Top 10 Wealthiest Women

While the world often focuses on the wealthiest men, the richest women rarely receive the same attention. It's time to change that! Here's a comprehensive list of the ten wealthiest women globally.

1. Liliane Bettencourt Wikipedia

At 83 years old, Liliane Bettencourt holds the title of the world's wealthiest woman and ranks as the 12th richest person globally. With an estimated net worth of $20.7 billion, her fortune stems from her family's business, the renowned cosmetics company L’Oreal. As the daughter of L’Oreal's founder, Eugene Schueller, she owns a controlling share in the beauty empire, ensuring her wealth will continue to grow in the years to come.

Christy Walton, aged 51, is the widow of John Walton, the Wal-Mart heir who tragically passed away in a plane crash in June 2005. She inherited a staggering $15.9 billion (£8.4 billion) from the retail giant founded by Sam Walton, securing her position as the wealthiest woman in the United States. Wal-Mart remains the world's largest retailer, operating over 5,100 stores that serve 138 million customers weekly and generate $285 billion (£151 billion) in sales. This immense fortune places Christy as the 24th richest person globally.

The Walton family is known for its strong connections, and Alice, 56, is no exception. As the sister of the late John Walton, her wealth of $16.6 billion ranks her 26th on the global rich list. Her brother Rob chairs the company, and the Walton Family Foundation contributes significantly to charitable causes.

Ranked as the 42nd wealthiest person globally, Abigail Johnson’s $13 billion fortune stems from Fidelity Investments, the largest mutual fund company in the United States. Established by her grandfather Edward C. Johnson in 1946, Fidelity has been a cornerstone of her family’s legacy. Abigail, now 45, began her journey as an intern at Fidelity while completing her Harvard MBA and joined the company full-time in 1988. By 2001, she had risen to president of the mutual fund division, overseeing $31 billion (£16.4 billion) in assets within her first six months. In May 2006, she assumed leadership of Fidelity’s employer services division, managing payroll and employee stock plans.

At 86 years old, Anne inherited a fortune of $12.6 billion (£6.6 billion) from Cox Enterprises, her family’s media conglomerate. Founded by her father James Cox, the empire spans 17 newspapers, 15 TV stations, 79 radio stations, and extensive cable systems. The business also ventures into the automotive sector, owning Manheim Auctions, the top used-car auction company in the U.S., and a majority stake in AutoTrader.com, the world’s largest online auto classifieds platform. Last year, the family privatized Cox Communications in an $8 billion (£4.2 billion) transaction. Anne ranks as the 45th wealthiest person globally.

Dr. Birgit Rausing, a renowned Swedish art historian, inherited the packaging empire Tetra Laval alongside her three children following the passing of her husband, Gad Rausing, in January 2000. As of 2007, her estimated net worth stands at approximately $11 billion.

Jacqueline Badger Mars, daughter of Forrest Edward Mars, Sr., and granddaughter of Frank C. Mars, is a key heir to the Mars, Incorporated empire, the renowned American candy company. Her stake in the business has propelled her net worth to $14.0 billion as of September 2007, ranking her as the 58th richest person globally and the 19th wealthiest in the United States, according to Forbes. She also holds the title of the fourth richest American woman.

At 43, Ms. Klatten inherited $8.1 billion (£4.3 billion) through a 12.5% stake in BMW and a 50.1% share in Altana, a pharmaceutical company, from her late father, Herbert Quandt. A skilled economist with an MBA, Klatten played a pivotal role in elevating Altana to a global leader in pharmaceuticals and chemicals, achieving $3.6 billion (£1.9 billion) in sales and employing nearly 11,000 people. As of 2007, her net worth stands at $9.6 billion.

Yang Huiyan holds the majority stake in Country Garden Holdings and is recognized as the richest individual in Mainland China, boasting a net worth of approximately $9 billion USD as of April 2007. She is the daughter of Yang Guoqiang, who transferred 70% of the company’s shares to her prior to its initial public offering.

Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler co-owns The Schaeffler Group, a global leader in roller bearing production, alongside her son Georg. As the company’s operational head, she oversees its operations, which generated approximately $11 billion in revenue last year. Her net worth in 2007 was estimated at $8.7 billion.

Contributor: nartjai

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