These women have accumulated their wealth through inheritances, business ventures, and investments, and they showcase the significant financial milestones women are achieving globally!
Here’s a detailed rundown of the top 10 richest women in the world as of right now:
10. Susanne Klatten
- Net Worth: $25 billion
- Source of Wealth: BMW, Pharmaceuticals
- Country: Germany
Susanne Klatten is the wealthiest woman in Germany, thanks to her inherited stakes in BMW and her own investments in pharmaceuticals. She owns nearly 19% of the automotive giant and has a majority stake in Altana AG, a pharmaceutical and specialty chemical corporation. Susanne Klatten owns about 19% of automaker BMW; her brother, Stefan Quandt, owns nearly 24%. Klatten is the sole owner and deputy chair of Altana, which has more than $2.5 billion in annual sales.
9. Iris Fontbona
- Net Worth: $28 billion
- Source of Wealth: Mining, Beverages
- Country: Chile
Iris Fontbona is the widow of Andronico Luksic, who built a fortune in mining and beverages. She controls Antofagasta Plc, which operates copper mines in Chile, and has stakes in Quiñenco, a consumer packaging and beverage company. Most of the fortune comes from control of almost 70% of Antofagasta PLC, which one of the largest copper producers in the world, and 83% of Quiñenco, the conglomerate that brings together the Luksic Group companies that aren’t involved in mining. Fontbona and her children also own more than 84% of the Plava Laguna Hotel Group, registered in Zagreb, Croatia.
8. Abigail Johnson
- Net Worth: $28 billion
- Source of Wealth: Fidelity Investments
- Country: United States
Abigail Johnson is the CEO of Fidelity Investments, a company founded by her grandfather. She owns an estimated 24.5% stake in the firm, which manages over $4.2 trillion in assets. Her wealth is a reflection of her leadership role and the firm’s success in the financial services sector. Fidelity remains – as it was under Ned Johnson and his father, Edward Johnson II – a family-controlled business. It was a pioneer in managing and selling mutual funds before evolving by offering investment accounts directly to individuals through corporate retirement plans or financial advisors.
7. Gina Rinehart
- Net Worth: $30 billion
- Source of Wealth: Mining
- Country: Australia
Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, made her wealth through the mining company Hancock Prospecting, which she inherited from her father. The company has been booming due to strong demand for iron ore, and Rinehart has successfully expanded into cattle operations and media. Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Rinehart also holds a 10% stake in Arafura Rare Earths, a project in Australia’s Northern Territory that the government backed last month with $540 million of loans and grants.
6. Miriam Adelson
- Net Worth: $31 billion
- Source of Wealth: Casinos
- Country: United States
Miriam Adelson inherited her wealth from her late husband, Sheldon Adelson, who was the CEO of Las Vegas Sands, a leading global casino and resort company. Her fortune has been influenced by the regulatory changes and economic dynamics affecting the gaming industry. Assets held in the family’s charitable trust dropped from more than $200 million before the pandemic to $37 million in 2021 as it distributed money to the foundation and other causes without being replenished, according to records filed with the IRS.
5. MacKenzie Scott
- Net Worth: $34 billion
- Source of Wealth: Amazon
- Country: United States
- MacKenzie Scott became one of the wealthiest women in the world following her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. She owns about 4% of Amazon and is known for her extensive philanthropic efforts, which involve donating billions to charity each year, shaping her public persona as much as her vast wealth. Scott’s donations in 2022 included $275 million to Planned Parenthood and $15 million to the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.
4. Jacqueline Mars
- Net Worth: $37 billion
- Source of Wealth: Candy, Pet Food
- Country: United States
Jacqueline Mars shares ownership of Mars Inc., one of the world’s largest candy, pet care, and food conglomerates, with her brother. The company was founded by her grandfather, Mars Incorporated is a global leader in confectionery, pet food, and food processing. Jacqueline Mars maintains a low profile but is known for her philanthropic work, supporting causes related to the environment and arts education.
3. Julia Koch
- Net Worth: $65 billion
- Source of Wealth: Koch Industries
- Country: United States
Julia Koch and her family inherited a 42% stake in Koch Industries after her husband, David Koch, passed away. The company’s operations span various sectors, including oil, chemicals, and consumer goods, contributing to her vast wealth. The valuation of the franchise will take into account the NBA’s upcoming broadcast rights deal, per Sportico. It could be as much as $4.8 billion, the New York Post reported, citing industry sources.
2. Alice Walton
- Net Worth: $72 billion
- Source of Wealth: Walmart
- Country: United States
Alice Walton, the heiress to the Walmart fortune, is the richest woman in retail. Unlike her brothers, she has not taken an active role in the company, instead focusing on curating art and philanthropy, yet her stake in Walmart ensures her place on this list. Unlike her brothers, 66-year-old Walton never took an active role in running the retail empire her father started in 1962, though she’s still managed to become the target of pushback from minimum-wage Walmart employees who view her highfalutin lifestyle as insensitive and ignorant to the plight of many workers.
1. Francoise Bettencourt Meyers
- Net Worth: $89 billion
- Source of Wealth: L’Oréal
- Country: France
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, the granddaughter of the founder of L’Oréal, controls 33% of the cosmetics giant through her family holding company. Her wealth is a testament to the global reach and enduring popularity of L’Oréal’s beauty products. Not keen on interviews, Francoise has leaned more towards an intellectual than a social profile, finding her calling in classical music: they say that she spends three hours a day playing one of the two grand pianos she has in her living room, a Yamaha and a Steinway.
