In a world where males have traditionally held positions of wealth and power, more and more women are shattering the patriarchal structure and becoming billionaires. The wealthiest people on the planet will see a sharp rise in their net worth in 2024.
Women make up 13.3% of all billionaires in 2024, up from 12.8% in 2023, out of the 2,781 billionaires in the world. This is a notable increase for women over the previous year. With a combined net worth of more than $1.8 trillion, the top 10 richest women in the world have demonstrated their substantial contributions to the global economy. This is an increase of about $240 billion over the previous year.
As of June 2024, the following are the top 10 female billionaires:
Table of Contents
Richest Women in the World
Francoise Bettencourt Meyers and Family
Net Worth: $97.6 billion
Source of Wealth: L’Oréal
For the fourth year in a row, the world’s richest woman is the granddaughter of the founder of L’Oréal and the heir to the family business. She and her family hold more than one-third of L’Oréal. Her approximately 35% ownership in the $45 billion cosmetics company L’Oréal Group, which boasts well-known brands like Maybelline, Kiehl’s, and Lancôme, accounts for the lion’s share of her wealth. Bettencourt Meyers inherited her fortune from her mother, Liliane Bettencourt, who passed away in 2017, she was listed as one of the billionaires in 2018 having worth $42.2 billion.
Alice Walton
Net Worth: $78.5 billion
Source of Wealth: Walmart
The second richest female in the world is the richest woman in America, Alice Walton. Walton’s fortune increased by 34% in the last year, to a net worth of $78.5 billion, due to the rise in Walmart’s share price. The heiress is the child of Walmart’s founder, Sam Walton, who passed away in 1992. Well-known for her generosity and art collection, she established the Bentonville, Arkansas-based Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which is home to masterpieces by well-known painters like Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, and Mark Rothko.
Julia Koch and Family
Net Worth: $65.5 billion
Source of Wealth: Koch Industries
Julia Koch acquired 42% of Koch Industries after her husband died in 2019. NYU Langone Health has received a $75 million donation from the Julia Koch Family Foundation for the construction of a brand-new, cutting-edge ambulatory care center in West Palm Beach. From paper towels to medical technology and oil refining, Koch Industries has a wide range of enterprises. She serves as trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Savitri Jindal & family
Net Worth: $39.8 billion
Source of Wealth: JSW Group
The Jindal Group, which includes the steel, power, cement, and infrastructure sectors, is chaired by Savitri. With over $15 billion in revenue, the Jindal Group is one of the biggest business groups in India. She got the wealth from her late husband, Om Prakash Jindal, the founder of Jindal. Savitri has also engaged in politics.
Jacqueline Mars
Net Worth: $37.5 billion
Source of Wealth: Mars Inc
Jacqueline Mars, founded by her grandfather, owns approximately one-third of Mars, the candy, food, and pet care company. Frank C. Mars, her grandfather, started the business in 1911 when he started selling buttercream candies out of his home. With sales of over $35 billion, Mars Inc. is among the biggest privately held corporations in the entire globe. Before retiring in 2016 and handing the reins to her son Stephen Badger, Jacqueline Mars was a member of the company board for around 20 years.
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Rafaela Aponte-Diamant
Net Worth: $35.6 billion
Source of Wealth: MSC Group
With a net worth of $35.6 billion, Rafaela Aponte-Diamant and her husband Gianluigi Aponte co-founded MSC, the biggest shipping company in the world. Established in 1970, the firm has expanded to become a major player in the worldwide shipping market, operating in over 155 countries and possessing a fleet of more than 500 boats. Under Rafaela Aponte-Diamant’s direction, the company’s cruise liner MSC Cruises had its ships decorated. The Aponte family bought their first ship in the shipping business with a $200,000 loan.
Mackenzie Scott
Net Worth: $34.3 billion
Source of Wealth: Amazon
Following her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos, the billionaire philanthropist received 4% of Amazon and made a commitment to donate the majority of her income shortly after. In March, 361 organizations who submitted applications for financing were given $640 million by Scott. Her lifetime donations, which consist of a variety of smaller, unconditional gifts that frequently catch recipients off guard, have increased to a total of $17.3 billion.
Gina Rinehart
Net Worth: $31.1 billion
Source of Wealth: Hancock Prospecting
Gina Rinehart is the chair of Australia’s well-known mining and agricultural company, Hancock Prospecting Group, with a $31.1 billion net worth. Her father Lang Hancock handed the company to her (d. 1992). Due to the expansion of her company into new markets and the rise of the mining industry, her fortune has increased by 14% since 2023. In addition to cattle farming and other agricultural operations, Hancock Prospecting Group is engaged in the exploration and extraction of iron ore, coal, and other minerals.
Abigail Johnson
Net Worth: $29.5 billion
Source of Wealth: Fidelity Investments
In 2014, Abigail Johnson took over as CEO of Fidelity Investments when her father passed away. Managing $4.9 trillion in managed assets, she owns a 28.5 percent ownership in the company and has contributed significantly to its development, making a comeback to the list of the top 10 richest women. Johnson succeeded her father, Edward “Ned” Johnson III, who passed away in 2022, as CEO of Fidelity Investments in 2014. Her grandpa started the business in 1946. Additionally, Fidelity has entered the US market for Bitcoin spot ETFs, which trade under the ticker FBTC.
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Miriam Adelson and Family
Net Worth: $29.4 billion
Source of Wealth: Las Vegas Sands
Miriam Adelson inherited a large portion of Las Vegas Sands after the death of her husband, Sheldon Adelson, with a net worth of $29.7 billion. She is a renowned physician who has given more than $1 billion to medication development and medical research, making her one of the world’s notable philanthropists. With sites in Singapore, Macau, and Las Vegas, Las Vegas Sands is one of the biggest casino operators in the world, and Adelson and her family hold more than half of the company.
Conclusion- 10 Richest Women in the World
In conclusion, a wide range of backgrounds and businesses, including technology, pharmaceuticals, fashion, and cosmetics, are represented on the list of the 10 richest women in the world. These women have combined creativity, business savvy, and inheritance to amass their wealth. Many of them contribute significantly to the expansion and success of the businesses they are affiliated with.
These women demonstrate that wealth can be acquired through both hereditary and earned means through astute business decisions and inspiring leadership. They also serve as excellent examples of the convergence of legacy, leadership, and innovation. Their impact on international markets and industries has a major effect on the global economy.
FAQs
How many female billionaires are there in the world?
As of 2024, women continue to be “still woefully underrepresented,” accounting for just 369 of the 2,781 billionaires worldwide, or roughly 13%. With a record 813 billionaires, the United States remains the country with the largest number, followed by mainland China with 406, and India with 200, Germany with 132.
Who is the richest woman in the world?
For the fourth year in a row, the world’s richest woman is the granddaughter of the founder of L’Oréal and the heir to the family business who is Francoise Bettencourt Meyers.
