Goldenwoman.org

BY GOLDENWOMAN.ORG REPORTER
In a world where wealth and influence often intersect, a new wave of female billionaires redefines what it means to be a powerhouse in the global economy. From the heirs of iconic brands to self-made magnates, these 50 leading women billionaires are amassing fortunes and driving innovation, philanthropy, and social change. This article highlights the remarkable stories of these women, showcasing their diverse paths to success and the impact they are making in industries ranging from technology and real estate to fashion and finance.

1. Françoise Bettencourt Meyers (France)

• Net Worth: ~$90 billion
• Source of Wealth: L’Oréal
• Françoise is the granddaughter of the founder of L’Oréal and serves on the company’s board. She is the wealthiest woman in the world and is actively involved in philanthropic work, particularly in arts and culture.

2. Alice Walton (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$65 billion
• Source of Wealth: Walmart
• Alice is the daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton. She is known for her extensive art collection and contributions to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas.

3. MacKenzie Scott (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$40 billion
• Source of Wealth: Amazon
• MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, received a significant portion of Amazon shares in their divorce settlement. She is noted for her substantial charitable donations, focusing on education, racial equality, and public health.

4. Julia Koch (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$60 billion
• Source of Wealth: Koch Industries
• Julia Koch inherited her wealth from her late husband, David Koch, of Koch Industries. She is involved in various philanthropic endeavors, including the arts and medical research.

5. Yang Huiyan (China)

• Net Worth: ~$22 billion
• Source of Wealth: Country Garden Holdings
• Yang Huiyan is the majority shareholder of Country Garden Holdings, a leading property development company in China. She inherited her stake from her father and is one of the youngest billionaires in China.

6. Jacqueline Mars (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$38 billion
• Source of Wealth: Mars Inc.
• Jacqueline Mars is an heiress to Mars Inc., the world’s largest candy company. She is actively involved in environmental conservation and animal welfare causes.

7. Gina Rinehart (Australia)

• Net Worth: ~$25 billion
• Source of Wealth: Mining (Hancock Prospecting)
• Gina Rinehart is the executive chairman of Hancock Prospecting, a privately-owned mineral exploration and extraction company founded by her father. She is one of Australia’s richest women.

8. Susanne Klatten (Germany)

• Net Worth: ~$25 billion
• Source of Wealth: BMW, Pharmaceuticals
• Susanne Klatten owns nearly 20% of BMW and has stakes in the pharmaceutical company Altana. She is known for her strategic investments and business acumen.

9. Laurene Powell Jobs (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$20 billion
• Source of Wealth: Apple, Disney
• Laurene is the widow of Steve Jobs and inherited a multi-billion-dollar stake in Apple and Disney. She is an advocate for education reform and social justice through her Emerson Collective.

10. Iris Fontbona (Chile)

• Net Worth: ~$23 billion
• Source of Wealth: Mining
• Iris Fontbona and her family control Antofagasta Plc, a major mining company in Chile. She is also involved in various business sectors, including banking and breweries.

11. Abigail Johnson (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$21 billion
• Source of Wealth: Fidelity Investments
• Abigail Johnson is the CEO of Fidelity Investments, one of the largest asset management firms in the world. She has been instrumental in expanding the company’s digital strategy.

12. Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken (Netherlands)

• Net Worth: ~$18 billion
• Source of Wealth: Heineken
• Charlene is an heiress to the Heineken brewing fortune and holds a 23% stake in the company. She is actively involved in the business and serves on its board.

13. Miriam Adelson (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$30 billion
• Source of Wealth: Casinos (Las Vegas Sands)
• Miriam Adelson inherited a fortune from her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, founder of Las Vegas Sands. She is known for her philanthropic contributions to medical research and political causes.

14. Zhou Qunfei (China)

• Net Worth: ~$13 billion
• Source of Wealth: Lens Technology
• Zhou Qunfei is the founder of Lens Technology, a major supplier of glass screens for mobile devices. She is a self-made billionaire and one of the richest women in China.

15. Denise Coates (United Kingdom)

• Net Worth: ~$8 billion
• Source of Wealth: Bet365
• Denise Coates is the co-CEO of Bet365, an online gambling company she founded. She is known for her substantial earnings and philanthropic contributions to various causes.

