqueline Mars |
| Spouse | David H. Badger(1961-1984), Harold ‘Hank’ Vogel( 1986–1994) |
| Children | Stephen M. Badger, Christa Badger, Alexandra Badger |
| Alma Mater | Miss Hall’s School |
| Net Worth | Approx. $31.7 Billion |
Achievements:
- Since 1982, when she started working for Mars, Inc. as president of the food product group.
#6 Gina Reinhart
Gina Reinhart, whose full name is Georgina Hope Rinehart, is the executive chairperson of Hancock Prospecting. Her father, Lang Hancock, founded Hancock Prospecting, a mineral exploration and extraction company.
| Born | 9 February 1954 |
| Name | Georgina Hope Rinehart |
| Spouse | Frank Rinehart( 1983-1990), Greg Hayward( 1973,1981) |
| Children | Bianca Rinehart, Ginia Rinehart, John Langley Hancock, Hope Rinehart Welker |
| Alma Mater | St Hilda’s School |
| Net Worth | Approx. $30.7 Billion |
Achievements:
- As executive chairman of Hancock Prospecting for thirty years, Rinehart received the Lifetime Achievement Award simultaneously.
#7 Miriam Adelson
Israeli daily Israel Hayom’s current publisher is physician Miriam Adelson. In 2008, the same year she received the prize jointly with her husband, she received the Woodrow Wilson Corporate Citizenship Award. Furthermore, she received honorary citizenship from Jerusalem in 2013.
| Born | 10 October 1945 |
| Name | Miriam Adelson |
| Spouse | Ariel Ochshorn(?-1980), Sheldon Adelson( 1991-2021) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma Mater | Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
| Net Worth | Approx. $27.5 Billion |
Achievements:
- With her majority ownership of Las Vegas Sands, Adelson is the 44th wealthiest person in the world as of June 2021, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
#8 Susanne Klatten
The eighth-richest woman in the world, Susanne Hanna Ursula Klatten, is the richest in Germany and ranks 65th globally in terms of wealth. She is a German heiress to a billion dollars. She inherited the pharmaceutical and chemical production company in Atlanta that belonged to her father, and as a result, she rose to fame and money.
| Born | 28 April 1962 |
| Name | Susanne Hanna Ursula Klatten |
| Spouse | Jan Klatten (1990-2018) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma Mater | IMD-Lausanne (MBA) |
| Net Worth | Approx. $24.3 Billion |
Achievements:
- She was a member of the Supervisory Board of BMW.
- A major shareholder of Altana AG.
#9 Iris Fontbona
Iris Balbina Fontbona González became a wealthy billionaire businesswoman after her husband’s death, thanks to the legacy of Antofagasta PLC. Iris Fontbona is the owner of the Antofagasta mining corporation. She has authority over CSAV, a producer of copper goods, Banco de Chile, Madeco, CCU, the biggest brewer in the country, and Madeco.
| Born | 1942 |
| Name | Iris Balbina Fontbona González |
| Spouse | Antonio Andrónico Luksic Abaroa |
| Children | Jean-Paul Luksic Fontbona, María Gabriela Luksic, Maria Paola Luksic |
| Net Worth | Approx. $22.8 Billion |
Achievements:
- She was managing the biggest shipping corporation and the biggest copper mines in the world.
- Two of her other ventures are upscale luxury resorts and hotel chains in Croatia.
#10 Yang Huiyan
In the Chinese province of Guangdong, in the city of Shunde, Yang Huiyan was born in 1981. She holds most of Country Garden Holdings shares and is a billion-dollar property developer and businesswoman. She had formerly been Asia’s richest woman.
| Born | 20 July 1981 |
| Name | Yang Huiyan |
| Spouse | Chen Chong |
| Children | 0 |
| Alma Mater | Ohio State University |
| Net Worth | Approx. $22.4 Billion |
Achievements:
- She was inheriting a large share of Country Garden Holdings from her father, Yang Guoqiang, making her one of the wealthiest women in China and Asia.
Winding Up
It’s impressive to see how these ten richest women in the world have succeeded in their lives and careers. They prove that hard work and dedication can propel someone to the top, regardless of gender. It also reinforces the idea that any woman can make her fortune if she puts her mind to it. These women are an inspiration for all of us who strive to be successful and reach the highest level of achievement.
