Most of the time we only talk about male billionaires. But have you ever wondered who are the richest women in the world?
According to Forbes 2020 annual rankings of world billionaires, out of 2095 billionaires, 400 are women. This article looks at who are the 11 richest women of the 400 in the billionaire’s list and where do they get their wealth? Are they self-made or did they inherit their fortune? Let’s find out.
In this article
1. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers & family
Wealth: $49.3 B
Source of Wealth: L’Oreal, Inherited
Country: France
Age: 66
In the World’s Richest: #15
The richest woman in the world and the 15th richest person in the world is French billionaire Francoise Meyers. She is worth an estimated $49.3 billion and is the granddaughter of Eugene Schueller, the founder of L’Oréal.
Francoise Meyers is the current owner and Non-Executive chairwoman of L’Oréal, the largest cosmetics company in the world. L’Oréal produces products for skincare, hair color, sun protection, make-up, and perfume.
As of 2018, L’Oréal had 26.93 billion euros in revenues and 3.98 billion euros in net income. It has several subsidiaries such as Garnier, Maybelline, Lancôme, and NYX Cosmetics. Meyers holds a 33.14% stake in the company.
2. Alice Walton
Wealth: $44.9 B
Source of Wealth: Walmart, Inherited
Country: United States
Age: 70
In the World’s Richest: #17
Worth over $44.9 billion, Alice Walton is an American businesswoman, art collector, and an heiress to the fortune of Walmart Inc . Walmart is the largest retailer in the world.
She is the only daughter of Walmart founder Sam Walton and the 2nd richest woman in the world after Francoise Bettencourt Meyers. She’s also the 17th world’s wealthiest individual.
Alice is reported to own over $11 billion in Walmart shares. Her personal art collection is valued at hundreds of millions of dollars.
3. MacKenzie Bezos
Wealth: $35.7 B
Source of Wealth: Amazon, Divorce
Country: United States
Age: 50
In the World’s Richest: #22
MacKenzie is an American author and humanitarian. She is the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and the richest man in the world. She was married to Bezos from 1993 to 2019.
After reaching a divorce settlement of $35.6 billion in April 2019, MacKenzie became one of the richest women in the world.
She’s the executive director of Bystander Revolution, an anti-bullying foundation that she founded in 2014.
4. Jacqueline Mars
Wealth: $24 B
Source of Wealth: Candy, pet food, Inherited
Country: United States
Age: 80
In the World’s Richest: #33
The world’s 4th wealthiest woman is Jacqueline Mars with an estimated fortune of $24 B. She is also ranked the 33rd wealthiest individual in the world.
Jacqueline is an American heiress and entrepreneur. She is the daughter of Forrest Mars and Audrey Ruth and the granddaughter to Frank C. Mars, the founder of Mars Incorporated.
Mars is an American multinational maker of beverages, pet food, confectionery and offers animal care services. It generates more than $35 billion in revenue and employs more than 80,000 people.
5. Yang Huiyan
Wealth: $22.1 B
Source of Wealth: Real estate, Inherited
Country: China
Age: 38
In the World’s Richest: #42
Yang Huiyan is a Chinese real estate developer. She’s the world’s 5th wealthiest female and one of the richest women in the world. She is the majority shareholder of Country Garden Holdings owning 57% of the company.
Country Garden Holdings is a property development firm started by Huiyan’s father, Yang Guoqiang and is based in Guangdong province, China. Most of Huiyan’s stake at the company was transferred to her by her father.
Yang Huiyan is the richest woman in Asia.
6. Susanne Klatten
Wealth: $21 B
Source of Wealth: BMW, pharmaceuticals, Inherited
Country: Germany
Age: 58
In the World’s Richest: #46
She is the fifth richest woman in the world and Germany’s richest woman. Susanne Klatten is the daughter and heiress of Johanna Quandt. The Quandt family are long –term shareholders of BMW auto manufacturer.
Susanne and her brother Stefan Quandt own 19.2% and 23.7% of BMW respectively. Klatten also inherited from her late father a 50.1% stake in Altana, a pharmaceutical and chemicals company. She’s the exclusive owner and deputy chairman of Altana.
Klatten also has stakes in Nordex AG, a wind power firm, and SGL Group, a carbon and graphite maker.
7. Laurene Powell Jobs & family
Wealth: $20.5 B
Source of Wealth: Apple, Disney, Inherited
Country: United States
Age: 56
In the World’s Richest: #54
She is an American businesswoman, humanitarian, and widow to Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Inc.). She is also the founder and president of Emmerson Collective, a social impact corporation.
Emerson Collective focuses on immigration reforms, education, health and environmental conservation.
Laurene has over $20 billion from the stakes in Apple and Disney which she inherited from Steve Jobs, her late husband.
She is the 20th wealthiest person in the United States and the 54th richest in the world with an estimated net worth of $20.5 billion.
8. Abigail Johnson
Wealth: $16 B
Source of Wealth: Financial services, Inherited
Country: United States
Age: 58
In the World’s Richest: #71
Abigail is an American billionaire and businesswoman. She is the president, chairman and CEO of Fidelity Investments. It’s an American multinational financial services company based in Massachusetts, US.
Fidelity Investments was founded by Abigail’s grandfather Edward C. Johnson II. It’s one of world’s largest asset managers with $2.46 trillion in assets under management.
The Johnson family owns more than 49% of the company, with Abigail herself owning an estimated 24.5%. She is also the chairman of the multinational sister firm Fidelity International.
With a fortune of $16B, Abigail Johnson is one of the richest women in the world.
9. Iris Fontbona & family
Wealth: $15.4 B
Source of Wealth: Mining, Inherited
Country: Chile
Age: 77
In the World’s Richest: #74
She is the world’s 9th wealthiest woman, the 5th richest person in Latin America and the wealthiest individual in Chile.
Iris is a Chilean businesswoman and the widow to Andronico Luksic Abaroa. She acquired her fortune following the death of her husband who had stakes in the Antofagasta PLC, a mining company.
Fontbana and her family control Antofagasta. They also control Banco de Chile (a copper products maker), CCU (the country’s biggest brewer) and CSAV (a shipping company).
Also Read: The Top 10 Richest Women in America in 2020
10. Gina Rinehart
Wealth: $15.2 B
Source of Wealth: Mining, Inherited
Country: Australia
Age: 66
In the World’s Richest: #75
Gina Rinehart is an Australian mining mogul and heiress. She is the chairman of Hancock Prospecting, a leading privately owned mineral exploration and extraction firm.
The company was founded by her father, Lang Hancock. Gina owns 76.6% of the firm.
She is the richest person in Australia and the world’s 10th wealthiest woman.
11. Kwong Siu-hing
Wealth: $15.1 B
Source of Wealth: real estate, Inherited
Country: Hong Kong
Age: 89
In the World’s Richest: #78
Kwong Siu-hing is the matriarch of the Kwok family. She is the widow of Kwok Tak-seng, the founder of Sun Hung Kai Properties.
She controls Sun Hung Kai Properties, the biggest property developer in Hong Kong. She’s the director, former chairperson, and non-executive director of the company.
Kwong is the majority shareholder in the company.
That’s the end. Those are the 11 richest women in the world. Enjoy this article? Like and share it with your friends. Also, feel free to drop a comment below.
