Women are making strides in the world of billionaires, with 13.3% of the world’s billionaires being women. This number is up from 12.8% in 2023, with 369 women making the list this year. Together, these women are worth nearly $1.8 trillion, showing that women are amassing wealth like never before. The world’s richest woman for the fourth consecutive year is L’Oréal heiress Françoise Bettencourt Meyers, whose fortune jumped $19 billion in the past year, putting her net worth at $99.5 billion. While she is just short of becoming the first woman to reach the $100 billion mark, her continued rise in wealth is a testament to her success.
The top 10 richest women in the world are a mix of self-made entrepreneurs and inheritors of wealth. MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, is the only self-made woman in the top 10, with a net worth of $35.6 billion. Despite giving away billions in philanthropic donations, Scott’s wealth continues to grow. Rafaela Aponte-Diamant, co-founder of MSC, is the richest self-made woman on the list and the only self-made woman in the top 10. Abigail Johnson, CEO of Fidelity Investments, is the richest woman who inherited and is growing her company, with a net worth of $29 billion.
The newest additions to the list include two sisters from Sweden, Märta Schörling Andreen and Sofia Högberg Schörling, who inherited their father’s fortune of $5.6 billion each after his passing. Additionally, two women from the tech sector, Michelle Zatlyn and Lisa Su, saw their wealth grow due to surging shares at their respective companies. The most notable newcomer is pop star Taylor Swift, whose Eras Tour helped her earn an estimated $190 million after tax, making her the first billionaire musician bankrolled solely by performances, recordings, and a lucrative music catalog.
The top 10 richest women in the world include familiar names such as Gina Rinehart, Miriam Adelson, and Alice Walton. Rinehart, who chairs mining and agriculture company Hancock Prospecting Group, is the wealthiest person in Australia with a net worth of $30.8 billion. Miriam Adelson and family, who own more than half of Las Vegas Sands, have a net worth of $32 billion. Alice Walton, the richest woman in America, saw a significant increase in wealth due to a rise in Walmart’s share price, bringing her net worth to $72.3 billion.
Overall, women are making significant strides in the world of billionaires, with more women than ever before appearing on Forbes’ World Billionaires list. Whether self-made entrepreneurs or inheritors of wealth, these women are showcasing their success and building their fortunes in a variety of industries. With ongoing growth and new additions to the list, women are proving that they have a place among the world’s wealthiest individuals.
