It’s a fact that many industries around the world are dominated by men. Nevertheless, there are ladies that go against what’s considered common and even become leaders. Some also got their elite status from family wealth. Either way, learning about the richest women can serve as an inspiration for many.
Top 10 Wealthiest Women in 2023:
1. Francoise Meyers – $65.4 Billion
The richest woman in the world is currently Francoise Meyers, the chairperson and sole heiress of the cosmetics brand, L’Oréal. Her family owns 33% of the iconic French firm that was founded in 1909.
Her grandfather, Eugène Schueller, founded L’Oréal. With this, Francoise’s mother, Liliane Bettencourt, also reigned as the most prosperous woman around until she passed away.
Since 1997, Meyers has been a board member of the family business. Her current executive role and share ownership puts her at the top by giving her an estimated net worth of $65.4 billion.
2. Julia Koch – $58.9 Billion
Julia Koch is the widowed wife of David Koch. Her late husband headed up Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately-held company in America. She, along with her children, inherited 43% of the company.
Before she met David, Julia worked as a model and an assistant to renowned fashion designer Adolfo Sardiña. However, she decided to avoid the spotlight after marrying a businessman.
She helped David pursue various philanthropic endeavors and eventually became part of Koch Industries’ board of directors. Her net worth is approximately $58.9 billion.
3. Alice Walton – $56.6 Billion
An heiress to the fortune of Walmart, Alice Walton owns a 50% stake in the multinational retail store with her siblings. As Walmart’s stock prices rose in recent years, so did her fortune.
Alice is the only daughter of Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton. Before joining her father, she initially worked as a money manager, equity analyst, and stockbroker.
She even became the CEO of the Llama Company investment bank and played a crucial role in the making of Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport. Now, she is taking care of a luxurious art collection and a $56.6 billion fortune.
4. MacKenzie Scott – $31.5 Billion
MacKenzie Scott is the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos. She spent more than 25 years with the founder of Amazon. After their split, she walked away with $38 billion, the biggest divorce settlement in history.
She worked at a hedge fund when she met Bezos. During their marriage, MacKenzie was a massive help to her husband in building up a company that started selling books and later moved into cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Scott witnessed firsthand the rise of Amazon, and she experienced many of its triumphs. When she divorced Bezos, she was given a 4% share in the firm, which is the leading factor in her $31.5 billion net worth. Scott is passionate about philanthropy and will give away the majority of her wealth to good causes.
5. Jacqueline Mars – $29.8 Billion
Jacqueline Mars is yet another heiress to make it to this list. Her primary source of wealth is Mars, Incorporated. She owns over 33% of the confectionery, pet food and animal care business.
Her grandfather, Franklin Clarence Mars, was the one who started the chocolate candy company. Frank and his children made it a household brand, and only their family had ownership of it.
As for Jacqueline, she worked for over two decades at Mars, Incorporated. She was on the board of directors until 2016 and currently holds a net worth of $29.8 billion.
6. Gina Rinehart – $28.5 Billion
The mining tycoon Gina Rinehart is the executive chairman of Hancock Prospecting, a large Australian mining and agricultural business. She is also the heiress of the company.
Her father is Lang Hancock, the man who built Hancock Prospecting from the ground up. Though he made it into a substantial mining firm in Australia, his daughter was the one who turned it into an international heavyweight.
Gina first took over when Lang died. She found success in the 2000s iron ore boom when China was their biggest customer. The businesswoman also invested in other ventures that contributed to her $28.5 billion wealth.
7. Miriam Adelson – $25.4 Billion
Though she is a physician by profession, Miriam Adelson is best recognized as a donor to conservative political efforts in the USA and Israel. She heads the publication of Israel Hayom.
Miriam had a relatively long career in the medical field. It wasn’t until she tied the knot with casino mogul Sheldon Adelson that she became a big-time political supporter.
Because her husband is now deceased, Miriam Adelson is considered the majority owner of the luxury resort Las Vegas Sands. She owns 50% of the establishment. This, and her other pursuits, add up to a net worth of $25.4 billion.
8. Susanne Klatten – $23.6 Billion
Susanne Klatten is considered the richest woman in Germany. She manages 19.2% of the acclaimed automotive brand BMW while overseeing a pharmaceutical company called Atlanta.
She initially gained business experience working at Dresdner Bank AG. When her father, Herbert Quandt, passed away, Susanne inherited 50.1% of Atlanta and 12.5% of BMW.
Her BMW shares increased when her mom, Johanna Quandt, also died. Klatten worked her way up to become the deputy chairman and sole owner of Atlanta. This is why her net worth is valued at $23.6 billion.
9. Iris Fontbona – $19.7 Billion
When the founder of the Luksic Group died, Andrónico Luksic left a considerable fortune to his wife, Iris Fontbona. She and her children are now owners of numerous mines across Chile.
Prior to marrying Andrónico, Iris was very low-profile. However, she has appeared on television for charity events. She is big on philanthropy, donating billions to those in need.
Apart from mining operations, she makes money with a conglomerate named Quiñenco. It is reported that most of her late husband’s money is with their children. Still, Fontbona’s $19.7 net worth is enough to make her one of the richest women alive.
10. Abigail Johnson – $18 Billion
Abigail Johnson is among the most successful ladies in the money management industry. She is the President and CEO of the investment firm Fidelity Investments.
The company she currently heads was founded by her late grandad, Edward C. Johnson II. Abigail started out as a portfolio manager and analyst, slowly climbing up the corporate ladder.
It was in 2014 that she was finally chosen as Fidelity Investments.’ CEO. Abigail introduced cryptocurrency investing into the firm, and it aided her in getting an $18 billion net worth.