16. Massimiliana Landini Aleotti (Italy)

• Net Worth: ~$9 billion
• Source of Wealth: Pharmaceuticals (Menarini)
• Massimiliana inherited the pharmaceutical company Menarini after the death of her husband. She plays an active role in the company’s operations.

17. Marijke Mars (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$8 billion
• Source of Wealth: Mars Inc.
• Marijke Mars is another heiress to the Mars candy fortune. She holds a stake in the family company and is involved in its operations and charitable activities.

18. Yang Yan (China)

• Net Worth: ~$7 billion
• Source of Wealth: Real Estate
• Yang Yan made her fortune through real estate development in China, focusing on residential and commercial properties.

19. Judy Faulkner (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$6 billion
• Source of Wealth: Epic Systems
• Judy Faulkner is the founder and CEO of Epic Systems, a leading healthcare software company. She is recognized for her contributions to the healthcare industry.

20. Blair Parry-Okeden (Australia)

• Net Worth: ~$8 billion
• Source of Wealth: Media (Cox Enterprises)
• Blair Parry-Okeden inherited a 25% stake in Cox Enterprises, a media conglomerate, after her mother’s death.

21. Shari Arison (Israel)

• Net Worth: ~$5 billion
• Source of Wealth: Banking, Construction
• Shari Arison inherited her wealth from her father, who founded Carnival Cruise Lines. She has diverse investments in banking and construction.

22. Wu Yajun (China)

• Net Worth: ~$9 billion
• Source of Wealth: Real Estate (Longfor Properties)
• Wu Yajun is the co-founder of Longfor Properties, one of China’s largest real estate developers. She is a self-made billionaire.

23. Sandra Ortega Mera (Spain)

• Net Worth: ~$7 billion
• Source of Wealth: Inditex (Zara)
• Sandra Ortega Mera is the daughter of Amancio Ortega, founder of Inditex. She inherited her wealth after her mother’s death and holds a significant stake in the company.

24. Antonia AxJohnson (Sweden)

• Net Worth: ~$7 billion
• Source of Wealth: Diversified
• Antonia AxJohnson leads the Axel Johnson Group, a diversified conglomerate involved in real estate, retail, and food.

25. Diane Hendricks (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$12 billion
• Source of Wealth: Building Materials (ABC Supply)
• Diane Hendricks co-founded ABC Supply, the largest wholesale distributor of roofing materials in the U.S. She is a self-made billionaire and a prominent figure in the construction industry.

26. Pansy Ho (Hong Kong)

• Net Worth: ~$4 billion
• Source of Wealth: Casinos
• Pansy Ho is the daughter of Macau casino magnate Stanley Ho and has a substantial stake in MGM China, a joint venture with MGM Resorts International.

27. Kirsten Rausing (United Kingdom)

• Net Worth: ~$10 billion
• Source of Wealth: Tetra Laval
• Kirsten Rausing is an heiress to the Tetra Laval packaging fortune. She also has investments in thoroughbred horse breeding and racing.

28. Renata Kellnerova (Czech Republic)

• Net Worth: ~$12 billion
• Source of Wealth: Finance, Investments
• Renata Kellnerova inherited her wealth from her late husband, Petr Kellner, who founded the PPF Group, a multinational investment company.

29. Vicky Safra (Brazil)

• Net Worth: ~$7 billion
• Source of Wealth: Banking (Safra Group)
• Vicky Safra is the widow of Joseph Safra, a prominent banker, and investor. She inherited a significant portion of his wealth and is involved in various philanthropic efforts.

30. Marijke Mars (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$7 billion
• Source of Wealth: Mars Inc.
• Marijke is another heiress to the Mars candy fortune, part of the family that owns the largest privately-held candy company in the world.

31. Tamara Gustavson (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$6 billion
• Source of Wealth: Public Storage
• Tamara Gustavson is an heiress to the Public Storage fortune. She serves on the board of the company, one of the largest self-storage businesses in the U.S.

32. Marion MacMillan Pictet (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$6 billion
• Source of Wealth: Cargill
• Marion MacMillan Pictet is an heir to the Cargill fortune, the largest privately-held corporation in the United States.

33. Elisabeth Badinter (France)

• Net Worth: ~$2 billion
• Source of Wealth: Publicis Groupe
• Elisabeth Badinter is a French philosopher, author, and the largest shareholder of Publicis Groupe, one of the world’s largest advertising and PR firms.

34. Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala (Mexico)

• Net Worth: ~$5 billion
• Source of Wealth: Beer (Grupo Modelo)
• Maria Asuncion Aramburuzabala is an heir to the Grupo Modelo beer fortune and one of Mexico’s wealthiest women.

35. Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner (Switzerland)

• Net Worth: ~$2 billion
• Source of Wealth: Computacenter
• Eva Maria Bucher-Haefner inherited her wealth from her father, who co-founded the IT services company Computacenter.

36. Tatiana Casiraghi (Monaco)

• Net Worth: ~$2 billion
• Source of Wealth: Beer (Bavaria Brewery)
• Tatiana Casiraghi inherited her wealth from her family’s brewery business, Bavaria, which was sold to SABMiller.

37. Nancy Walton Laurie (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$8 billion
• Source of Wealth: Walmart
• Nancy Walton Laurie is a Walmart heiress and sister of Alice Walton. She invests in various business ventures, including real estate and entertainment.

38. Meg Whitman (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$4 billion
• Source of Wealth: eBay, Hewlett Packard
• Meg Whitman is a former CEO of eBay and Hewlett Packard and has served on the boards of several major companies.

39. Pollyanna Chu (Hong Kong)

• Net Worth: ~$3 billion
• Source of Wealth: Financial Services
• Pollyanna Chu is a prominent businesswoman in Hong Kong’s financial services sector, known for her investments and brokerage firm.

40. Gayle Benson (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$3 billion
• Source of Wealth: Sports (New Orleans Saints, Pelicans)
• Gayle Benson inherited her wealth from her late husband, Tom Benson, who owned the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans.

41. Anne Cox Chambers (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$15 billion (deceased in 2020, estate passed on to heirs)
• Source of Wealth: Media (Cox Enterprises)
• Anne Cox Chambers was a media proprietor and former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, inheriting her wealth from her father’s media empire.

42. Lynsi Snyder (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$4 billion
• Source of Wealth: In-N-Out Burger
• Lynsi Snyder is the owner and president of In-N-Out Burger, a popular American fast-food chain.

43. Georgina Bloomberg (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$4 billion (heir apparent)
• Source of Wealth: Bloomberg LP
• Georgina Bloomberg is the daughter of Michael Bloomberg and is involved in philanthropy, equestrian sports, and animal welfare.

44. Alannah Weston (Canada)

• Net Worth: ~$2 billion
• Source of Wealth: Retail (Selfridges Group)
• Alannah Weston is chairwoman of the Selfridges Group, a chain of high-end department stores.

45. Yvonne Bauer (Germany)

• Net Worth: ~$2 billion
• Source of Wealth: Publishing (Bauer Media Group)
• Yvonne Bauer is the CEO and owner of Bauer Media Group, one of the largest media companies in Europe.

46. Catherine Thomson (Canada)

• Net Worth: ~$2 billion
• Source of Wealth: Media (Thomson Reuters)
• Catherine Thomson is an heir to the Thomson family fortune, which owns a majority stake in Thomson Reuters.

47. Sheryl Sandberg (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$1.5 billion
• Source of Wealth: Technology (Facebook, Lean In Foundation)
• Sheryl Sandberg is the former COO of Facebook (now Meta) and a best-selling author. She is a prominent advocate for women in leadership.

48. Oprah Winfrey (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$2.5 billion
• Source of Wealth: Media, Entertainment
• Oprah Winfrey is a media mogul, talk show host, producer, and philanthropist. She is one of the most influential women in the world.

49. Sara Blakely (United States)

• Net Worth: ~$1.2 billion
• Source of Wealth: Spanx
• Sara Blakely is the founder of Spanx, a company that revolutionized women’s shapewear. She is a self-made billionaire and a philanthropist.

50. J.K. Rowling (United Kingdom)

• Net Worth: ~$1 billion
• Source of Wealth: Harry Potter series, Film and Book royalties
• J.K. Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter series, which has become a global franchise. She is one of the wealthiest women in the UK and a noted philanthropist.

These women come from diverse industries, including technology, real estate, fashion, pharmaceuticals, finance, and more. They have made their mark not just through inheritance but also by actively managing their assets, founding successful companies, and contributing to global business and philanthropy.